To what extent is it valid to consider extraordinary phenomena that occur to deceased righteous individuals, such as the illumination of their faces or the emanation of a pleasant fragrance, as miracles (karāmāt) from Allah, or are they rather machinations of Satan to enhance belief in the deceased, especially considering that those who were superior, like Abu Bakr and Umar, did not experience such things, and that miracles are meant to affirm the one to whom they occur, not to guide others?

The miracles (karamat) of the awliya' (saints) are extraordinary occurrences that happen at the hands of Allah's righteous saints. They may serve to strengthen the saint, display his virtue, or guide others. Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah mentions that karamat may occur according to a person's need. A person with weak faith or one in need may receive them to strengthen their faith, whereas someone who is not in need of them may not receive them due to their elevated spiritual rank. They may also occur for the deceased, such as the emanation of a pleasant fragrance from the graves of some righteous individuals, the preservation of their bodies, or the hearing of a reply to a greeting from their graves. These miracles indicate the virtue of the occupant of the grave but do not necessitate the desirability of prayer or supplication at graves.