see in this verse a denial of signs, only because it is said that signs are with God. It is true that the Holy Qur’ān does not represent Holy Prophet Muḥammad as a wonder-worker, as the Gospels represent Jesus Christ. Signs were shown, not when the Holy Prophet so desired, or when his opponents demanded, but when it was the will of God; hence, whenever an extraordinary sign of the Holy Prophet’s truth was demanded, the reply was that such a sign would come when God willed it.
Another much misunderstood verse of the Qurān relating to the showing of signs is: “And nothing hindered Us from sending signs, but the ancients rejected them … and We send not signs, but to warn.”(17:59) These words do not signify that because the former people had rejected the signs, therefore God would send no more. Had this been their meaning, God would have ceased to send even Divine messages, because the ancients had already rejected such messages. But since the word āyat means both a sign and a communication, the argument of rejection applies to both equally well. The meaning of the words is quite clear. If anything could have been considered as hindering God from sending a new communication or a sign, it would surely have been the rejection of such by previous generations, but it never did. The Divine Being has been equally merciful to all generations, and rejection by former was no ground for depriving later generations of signs and Divine guidance.
As already stated, the greatest miracle of Islām is the Holy Qur’ān. Nor is this an after-thought on the part of the Muslims, for the Holy Book itself claims to be a miracle and has challenged the world to produce its like: “If men and jinn should combine together to bring the like of this Qur’ān, they could not bring the like of it, though some of them were aiders of others” (17:88). “Or, say they, He has forged it. Say: Then bring ten forged chapters like it, and call upon whom you can besides Allāh, if you are truthful” (11:13). “Or, say they: He has forged it? Say: Then bring a chapter like it, and invite whom you can besides Allāh, if you are truthful”(10:38). “And if you are in doubt as to that which We have revealed to Our servant, then produce a chapter like it, and call on your helpers besides Allāh, if