If a Muslim has doubts, will it harm him to ask about the truthfulness of some miracle?

The Muslim should praise Allah, may He be exalted, and thank
Him for the blessing of Islam and right guidance, for it is the greatest of
blessings, as Allah, may He be exalted, says (interpretation of the
meaning):

“Is he who
was dead (without Faith by ignorance and disbelief) and We gave him life (by
knowledge and Faith) and set for him a light (of Belief) whereby he can walk
amongst men, like him who is in the darkness (of disbelief, polytheism and
hypocrisy) from which he can never come out? Thus it is made fair-seeming to
the disbelievers that which they used to do”

[al-An‘aam 6:122]

“Is he whose
heart Allah has opened to Islam, so that he is in light from His Lord (as he
who is non-Muslim)? So, woe to those whose hearts are hardened against
remembrance of Allah! They are in plain error!”

[az-Zumar 39:22]

“And had it
not been for the Grace of Allah and His Mercy on you, not one of you would
ever have been pure from sins. But Allah purifies (guides to Islam) whom He
wills”

[an-Noor 24:21]. 

If this Muslim looks at the world around him and reflects
upon what the people of polytheism and idolatry, such as the Christians and
others, follow, he will realise the greatness of the blessing that Allah has
bestowed upon him. 

Yet despite that, the Muslim may experience some doubts,
because of his lack of knowledge or weakness of faith, or because there is
someone who tries to make him doubt. In that case, he has to dispel the
doubt by asking people of knowledge, and reflecting upon the words of Allah,
may He be exalted, and the words of His Prophet (blessings and peace of
Allah be upon him), and by studying the Seerah (Prophet’s biography) and
signs and miracles, for these are things that will increase his faith and
bring him peace of mind and reassurance. 

There is nothing wrong with asking about a miracle and how
sound it is, so as to increase one’s certainty and steadfastness. Asking
such questions is not regarded as going beyond the bounds of Islam, but he
should beware of persisting in doubts or stopping good deeds, such as giving
up prayer – Allah forbid – because giving up prayer constitutes disbelief
(and puts a person beyond the bounds of Islam), according to the more sound
of the two scholarly opinions. 

The Muslim should understand that no matter what sins he may
commit, if he then repents and seeks forgiveness, Allah, may He be exalted,
will forgive him no matter what his sins are. Allah, may He be exalted,
turned in mercy to people who had lived all their lives in disbelief,
polytheism and barring people from the path of Allah, then they became
leaders of guidance, lights that illuminated the darkness and beacons on the
path of truth and righteousness. Allah, may He be exalted, says
(interpretation of the meaning):

“Know they
not that Allah accepts repentance from His slaves and takes the Sadaqat
(alms, charities) and that Allah Alone is the One Who forgives and accepts
repentance, Most Merciful?”

[at-Tawbah 9:104]

“And He it is
Who accepts repentance from His slaves, and forgives sins, and He knows what
you do”

[ash-Shoora 42:25]. 

No matter how great the sin, Allah’s mercy, forgiveness and
generosity are greater. 

The poet spoke well who said: 

O Lord, although my sins are great and many, I know that Your
forgiveness is greater

If it be the case that only doers of good can hope for Your
grace, then who could the sinner turn to for mercy? 

Our advice to the one who is faced with doubts is that he
should turn to the Book of Allah, may He be exalted, for it is a remedy and
a healing, as Allah, may He be glorified, says (interpretation of the
meaning):

“And We send
down from the Quran that which is a healing and a mercy to those who believe
(in Islamic Monotheism and act on it), and it increases the Zalimoon
(polytheists and wrong-doers) nothing but loss”

[al-Isra’ 17:82]. 

So let him turn to Allah, calling upon Him and hoping that He
will remove his worry, relieve his distress, illuminate his heart and free
him from the tricks of the Shaytaan. 

If his doubt is based on a particular specious argument, let
him ask the scholars about it, for the religion of Islam is so great and
strong that no specious argument can stand up to it or resist it. 

If what he is dealing with is a kind of waswasah (whispers
from the Shaytaan) that is not based on a particular argument, then the
remedy for that is remembering Allah (dhikr), doing acts of obedience and
worship, seeking refuge with Allah, keeping busy and ignoring it. See
question no. 12315. 

We ask Allah to help us all to do that which He loves and
which pleases Him.

And Allah knows best.