Relation between Prophets’ Miracles, People’s Requests
One of the important points about the miracles of divine prophets is that they did not bring every miracle that people would demand from them. According to the Holy Quran, people sometimes expected prophets to do what was impossible or to the detriment of the world.
What follows are a few examples. Sometimes they demanded prophets to “bring Allah” in front of them or “cause the sky to fall upon us in pieces”. (Surah al-Isra, verse 92). Sometimes they would ask prophets to prove their prophethood by having an “ornate house of gold, or ascend into the heavens” (verse 93) or “own a garden of palms and vines” (verse 91).
Can we really consider owning a garden or palace as a reason for links with God? There were people like the Pharaoh or Korah who had great wealth but did they have any relation with God? Prophets did not come to bring miracles based on the wishes of others and their God-given capability had no other aim but to prove their prophethood. When an architect builds a few perfect structures or when a calligrapher creates some excellent works of calligraphy, they naturally prove their capabilities. They do not need to construct buildings or create artwork for everyone.
God is capable of doing everything but He implements measures with His wisdom.
On the other hand, there were many disbelievers who saw these miracles but dubbed them as magic. One who does not intend to accept and is stubborn to continue the path of disbelief will not find faith in case he is presented with hundreds of signs. There are signs of God everywhere around us but one who wants to remain blind to them will not find faith in God.
Therefore, miracles are brought to remove doubts about prophets’ relation with God as they are not supposed to happen every day and for every person. Meanwhile, we read about the tough conditions that prophets went through in their lives; they would solve their problems with trust in God and patience and never used miracles to get over challenges.
