{"_id":"682ce82b876da00a305f024c","title":"{\"ops\":[{\"insert\":\"How should we view the “supernatural” experiences some non-Muslims claim to have had?\\n\"}]}","question":"{\"ops\":[{\"insert\":\"It’s not uncommon to hear non-Muslims share stories of miraculous encounters that save their life and reaffirm their faith in God. In many of these stories, they describe involving angels, voices, and other elements of the supernatural. However, these experiences only seem to make them more certain that a being other than Allah is God. \\n\\nWhat might be the wisdom behind a non-Muslim experiencing such miraculous events that they don’t attribute to Allah?\\n\\nWhen doing dawah, how we do help non-Muslims reconcile these experiences? \\n\"}]}","answer":"{\"ops\":[{\"insert\":\"In terms of the wisdom behind someone being exposed to supernatural events, there are several possibilities:\\n\\n\"},{\"attributes\":{\"underline\":true,\"bold\":true},\"insert\":\"Test or Trial:\"},{\"insert\":\" Allah may allow such events as a test of a person's sincerity in seeking the truth. These events can stir the soul and awaken a sense of the unseen—but how a person responds is their moral responsibility. Allah says: \\n\\n\"},{\"attributes\":{\"bold\":true},\"insert\":\"“We will show them Our signs in the horizons and within themselves until it becomes clear to them that it is the truth.” (\"},{\"attributes\":{\"link\":\"https://quran.com/41/53\",\"bold\":true},\"insert\":\"41:53\"},{\"attributes\":{\"bold\":true},\"insert\":\") \"},{\"insert\":\"\\n\\nThese signs may serve as a doorway to deeper reflection, but some may stop short and misinterpret them.\\n\\n\"},{\"attributes\":{\"underline\":true,\"bold\":true},\"insert\":\"Reminder of the Fitrah (Natural Disposition):\"},{\"insert\":\" Every soul is born upon the fitrah, an innate awareness of Allah. Extraordinary experiences can act as reminders, nudging people toward that inner recognition. But without correct guidance, they may attribute what they experience to false deities, spiritual systems, or vague notions of a higher power.\\n\\n\"},{\"attributes\":{\"underline\":true,\"bold\":true},\"insert\":\"Istidrāj (Gradual Delusion):\"},{\"insert\":\" Some scholars mention that Allah may allow blessings or even supernatural events to occur for disbelievers as a test or form of gradual delusion. Allah says:\\n\\n\"},{\"attributes\":{\"bold\":true},\"insert\":\"“We shall lead them gradually [to destruction] from where they do not know.” (\"},{\"attributes\":{\"link\":\"https://quran.com/7/182\",\"bold\":true},\"insert\":\"7:182\"},{\"attributes\":{\"bold\":true},\"insert\":\") \"},{\"insert\":\"\\n\\nThis can create a false sense of being on the right path when, in fact, it’s a means of turning further away from the truth.\\n\\n\"},{\"attributes\":{\"underline\":true,\"bold\":true},\"insert\":\"Divine Mercy:\"},{\"insert\":\" Sometimes, Allah grants protection, healing, or inspiration to people despite their disbelief, not as a sign of approval, but as a mercy from Him. These moments are part of His universal generosity, which extends to all creation. But such kindness does not validate a person’s beliefs.\\n\\nUltimately, these experiences do not prove the correctness of a belief system. Even miraculous events do not guarantee guidance unless a person follows the truth once it is made clear. A supernatural event may be genuine, or it may be an illusion, or a deception from jinn or devils.\\n\\n\"},{\"attributes\":{\"underline\":true,\"bold\":true},\"insert\":\"In Daʿwah: How to Help Non-Muslims Reconcile These Experiences\"},{\"insert\":\"\\nAffirm their experience but clarify its meaning: Acknowledge that their experience was meaningful—and perhaps real—but gently invite them to consider that experiencing something beyond the material world does not guarantee that their interpretation of it is correct.\"},{\"attributes\":{\"list\":\"bullet\"},\"insert\":\"\\n\"},{\"insert\":\"Suggest it may be a wake-up call: Encourage them to reflect on the possibility that the experience was an invitation from the Creator, a wake-up call to begin seeking Him sincerely.\"},{\"attributes\":{\"list\":\"bullet\"},\"insert\":\"\\n\"},{\"insert\":\"Emphasize guidance over experience: Real guidance comes through revelation, not subjective feelings or mystical moments. Dreams, visions, or voices may stir the heart, but they are not enough to determine ultimate truth. Revelation is the final criterion.\"},{\"attributes\":{\"list\":\"bullet\"},\"insert\":\"\\n\"},{\"insert\":\"Remind them that signs are not exclusive: People from many traditions report signs. These signs are not confirmations of every religion, but rather calls to reflection and sincerity. Truth remains singular.\"},{\"attributes\":{\"list\":\"bullet\"},\"insert\":\"\\n\"},{\"insert\":\"Clarify that truth cannot contradict itself: Despite the range of spiritual experiences people report, only one understanding of God can ultimately be correct. Two contradictory truths cannot both be true. The Qur'an’s message of pure monotheism and finality of Prophethood is unique in its consistency and clarity.\"},{\"attributes\":{\"list\":\"bullet\"},\"insert\":\"\\n\"},{\"insert\":\"\\nIn short, our job in daʿwah is not to deny people’s experiences, but to help them interpret those moments in the light of the truth revealed by Allah. These experiences might be part of their journey toward Islam—and we should gently help guide them there.\\n\"}]}","tags":[{"_id":"668d9fe30b76658b4c23280f","tag":"Relationships: Non-Muslims","count":95},{"_id":"668d9fe80b76658b4c2328bd","tag":"Worship: Dawah","count":24},{"_id":"668d9fe50b76658b4c23285c","tag":"Unseen: Other","count":22},{"_id":"668da04a0b76658b4c233349","tag":"Unseen: Dreams","count":16},{"_id":"668d9fea0b76658b4c2328f9","tag":"Unseen: Jinn","count":12},{"_id":"668d9ffc0b76658b4c232af8","tag":"Unseen: Angels","count":6},{"_id":"668da0350b76658b4c23310d","tag":"Unseen: Magic","count":6}],"createdOn":"2025-05-20T20:38:03.709Z"}