The mystical occurrence in Fátima, Portugal, known as the “Miracle of the Sun” or the “Miracle of Fátima,” has captivated people’s minds for over a century. Many still study and debate its supernatural nature to this very day. While some skeptics offer questionable explanations; and with Christians exaggerating the evidences, I sought to provide a more objective appraisal.
I embarked on a comprehensive investigation, delving into the primary Portuguese sources and using translation tools to gain an encompassing understanding of the testimonies. By considering arguments from both skeptics and believers, I arrived at a conclusion that is grounded in Islamic methodology and hermeneutics.
My conclusion, free from naturalistic biases and with objective impartiality, is that there is nothing within the events of Fátima that debunks Islam, nor does it affirm any form of Christianity. I hope to offer a fair and well-researched response to those who believe that these events validate their religion without question.
Here is the story of what allegedly happened in Fátima:
The mystical tale of Fátima weaves its way into the annals of history with the alleged “Miracle of the Sun.” In 1917, whispers of the Virgin Mary’s apparitions spread, as three children claimed to have seen a woman in white. Month after month, more and more people gathered to bear witness to these recurring visions.
In the October of that same year, a gathering estimated to include 40,000 to 70,000 people, including dignitaries, professionals and journalists, journeyed to the site in the rain. The children recited the rosary as the woman, identifying herself as Our Lady of the Rosary, promised a miracle and asked for the construction of a chapel in her honor. She also forewarned the end of the war and implored the conversion of sinners.
What followed was a stunning display, as witnesses reported seeing the sun transform into a matte silver disc with a brilliant halo, rotating and casting colors on the clouds and crowd. The sun appeared to spin and even plummet towards earth, before reassuming its normal position.
Amidst the swirling clouds of controversy surrounding the “Miracle of the Sun” at Fátima, there exists a wealth of documents and sources to help shed light on the events of 1917. From the memoirs of Sister Lúcia of Fátima, penned between 1935 and 1941, to Father José Geraldes’ Documentação Crítica de Fátima, published by the Fátima Sanctuary in 1988, these writings offer an illuminating glimpse into what occurred that fateful October day.
However, it is crucial to note that not all of these authors may have been free from bias or manipulation. Yet, these sources can still provide a valuable point of reference in piecing together the truth about the Miracle of Fátima. By asking questions such as who witnessed the apparition of the Virgin Mary; whether or not all of those who were present saw the Miracle of the Sun; and if the testimonies align, we can work towards constructing a clearer image and understanding of what actually transpired.
While there are reports of similar miracles occurring on August 13th and September 13th, these accounts are few and far between, with just as many denying their existence altogether. This article will stick to addressing the events of October 13th considering that it would subsequently refute any claims of a miracle within this series of cases.
In my review of the available accounts, I believe that, while some contradictions exist, most of it can be reconciled in order to paint a plausible picture of the events. However, it would most certainly be inaccurate for anyone to suggest that all of the accounts align perfectly.
The imagination of believers has been captured by various depictions of the Fátima events in the form of multiple movies. These portrayals of the Virgin Mary descending from the sky, revealing secrets to Lúcia and ascending back to heaven, being watched by a captivated crowd, are often exaggerated.
After evaluating all the accounts, it is clear that the reality of the events was likely far more nuanced than these very sensationalized dramatizations suggest.
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Examining the Evidence: Did Everyone See the Fátima Sun Miracle?
Kevin McClure’s findings shed light on the fact that not everyone witnessed the Sun Miracle at Fátima, yet certain Christian apologists have sought to challenge this claim. In 1961, John Hafferd stated that all of the witnesses he encountered reported seeing something. Brother Michel of the Holy Trinity, in his book, The Whole Truth About Fatima, cited examples of witnesses who did not see the sun, but he simply dismissed them as being unreliable due to the existence of confusion regarding several people, their anonymity, or possibly being distracted.
However, my investigation has uncovered compelling evidence from the initial accounts of the events suggesting that several individuals failed to witness the Sun Miracle. Leonor de Avelar e Silva Constâncio’s testimony revealed that among the more cultivated classes, not a single person claimed to have seen the celestial apparition, despite expressing their faith.
Documentação Crítica de Fátima, p.89-91:
Among the more educated classes, no one told me that they had seen the celestial apparition, but it is certain that all of them, learned and unlearned, manifested their faith.
Maria José de Lemos Queirós also gave testimony, mentioning that her coachman saw nothing.
Documentação Crítica de Fátima, p.126-130:
It would not be surprising if among the thousands of people present, there were others like our coachman, to whom I asked while standing by the car at the top of the valley: ‘So, Mr. Manuel, did you like and see the sun?’… It seems that at that moment, he was feeding the horses! Great materialist (being a very good person, by the way)… Nothing surprising.
John Haffert’s claims of a universal witnessing of the Fátima sun miracle are fraught with inconsistencies. He states that all those he encountered saw the event, but there is evidence which suggests otherwise. One striking example of his embellishments is his assertion that the clothes of the witnesses instantly dried during the miracle, a detail not found within the original sources. Such fabrications raise serious questions regarding the reliability of his testimony.
Father Martindale also mentions individuals who failed to see the miracle. He mentions that he knew two English women and two Portuguese women that reportedly saw nothing, perhaps due to their location within the crowd or maybe due to being distracted.
The fact remains that not everyone who was present bore witness to the sun miracle at Fátima. Despite attempts by certain Christian sources to deny this fact, ample testimonials and evidence exist to suggest that there were many individuals who were not privy to witnessing this extraordinary event.
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The Fátima Dilemma: Reality or Hallucination?
The veracity of the Fátima miracle is a source of theological dispute among both Muslims and Catholics. Certain scholars, such as John de Marchi, father Manuel Martins and Francis Johnston assert that it is beyond any doubt that the event was not real. They say it was merely a vision of the heart.
If, indeed, the sun had danced across the sky on October 13, 1917, in the full light of day and during a time when photography was both quite advanced and widely accessible, it is hard to believe that, if it actually happened, only a few individuals present at Fátima were able to witness the occurrence. Furthermore, the fact that not all of those who were present on that day saw the miracle casts further doubt on the entire incident. If it were indeed a real event, one would expect that everyone would have seen it, not just a fraction of those that were present.
Photographic evidence of the event exists, yet it contradicts the accounts of witnesses. Many who were present have claimed that the people and the earth had taken on a yellowish or purplish hue, whereas colorizing the photographs from that time with contemporary software reveals that the people appeared entirely normal.
This picture was taken during the alleged “Miracle of the Sun,” and, as you can see, the people and the earth look completely normal.RELATED: American Christians: Are They Actually Christian?
The Fátima Incident: Examining Its Credibility from an Islamic Hermeneutics Perspective
In Islamic hermeneutics, we have something called mutawatir. This a report that is mass transmitted from generation to generation by upright, reliable, scrupulous narrators on such a scale that it would have been impossible for them to have all colluded in fabricating it. A testimony that is mutawatir holds the highest level of truth and reliability. But does the Fátima event fit the criteria of a mutawatir testimony? To be considered as such, a narration must have multiple credible witnesses, and its evidence must be established by both the mind and the senses.
Determining whether or not the Fátima event meets the criteria of mutawatir is quite challenging, and there are numerous factors that must be considered. These include the possibility of the sources being unreliable, subjectivity present in the witness testimony and also the existence of reports that have been tampered with or even fabricated.
It’s important to understand that people’s individual perceptions of miracles can vary greatly. Some witnesses of the Fátima event were in a state of ecstasy while others were on their knees. However, the idea that all accounts of this event are fabricated does seem unlikely. There may have been exaggerations as well as individuals who exploited the situation, but the notion that everything has been falsified may be a difficult argument to substantiate.
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The Role of Satan and the Fátima Miracle
The Fátima event has sparked an array of intense reactions, with some Catholics deeming it to be a validation of Catholicism and others interpreting it as a debunking of Islam.
In Islamic thought, Satan has the ability to assume human form. This is evidenced by multiple hadiths (Prophetic reports), including one in particular where the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) says that the one who sees him in a dream truly sees him, as Satan cannot mimic his form.
Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said:
“Who ever sees me in a dream, then he has certainly seen me, for Shaytan cannot mimic my appearance.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, 6997)
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates:
Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) ordered me to guard the Zakat revenue of Ramadan. Then somebody came to me and started stealing from the foodstuff.
I caught him and said, “I will take you to Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ)!”
Abu Hurayrah mentioned the narration and said:
That person said (to me), “(Please don’t take me to Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) and I will tell you a few words by which Allah will benefit you.) When you go to your bed, recite Ayat-al-Kursi, (2.255) for then there will be a guard from Allah who will protect you all night long, and Satan will not be able to come near you till dawn.”
(When the Prophet (ﷺ) heard the story) he said (to me), “He (who came to you at night) told you the truth despite being a liar. That was Shaytan.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, 5010)
Some scholars believe that Satan can even cause auditory or visual hallucinations.
The Bible also mentions that Satan masquerades as an angel of light.
2 Corinthians 11:14:
And [it is] not wonderful, for Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.
The Catholic Church acknowledges the existence of possessions and hallucinations caused by Satan, and this is a possibility that no true Catholic can deny.
How do we distinguish between divine events and those engineered by the devil then, and what are the markers to look out for?
First of all, it is known that God does not incite idolatry.
The devil, on the other hand, often blends truth with falsehood.
Catholics claim that the Fátima apparition of the Virgin Mary was a call to repent, but it had negative impacts on the children involved who engaged in self-harming practices. The “Virgin Mary” never asked them to stop. If a person’s child repeatedly started hurting themself after seeing apparitions, any sane Christian would assume that this child had become possessed, not that they are a prophet of God.
There’s also another significant factor that we haven’t touched upon yet. The Miracle of Fátima appearances were also marked by prophecies, one of which completely failed to materialize. This was the prediction that World War I would end on the day of the Miracle. There were doubts raised, and Father Joaquim even wrote in a letter that some witnesses lost faith because the war lasted longer than promised.
I have consulted many people about this, and they all confirm the same thing that the witnesses to the same document said…what has currently cooled some people’s faith a bit is that one of the shepherds said that the war would end the same day, or the next night, and it (the war) still went on with the whole increment.
Some saw the failed prophecy as evidence of manifest falsehood, while others attributed it to the emotional state and age of the witness.
This response sounds like a cop-out to justify Lúcia’s mistake. In Islam and Christianity, God only sends prophecies to people who are trustworthy and capable of transmitting the message accurately and reliably. If a supernatural event happened in Fátima, we can only conclude that it was the work of Shaytan.
As Deuteronomy 18:22 states:
If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the Lord does not take place or come true, that is a message the Lord has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously, so do not be alarmed.
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Conclusion
The “Miracle of the Sun” at Fátima, Portugal, remains a subject of much debate and speculation. While some believers hold this event as proof of the supernatural, skeptics have questioned its authenticity. In this article, we have sought to present a more balanced and impartial perspective on the matter by delving into primary Portuguese sources and considering the arguments of both sides.
After a thorough review of the available accounts, it is clear that the events which occurred in 1917 were likely more nuanced than the sensationalized dramatizations often portrayed in popular Christian media. Not everyone present at the gathering claimed to have witnessed the sun transform into a silver disc and cast colors on the clouds and crowd, leading us to question the validity of these claims.
The accounts of the events are also not without contradictions, further confounding our understanding of what actually transpired. It is also important to keep in mind that the authors of many of the sources used in this investigation may not have been free from bias or manipulation, adding yet another layer of complexity to our understanding of the supposed “Miracle of the Sun.”
Ultimately, my investigation found no evidence that the events that transpired at Fátima validate Christianity, and they most certainly do not somehow debunk Islam.
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I think the author is rather naive.
The Christians of the iberian peninsula are known for using shenanigans to convert people. How the Mexicans became christian: The concept of building churches on or near the sites of temples enabled the Indians to continue their pilgrimages. And by no small chance, it was close to the sanctuary of the goddess Tonantzin on Tepeyac Hill outside Mexico City that the “dark” Virgin of Guadalupe first appeared to a humble Indian, Juan Diego, on December 12, 1531.
This case is a little bit tougher to address because we have testimonies from atheists that are published in Portuguese secular journals the day after the event that say that they have witnessed the dance of the sun.
It may still be a Christian manipulation, but I think most Catholics would think our skepticism is a hidden bias in this case.
My position is to be charitable because I want to reach Catholics as well and convince them that this “miracle” is in no way a proof of Catholicism.
You have a good point. It is proof by mutawatir as you say. However, if these apparitions are true, it is a pretty big proof to become Catholic. Muslims believe in miracles like the prophet SAW splitting the moon or making water appear when people are thirsty.
This is the map of all the supposed apparitions https://bigthink.com/strange-maps/world-map-marian-apparitions/
There is over 100 such apparitions.
Everywhere the Catholics went, they converted people based on these apparitions
I invite you to read the article, I actually responded to that.
It doesn’t matter whether these apparitions are true or false, because both Islam and Catholicism allow evil to disguise itself in human form to deceive.
In any case, most testimonies of Marian apparitions are scarce and untrustworthy. People claimed to see the sun dancing at Fatima, but very few people claimed to have seen the Virgin Mary.
Due to my lack of expertise in hadith, I did not want to make any definitive judgement as to whether the “Miracle” of the Sun meets the criteria of Mutawatir. One of the requirements of mutawatir is that the testimony must be attested by the senses, and here it clearly was not a physical event, so I am pretty sure it would be rejected as a mutawatir report.
No need for such long winded analyses.
Even if the whole story is real, so what?
We acknowledge the reality of sorcery by the pharaohs and the dajjal. Simple and lucid Muslim belief will eliminate all doubts.
Thanks for the feedback bro.
I agree that the satanic part of my argument is the most important.
I have no problem accepting that something happened but was caused by shaytan, hence the last part of the article.
Yet we needed to address a few points first, to show that if something happened it was a vision of the heart.
It’s important because if it was a real event, many people would think that we are inconsistent in accepting the Prophet’s (sws) miracles and not this one.
Brother, we accept miracles of the prophets as they are from Allah. We do not accept the istidraj of the disbelievers and the ahlul bi’ah. This is basic creed. There is nothing inconsistent about it.
Our faith stands on sound reason & miracles reinforce the faith & the status of the prophets as the bearers of the truthful message of Allah.
We accept the possibility of occurrence of istidraj by disbelievers (like dajjal, fir’awn etc) who propagate jahl and kufr, that have nothing to do with faith or reason.
In short, sound reason, sound faith, and miracles go together as an all or none package, if you will – with the added caveat that prophetic miracles can’t be imitated by the non-prophets around them.
If sound reason and sound faith of Ahlus Sunnah are absent, then the paranormal occurrence is istidraj.
We do not accept the istidraj of the disbelievers and the ahlul bid’ah = we do not accept them as proof of their ‘aqidah or manhaj. We don’t care about the reality of the event itself and we acknowledge it is possible to occur.
Even if pope francis walks on water or flies on a rainbow flag between his legs, he’s still a faggot supporter and child abuse covering up trinity thumping infidel whom we damn care for –
bbc.com/news/world-64532639
According to my reading, you are right that performing a “miracle” is not a sufficient condition to be a prophet. That’s why I developed that point in the last part of the article, and I explained that God cannot call us into idolatry and that the concept of a “Christian miracle” must be rejected by principle.
Though in his Kitan An Nubuwwat, Ibn Taymiyya divides all alleged miracles into several categories. He affirms that only prophets can realize what he calls “Ayat Al Kubra.” So there is a level of events that cannot be done by non-prophets which includes things like resurrecting death, splitting the moon, making the trees speak, and so forth.
Ibn Taymiyya further explains that there are smaller ayats (“ayat al sughra”) that can be accomplished by both the prophet and the awliya (most commonly referred to as karamat.)
Another critical distinction is that miracles done by prophets are within the realm of what only the Angels can do, or only Allah can do, but the “miracles” of the false prophets are within the realm of what the Jinn can do (for more development on that please refer back to Kitab An Nubuwwat.)
For all these reasons, I think it is pertinent to show how the events of Fatima can be accomplished by the Jinn. This is not like the miracles of the prophets.
Allah knows best and every good is from Him, and every mistake is from me and Shaytan.
Things like this need to be tackled
But I feel you weren’t hard enough
A bit too soft. I dont think anyone cares about this though it could be there are people that do
Im just not sure of the purpose of this article. Is it to debunk a claim made by thousands or millions of people
Or
Is it just a reminder christianity has nothing and this is a learning experience to always dive deep into nonsensical claims the cultists make
I think he was being charitable, otherwise we all know what’d have happened if that SPECIFIC guy from Shiraz did the article writing 🤣🤣🤣🤣 Masha Allah
I wrote the article because I think many Catholics genuinely think they’re on the truth because of these arguments.
Since we don’t find many refutations of this event in the English world I decided to write about it.
I may have been soft and charitable, but I think the harsh and ultra-skeptic approach is not the best one when it comes to Catholicism. When Muslims do that, they liken us to stubborn atheists, which we are not.
I prefer to steelman their argument and refute it.
I don’t agree with what some people are saying that this article was unnecessary or “soft”, I think it’s a good thing to analyze events like this because of their implications for religious beliefs, as Catholics can argue this event to be a proof of their faith. Also, there’s a difference between being “soft” and simply having a calm tone. Quran 29:46 “Argue not with the People of the Book except in a way that is best…”
Thanks for the support bro,
I may address other of these Christian claims in the future, in sha Allah.
Look into Eucharistic miracles next (whereby the bread becomes real flesh), specifically the ones that have been lab tested and shown to be real flesh/blood by scientific analysis. This is a doctrinally specific miracle that seems spectacular.
It was already on my To-do list! But thanks for the recommendation.
You say you used “translation tools”, but machine translation can be SUPER misleading and this really ruins the credibility of the research. I have read they did lighten up on penance per the Lady…also, the idea that the devil did it feels quite weak and many Christians say the same thing about even the greatest miracle used to prove Islam, the Quran. So this objection feels like it just comes down to previous beliefs and can be used for most signs/miracles.
Have you returned to the original sources? Because the Document of Fatima sanctuary published in 1992 are the closest source to the event and should be the main authority on the issue. It’s in Portuguese but translation tools nowadays are very efficient, and I used several translation tools + AI to confirm the translation. The error margin here is very short especially from Portuguese to French since both languages are Latin languages. If any of the translation + information is factually incorrect I invite you to show me where and I would be happy to correct the article.
Regarding penance, it is true that “the apparition” seemingly said to stop at night, but it never asked to stop it entirely. Seem pretty satanic to me.
Moon Splitting: 7th century, at night, with no camera and no media, everyone present at the moon-splitting miracle affirms it happened, with no narration of someone denying it happened.
Sun of the Dance: 20th century, in the full day when everybody is active, cameras and media all over the world, nobody except people in the region has affirmed to have seen the miracle, people present on the very same day have denied having seen the sun dancing.
See the difference already?
Hello,
Over 70,000 people witnessed the miracle of the sun. Even the Masonic newspaper in Lisbon called O Seculo reported it. Also please see Dr. Goncalo de Almeida Garrret and what he says on this. He was the Professor of Natural Sciences at Coimbra University.
Also see what Dr. Domingos Pinto Coelho, a lawyer has said about the miracle of the sun.
Lisbon paper O Dia reports on the miracle as well.
Hello,
I have read all the early sources available and I am well aware of that piece of paper.
That being said, if the miracle is real, how do you explain that nobody except people being in Fatima and in the Area have seen the Dance of the Sun? Nobody in Lisbon saw it, nobody in Morocco, nobody in France, nobody in Spain?
The sun was seen several kilometers from Fatima. Furthermore, you do not cite any direct testimony that rejects the miracle of the sun. You are quoting only those that someone has narrated, not a direct witness
Was it seen in France? In Spain? In Morocco? In Senegal? In the UK? All these countries share the same latitude. Why wasn’t it observed? Please provide the quote that says it was seen in these places.
I cited direct testimony of people testifying that they saw the sun dancing but that everyone present did not witness it.
Listed below are Father Martindale and Michel of the Saint-Trinity who wrote books to defend the “Miracle of Fatima.” They themselves quoted testimonies from people who did not see the sun dancing despite not being skeptical of the event.
Nasa has debunked the alleged moon splitting.
https://sservi.nasa.gov/?question=evidence-moon-having-been-split-two
Nobody expect Nasa to validate or refute the moon-splitting.
The name Fatima has a clear Muslim connect to it. Does this has any past connect to Islamic Spain has to be investigated. My assumption would be disproven if there exists a naming habit as Fatima among Christians before 7th century. If there is no record for name Fatima among Christian comminity before Islamic Spain period, or before 7th Century- we can conclude that even the name Fatima is non-Christian.