Is the existence of miracles not contrary to the mystery of testing?

Question 1: Is there anything called mystery of testing? Question 2: Is there anything like mystery of testing being eliminated? Question 3: Was mystery of testing not eliminated when Hz. Salih extracted a camel from the rock, Hz. Isa (Jesus) revived the dead and Hz. Muhammad split the moon into two? How was the mystery of testing maintained in these incidents?

Dear Brother / Sister,

1. Mystery of testing exists. As a matter of fact, the following is stated in a verse:

"We granted not to any man before thee permanent life (here): if then thou shouldst die would they live permanently? Every soul shall have a taste of death: and We test you by evil and by good by way of trial: to Us must ye return." (al-Anbiya, 21/34-35)

2. Mystery of testing can be eliminated by showing people the realities in a way that will remove their will. However, the free will of nobody in this world is removed. Miracles open doors to the mind but they do not remove the will. A person who does not want to believe can find an excuse so as not to believe. If miracles had been in a state that removed the will of man, mystery of testing would have been eliminated.

3. Human beings were not created based on fixed, unchanging, certain abilities like other creatures. Man can ascend and descend a lot due to his nature. He can improve spiritually and be superior to angels but he can also regress ethically and be much lower than animals.

Allah Almighty did not leave people unattended after creating him with this nature. He taught people through prophets the conditions of ascending to high targets by improving and showed the barriers that will prevent progress and the reasons for demeaning and lowering him; he gave the following order:   

"Here are two ways for you: If you follow one, you will ascend; if you follow the other you will ascend. Do not demean yourself by obeying Satan. Otherwise, you will be accounted for it and suffer eternal frustration."

Man's spiritual and material ascension depends on choosing this true path, which is shown, through his own free will. Life is an opportunity and test for making such a choice.

It is necessary for man not to be under pressure while choosing so that this test will be a real test and he will be held responsible for what he does. He has to see everything through his mind and choose through his will. 

Prophets came in all ages and renewed this divine message; they explained the truths that were forgotten and covered in the course of time in a way that minds will understand and left. However, they did not force people. No prophet forced people to accept something while conveying the divine message to them. In a way, even the miracles that astonished minds were not fully silencing and forcing everybody. For instance, when the staff of Hz. Musa (Moses) swallowed the magic ropes of the magicians and eliminated their tricks, the magicians said,   

"We believe in the Lord of Aaron and Moses" and believed but the Pharaoh said, "Surely this must be your leader, who has taught you magic" (Ta-Ha, 20/71) and continued his unbelief. Similarly, upon the demand of the Makkan polytheists, the Prophet (pbuh) split the moon into two with the gesture of his finger but they continued resisting by saying, "Muhammad started to affect the sky with his magic."

It means religion is a test. In this test, doors are opened to the mind but the will is not removed.

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