Objections > Knowledge
Of The Unseen Possessed By The Prophet
KNOWLEDGE
OF THE UNSEEN POSSESSED BY THE PROPHET
(SALLAL LAAHU ALAIHI WASALLAM)
Some people do not accept that the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sallal laahu
alaihi wasallam) has been blessed by Allah Ta'ala with Ilm-e -Ghayb (Knowledge
of the Unseen). The Ahle Sunnah Wal Jama'at believes that the Holy Prophet
(sallal laahu alaihi wasallam), after being informed by Allah Ta'ala,
is aware of everything that happened and will happen.
"Ghayb" is that hidden thing which cannot be perceived by human
senses nor can be known through human wisdom. The Holy Quran has mentioned
Ilm-e-Ghayb in several verses and has declared that this Knowledge is
one of the Attributes of Allah. "Say thou, (O Muhammad)! The Knowledge
of Unseen belongeth unto Allah alone." (Surah Yunus, 10:20) See also
Surah Ana'm 6:59; Surah Baqarah, 2:33; Surah Hud, 10:31. These verses
indicate that the Knowledge of Unseen belongs to Allah Ta'ala Alone. Nobody
on his own has this knowledge nor can anybody possess this Divine Treasure.
However, these verses have nowhere indicated Allah Ta'ala to say that
He does not grant this Knowledge of Unseen to anybody.
Allah Ta'ala says: "Allah Alone is the Knower of the Unseen. He never
grants the Knowledge of his Ghayb to anyone but to His chosen Messengers
and appoints guard before them and behind them." (Surah Jinn, 72:26-27).
The Holy Quran has mentioned at various places that Allah Ta'ala has granted
the Knowledge of Unseen to His exalted Prophets. See Surah Baqarah, 2:31;
Surah Baqarah, 2: 251; Surah Naml, 27:16; Surah Ambiya, 21:74; Surah Yusuf,
12:68; Surah Yusuf, 12:96; Surah Qasas, 28:14.
The Knowledge of Unseen was also given to the Holy Prophet (sallal laahu
alaihi wasallam). This was his biggest miracle. The Holy Prophet (sallal
laahu alaihi wasallam) was granted the knowledge equivalent to the knowledge
which was given to 124 000 or more Prophets.
The Quran say: "And, O Beloved (Prophet)! If there had not been the
Grace and Mercy of Allah upon you, then some people of them had wished
to defraud you. And they are misleading themselves only and they will
not hurt you in anything. And Allah has sent down to you the Book of Wisdom
and has taught you what you did not know and great is the Grace of Allah
upon you." (Surah Nisa 4:113) This verse proves that not a single
thing in both worlds is left excluded from the knowledge of the Holy Prophet
(sallal laahu alaihi wasallam). The word "Great Grace" verifies
this fact. The Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) was taught
by Allah Ta'ala.
The Holy Quran say: "These are the tidings of Unseen that We reveal
to you in secret. And you were not with them when they drew lots with
their pen that under those guardianship Maryam should be given and you
were not with then when they were disputing." (Surah Ale Imraan,
3:44) In this verse, the Holy Quran gives the reason of mentioning the
episodes of the past Prophets. Allah Ta'ala says: O Beloved One! These
episodes are not mentioned as mere tales of the past. We have mentioned
these events to prove your Prophethood. The Knowledge of Unseen will become
the testimony of your special status as the Apostle of Allah Ta'ala. O
Prophet! These is among those events of which the accurate records are
now obliterated altogether, and there is no means of knowing in full and
exact details except by Revelation.
The phrase "tidings of the Unseen" indicate that Allah Ta'ala
has given the Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) the knowledge
of those things, which happened long before him or to happen in the distant
future.
The Holy Quran, which was revealed to Hazrat Muhammad (sallal laahu alaihi
wasallam) contained everything that he would need in religion and in world
affairs as well. The Holy Quran says that Allah Ta'ala taught His Beloved
the Quran. He created Muhammad (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) the soul
of the Mankind and taught him the knowledge of the past and the present.
The Holy Quran says: "And taught you that which you knew not. And
this is a great favour of Allah Ta'ala upon you."
Tafseer-e-Jalalain says Allah Ta'ala taught His Apostle (sallal laahu
alaihi wasallam) the commandments and the Unseen. Tafseer-e-Kabir observes
that Allah Ta'ala revealed to Hazrat Muhammad (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam)
the Holy Quran, and the knowledge, and taught him the Divine Secrets,
and implications. Tafseer-e-Jalalain says that Allah Ta'ala taught the
Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) the Shari'ah Laws and the
religion, and taught him the Unseen, which he knew not, and gave him the
knowledge of that which was hidden in the human mind, and disclosed to
him the evil doings of the Hypocrites. Tafseer-e-Hussaini Bahrul Haqaeq
says that the above verse refers to the absolute knowledge of all Unseen
which Allah Ta'ala granted to Hazrat Muhammad (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam)
during the Me'raj. The Hadith of Me'raj reports the Holy Prophet (sallal
laahu alaihi wasallam) as saying: "I was beneath the Arsh when Allah
put a drop into my throat and (with that) I attained the knowledge of
the past and the future."
Commentators observe that Allah Ta'ala has created Lauh-e-Mahfooz, a Tablet
on which the Destinies of the world since it's creation are written. It
contains the Knowledge of all possible things. The knowledge of the Holy
Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) encompasses the Lauh. The Holy
Quran contains whatever is written in the Lauh and since the Holy Prophet
(sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) has been taught the Quran, he has the Knowledge
of the Lauh-e-Mahfooz.
Allah Ta'ala showed Hazrat Adam (alaihis salaam) all His creatures in
person and made him learn the things by their names. Allah Ta'ala taught
him the names of those who would be in his generation and also taught
him all the languages. Allah Ta'ala also taught him the Names of Angels
and all human beings who would belong to his generation, and the names
of animals and vegetation, and taught him to manufacture things, and taught
him the names of the cities and towns, and trees, and the names of those
whom He will create until Doomsday, and taught him the names of all the
gifts in Paradise.
The knowledge of Adam (alaihis salaam), who is first Khalifa (vicegerent)
of Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam), is a drop in
the ocean when compared with the knowledge that Allah Ta'ala gave to his
beloved Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam). When the
knowledge of a Khalifa is so vast and overwhelming, one can well estimate
the magnitude of the knowledge of the original person.
Commentators say that the knowledge of Awliya if compared with the knowledge
of the Prophets is just like a drop in seven seas, and the knowledge of
Prophets is like the same when compared with the knowledge of Hazrat Muhammad
(sallal laahu alaihi wasallam); and the knowledge of Hazrat Muhammad (sallal
laahu alaihi wasallam) when compared with that of Allah is just like a
drop out of seven seas.
The fact that Allah Ta'ala has granted Hazrat Muhammad (sallal laahu alaihi
wasallam) the Knowledge of Unseen, can be explained in three dimensions:
1. Firstly, he was given the Knowledge of the Unseen directly: Surah Hud,
11:49 - "These tidings of Unseen, We reveal to you. Neither you did
know nor your people before this. Then be patient. No doubt there is good
for the duty-bound." See also Surah Yusuf, 12:102; Surah Takvir,
81:24.
2. He was given the Quran, which is the treasure house of the Knowledge
of the Unseen: "O People of the Book! Undoubtedly, Our Messenger
has come to you who makes clear to you much of that which you had hidden
in the Book and pardons much. Undoubtedly, there has come to you from
Allah a Light and a Book Luminous." (Surah Maidah, 5:15) See also
Surah Nahl, 16:89; Surah Yusuf, 12:111; Surah An'am, 6:38; Surah Naml,
27:75; Surah An'am, 6:59.
3. He was sent as a witness. A witness can only be that person who is
present at the place and time of happening and sees everything by himself.
"Surely we have sent you as a witness (present and seeing) and a
bearer of Glad Tidings and a Warner." (Surah Fath, 48:8) See also
Surah Nisa, 4:41; Surah Muzzammil, 73:15. These verses prove that Hazrat
Muhammad (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) will stand witness on the Day
of Judgement. He will not only bear witness for his own Ummah but also
for the Ummah of other Prophets.
The following Traditions of the Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam)
also indicate that Hazrat Muhammad (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) has
been granted comprehensive Knowledge of Unseen:
1. The Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) said: "I can see
at my back in the same manner as I can see in my front." (Sahih Muslim)
2. The Holy Prophet Muhammad (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) saw Nabi Musa
(alaihis salaam) loudly reciting the Tasbih in the valley of Azraq.
3. The Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) was going from Medina
to Mecca. Then he saw Hazrat Yunus (alaihis salaam) wearing a woollen
garb and riding a red she-camel in the valley of Hersh. (Ibn-e-Majah)
4. Another Hadith reports Hazrat Muhammad (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam)
beholding the Paradise and the Hell. (Muslim)
5. Prophet Muhammad (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) knows the name of each
inmate of the Heaven and the Hell. (Miskhat)
6. Another Hadith reports that a man asked the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sallal
laahu alaihi wasallam) whether he would go to Paradise or the Hell. The
Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) said that he would go to Hell.
(Bukhari)
7. The Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) said: "My Ummah
has been presented to me along with its good and bad deeds." (Muslim)
8. The Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) said: "Last night
my Ummah was presented to me near my house. I know each and every person
more intimately than you know about your colleagues." (Anba-el-Mustafa)
9. Hazrat Uthman ibn-e-Khattab (radi Allahu anhu) narrates: "The
Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) was camping with us at a place
where he gave us information about the creation of the world."
10. The Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) is reported to have
said: "Allah has shrunk the earth for me so I could see its easts
and wests." (Mishkat)
11. Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar (radi Allahu anhu) has narrated that the
Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) said, "Allah has put
the entire earth before me. I can see the Universe and the things which
are going to happen here till the Doomsday like I see my palm."
12. Hazrat Huzaifa (radi Allahu anhu) has reported: "The Apostle
of Allah, Hazrat Muhammad (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam), informed us
about three hundred or more persons who would appear on the face of the
earth and generate tension and crises among the Muslims. The Apostle of
Allah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) told us their names along with their
father's names and their tribe as well." (Mishkat)
13. Hazrat Ayesha (radi Allahu anha) asked the Holy Prophet (sallal laahu
alaihi wasallam), "O Prophet! Is there any person in the world whose
virtues are equal to the number of stars?" The Holy Prophet (sallal
laahu alaihi wasallam) said, "Yes, and he is Umar (radi Allahu anhu)".
This Hadith shows that the Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam)
has the knowledge of all apparent and hidden actions of people and also
the knowledge of stars.
14. Hazrat Huzayfah Ibn-e-Usayd (radi Allahu anhu) reported that the Holy
Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) said, "Last night my Ummah
was presented to me from beginning to the end." The companions asked,
"O Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam), how could you see those
who were not even created so far." He said, "Allah created the
faces of my Ummah in water and soil and I could recognise each of them
better than that you know your colleagues."
15. And, finally, what can be hidden from the person who could see Allah
Ta'ala! The Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) says: "I
saw Allah the Almighty. Allah put His Hand at my back and I felt it's
coolness in my chest. The very moment, everything became known to me and
I recognized everything." (Tirmidi; Mishkat)
There are some other instances indicating that the Holy Prophet (sallal
laahu alaihi wasallam) was granted the Knowledge of the Unseen:
1. The Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) said, "Ubai bin
Khalaf will be killed in my hands".
2. Suraqah bin Malik will wear the gold bangles of Khosroes.
3. Informing about the Martyrdom of Imam Hussain (radi Allahu anhu) years
before his assassination at Karbala.
4. Informing about the split in the Muslim nation into 73 Sects, with
one Sect following the righteous path.
5. During the Uhud battle, he informed that the Angels have taken away
the body of Hazrat Hunzulah (radi Allahu anhu) to give him the last bath.
6. Informing that his wife with long arms (Hazrat Zainab - radi Allahu
anha) would be first among his wives to join him after death.
7. He said that Abu Bakr (radi Allahu anhu) is the inmate of the Paradise.
8. Hussain and Hasan (radi Allahu anhuma) are the Chief of Youths in the
Heaven.
9. Fatima Zahra (radi Allahu anha) is the Chief of Women in the Paradise.
