Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah.
A karamah (extraordinary favor) is a supernatural event that Allah grants at the hands of one of His righteous servants as an honor for them. A miracle (mu'jizah), however, is a supernatural event that Allah manifests through a prophet as proof of his prophethood. Therefore, the extraordinary events that occurred to the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) are considered karamat, not prophetic miracles.
Several authentic karamat of the Companions have been reported, including:
- The staffs of Usayd ibn Hudayr and 'Abbad ibn Bishr (may Allah be pleased with them) illuminated the way for them on a dark night until they reached their homes. This is authentically reported in Sahih al-Bukhari.
- During the Battle of Badr, the sword of 'Ukkashah ibn Mihsan (may Allah be pleased with him) broke. The Prophet ﷺ gave him a palm branch, which, by Allah's permission, was transformed into a sword with which he continued fighting.
- Allah answered the supplication of Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas (may Allah be pleased with him) against a man who had falsely accused him.
- The angels descended to listen to Usayd ibn Hudayr (may Allah be pleased with him) while he was reciting Surah al-Baqarah.
- The angels greeted 'Imran ibn Husayn (may Allah be pleased with him) with salutations.
- Khubayb ibn 'Adi (may Allah be pleased with him) was provided with fresh grapes while he was a prisoner in Makkah, even though it was not the season for grapes.
These and other karamat are affirmed by Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama'ah. They are among the favors that Allah grants to whomsoever He wills from among His righteous servants.
However, the occurrence of a karamah does not mean that the person is infallible or necessarily superior to others. Likewise, a karamah is not established merely through stories or popular accounts. It must be supported by authentic evidence, and the person to whom it occurred must be known for adhering to the Qur'an and the Sunnah.
Summary
- A karamah is different from a miracle (mu'jizah); miracles are granted to prophets, while karamat are granted to righteous servants of Allah.
- Authentic karamat of several Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) are established in the Sunnah.
- Among the most well-known are: the illuminated staffs, answered supplications, the descent of the angels to listen to the Qur'an, and the angels greeting some of the Companions.
- Karamat are a true and established reality, but they are accepted only when supported by authentic evidence. They are among Allah's favors bestowed upon His righteous servants.
And Allah knows best.