Question:
Can a Prophet give life?
Answer:
Dear questioner,
Thank you for your important question.
May Allah, Most High reward you for your desire to increase in knowledge.
Only Allah, Most High is the giver of Life and Death. He says in the Quran:
“It is He who gives life and death, and when He ordains a thing, He says only ‘Be’ and it is.” [Qur’an, 40:68]
The Prophets and Messengers (Allah bless them and give them peace) are the creation of Allah, Most High whom he chose as the best of mankind and upon their hands, he sent the Holy Books.
The Messengers were aided with inimitable miracles or mu’jizaat. An inimitable miracle is a break/tear in natural phenomena accompanied by a challenge that meets no opposition.
The Miracle is a sign from Allah, Most High testifying to the truthfulness of his Messenger. [Sanusi, Sharh al-Sughra]
For Example, The Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace) was given the miracle of the Quran. And Prophet Musa (Blessings and peace be upon him) was given the staff and the splitting of the sea.
Among his many miracles, Prophet Isa, son of Maryam (Allah bless them and give them peace), was given the miracle of reviving the dead. Allah, Most High says in the Qur’an:
“He will send him as a messenger to the Children of Israel: “I have come to you with a sign from your Lord: I will make the shape of a bird for you out of clay, then breathe into it and, with God’s permission, it will become a real bird; I will heal the blind and the leper, and bring the dead back to life with God’s permission.” [Qur’an, 3:49]
Prophet Isa (Allah bless him and give him peace) did not give life from his own ability but rather Allah, Most High bestowed upon him the miracle of reviving a dead man.
Please consider taking this class to learn more about the Prophets.
And Allah knows best,
[Ustadh] Omar Popal
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani