Ilm-e-Ghaib : Matchless Knowledge Of The Flawless Pearl Alhamdulillah ! Was salaatu was salaamu alaa Sayyid Al-Ambiyaai wal Mursaleen. Wa alaa Aalihee wa Ashaabihee ajmaeen. As-salaatu was salaamu alaika Yaa Nooram min Noorillah. 1400 years back, when Rasoolullah sal Allahu alaihi wasalam came with the message of Islam, there were some people who accepted Islam outwardly but deep inside they were burning with hatred for Islam. They were the Munaafiqs : the hypocrites. In their private gatherings, they used to mock the Ilm of Rasoolullah sal Allahu alaihi wasalam. What does Muhammad (sal Allahu alaihi wasalam) know of the unseen? Had he known the unseen, he would have found out that we are Munaafiqs. The Best of Creation (sal Allahu alaihi wasalam) knew, he knew each and every one of them. Yet, it was not in his merciful nature to take revenge for their hypocrisy. After all, he is Rahmatan lil Aalameen. When the leader of Munaafiqs of Madina, Abdullah ibn Ubay died, Rasoolullah sal Allahu alaihi wasalam even went to his grave out of compassion. During the digging of the trenches of Khandaq, Rasoolullah sal Allahu alaihi wasalam gave the Sahabas glad tidings that they would conquer Persia, Rome and Yemen. The Munaafiqs jested and said, “Muhammad (sal Allahu alaihi wasalam) tells you that while sitting in Yathrib (old name of Madina Shareef), he sees the palaces of Persia and he says that you will conquer them.” On this, Allah revealed the following aayah : “And behold ! The Hypocrites and those in whose hearts is a disease (even) say: (Allah) and His Messenger promised us nothing but delusion! (Qur’an, Surah Ahzaab, 33:12) (Khasaais Al Kubra, Imaam Jalalud-din-Suyuti, v.1, p.552-553) MUNAAFIQS - THEN AND NOW : The irony is that today there are some people who claim to be ‘Muslims on the way of Salaf-us-Saaliheen’ and yet have the audacity to mock the Ilm of Rasoolullah sal Allahu alaihi wasalam. They behave exactly like the Munaafiqs behaved 1400 years back. Rasoolullah (sal Allahu alaihi wasalam) did not have Ilm-e-Ghaib (knowledge of the unseen). This is the sifat of Allah alone. If you say Rasoolullah sal Allahu alaihi wasalam has Ilm-e-Ghaib, you are commiting shirk. Munaafiqo ka aqeedah wo ghaibdaan nahi Sahaabiyo ka aqeedah Huzoor jaantay hain Aay Ilm-e-Ghaib ke munkir Khuda ko dekha hai? Tujhe bhi kehna padega Huzoor jaantay hain. Scholars of Ahlus Sunnah wal Jamaaah have refuted this filthy creed which has surfaced just 200 years back. Countless books have been written on the issue of Ilm-e-Ghaib of Rasoolullah sal Allahu alaihi wasalam. This note is a humble attempt of this faqeer to seek a Waseela to the Beloved of Allah sal Allahu alaihi wasalam. Otherwise I am not even the dust on the shoes of our scholars. All I seek is the shade and intercession of Rasoolullah sal Allahu alaihi wasalam on the day of judgement. SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT : When the Ahlus Sunnah attribute the sifat of Ilm-e-Ghaib to Rasoolullah sal Allahu alaihi wasalam, we imply that it is bestowed upon him by Allah. The Ilm of Allah is an infinite ocean and the Ilm of Nabi alaihis salaam is a drop from that ocean. Yet that drop of Ilm is beyond the comprehension of the human mind and encompasses the knowledge of the Tablet and the Pen, the knowledge of Maa kaana wa ma Yakun (What has happened and what will happen). Imaam Busairi writes in Qaseedah Burdah Shareef : “Wa min uloomika ilmul Lawhi wal Qalam” : And a part of your knowledge is the knowledge of the Preserved Tablet and Pen. The Ilm of Allah is zaati : His knowledge is from His own self. No one has taught Him. While as the Ilm of Rasoolullah sal Allahu alaihi wasalam is ataayi : It has been bestowed upon him by Allah. With these two points, the roots of shirk are cut, alhamdulillah ! Shirk will happen when we equal Allah’s Creation to Him in any manner. But those who have a sickness in their hearts will not accept the truth. They will never accept anything which exalts the status of Rasoolullah sal Allahu alaihi wasalam. ILM-E-GHAIB AS PER QURAN AND CLASSICAL COMMENTATORS : (1) He (alone) knows the Unseen, nor does He make any one acquainted with His Mysteries. Except an Apostle whom He has chosen.. (Surah Jinn 72:26-27) Allama Ibn Hajar Al-Asqalani (rahimahullah), one of the greatest scholars from Ahlus Sunnah writes with regards to these aayahs in his commentary of Sahih Bukhari : “It follows from this verse that Prophets can see some of the Unseen, and so do the Awliya that follow each particular Prophet also, as each takes from his Prophet and is graced (yukram) with his knowledge.” (Fath al-Baari 8:660). Incidentally, the Wahaabis, the deniers of Ilm-e-Ghaib, hold a high opinion of Allama Ibn Hajar. This quote from Fath Al Baari is indeed a knock-out punch for Wahaabis. But lets close all the doors of their escape, shall we? Yes, inshaAllah ! (2) In Surah Kahf (18), there is a mention of an incident between Hazrat Khizr alaihis salaam and Hazrat Musa alaihis salaam. There is a difference of opinion with some scholars saying that Hazrat Khizr was a Nabi and some others saying that he was a Wali. However, Tafseer Jalalayn states under 18:65 that the opinion of the majority is that he was not a Prophet. The Quran describes his ilm as : ... wa alamnaahu milladuna ilma... And whom We had taught knowledge from Our own Presence. This was the Ilm-e-Laduni, the revealed knowledge. In the three incidents that followed (verses 66 to 82), we see that Khizr alaihis salaam knew about the future which definitely is ghaib, the unseen, despite the fact that he was not a Prophet. Imaam Baghawi (rahimahullah) in his Tafseer states under v.65 : “He taught him the inward (batin) knowledge by inspiration (ilham).” (3) In Surah Naml (27), When Hazrat Sulaimaan alaihis salaam asked the humans and the jinns in his court as to who would bring the throne of Queen Bilqees before her arrival (v.38), a Wali of Allah said that he would bring it to the court within the twinkle of an eye. And he did ! (v.40). The Quran defines this person as one who had knowledge of the Book. Is this not the knowledge from the unseen? That a person sitting thousands of miles away was able to retrieve that enormous throne? And he was not even a Prophet ! He was a Wali by the name of Asaf ibn Barkhiyya. (4) Under the Quranic aayahs 30-31 from Surah Fussilat (41), Imaam Fakhruddin Raazi writes in his Tafseer Kabeer : The angels leave effects and impressions upon the pure human souls, which include inspirations (ilham) and unveilings (kashf), just as the devils leave effects upon the impure souls, by whispering in them and giving false impressions and lies. (5) ....for Allah hath sent down to you the Book and wisdom and taught you what you knew not (before). (Quran, Surah Nisa 4:113) Imaam Ibn Jarir At-Tabari writes under the commentary of this aayah in Tafseer At-Tabari : Allah Most High has told the Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wasalam) to thank Him as He has informed the Prophet of what has already happened and what will happen (in future) and this is a bestowal of great grace. (6) How then if We brought from each people a witness, and We brought you as a witness against these people. (Quran, Surah Nisa 4:41) Under this aayah, Imaam Nizaam Ad-Deen Neshapuri writes in his Tafseer Neshapuri, The blessed Ruh of Rasoolullah sal Allahu alaihi wasalam witnesses all souls and hearts. Under the same aayah, Shaykh Ismaeel Haqqi writes in his Tafseer Ruh-ul-Bayaan : The deeds of his Ummah are presented to Rasoolullah sal Allahu alaihi wasalam in the morning and evening. Hence he knows his Ummah by their marks and their deeds and thus bears their witness. (7) Neither does he grudgingly withhold a knowledge of the Unseen. (Quran, Surah Takweer 81:24) A couple of points from this aayah : (a) Rasoolullah sal Allahu alaihi wasalam knows unseen. (b) He does not withhold that knowledge. He informs people about it. Ghaib ka jaannay waala jo unhay main ne kahaa Baat Quran ki thi Najdi buraa maan gaya (8) “... nor will He disclose to you the secrets of the Unseen. But He chooses of His Messengers (for the purpose) whom He pleases…” (Qur’an, Surah Aal Imraan 3:179) ILM-E-GHAIB AS PER AHADITH : (1) Narrated by Sayyidina Anas bin Maalik (radi Allahu anhu) : Rasoolullah sal Allahu alaihi wasalam came out after the sun had declined and offered the Zuhr prayer (in congregation). After finishing it with Taslim, he stood on the pulpit and mentioned the Hour and mentioned there would happen great events before it. Then he said, Whoever wants to ask me any question, may do so, for by Allah, you will not ask me about anything but I will inform you of its answer as long as I am at this place of mine. On this, the Ansar wept violently, and Rasoolullah sal Allahu alaihi wasalam kept on saying, “Ask me.” Then a man got up and asked, Where will my entrance be, O Allahs Apostle? The Prophet said, The Fire. Then Abdullah bin Hudhaifa got up and asked, Who is my father, O Allahs Apostle? The Prophet replied, Your father is Hudhaifa. The Prophet then kept on saying (angrily), Ask me ! Ask me ! Sayyidina Umar(radi Allahu anhu) then knelt on his knees and said, We have accepted Allah as our Lord and Islam as our religion and Muhammad as an Apostle. Allahs Apostle became quiet when Umar said that. Then Rasoolullah sal Allahu alaihi wasalam said, By Him in Whose Hand my life is, paradise and hell were displayed before me across this wall while I was praying, and I never saw such good and evil as I have seen today. (Sahih Bukhari, v.9, Book 92, #397) Sarr-e-Arsh par hai teri guzar, dil-e-farsh par hai teri nazar Malakoot-o-Mulk main koi shay nahi wo jo tujhpe ayaan nahi (2) Narrated by Sayyidina Anas bin Malik (radi Allahu anhu) : Rasoolullah sal Allahu alaihi wasalam (sal Allahu alaihi wasalam) once climbed the mountain of Uhud with Abu Bakr, Umar and Usmaan (radi Allahu anhum). The mountain shook with them. The Prophet said, Be firm, O Uhud ! For on you there are no more than a Prophet, a Siddiq and two martyrs. (Sahih Bukhari, v.5, Book 27, #24) Sayyidina Umar and Sayyidina Usmaan (radi Allahu anhum) were martyred years after Rasoolullah sal Allahu alaihi wasalam physically passed away from this world. (3) Narrated by Sayyidina Ibn Abbas (radi Allahu anhu) : Rasoolullah sal Allahu alaihi wasalam passed by two graves. He said: Both (the dead) are being punished, but they are not being punished for a major (sin). One did not safeguard himself from urine. The other carried tales. He then called for a fresh twig and split it into two parts and planted one part on each grave and said: Perhaps their punishment may be mitigated as long as the twigs remain fresh. Another version of Hammad has: One of them did not cover himself while urinating. The version does not have the words: He did not safeguard himself from urine. (Abu Daawood Book 1, #20) Rasoolullah sal Allahu alaihi wasalam passed by two graves. His blessed eyes saw what others did not see : that they were being punished. He even knew exactly why they were being punished ! Jis taraf uth gayi dum main dum aagaya Us nigaah-e-inaayat pe laakhon salaam (4) Narrated by Sayyidina Anas bin Maalik (radi Allahu anhu) Rasoolullah sal Allahu alaihi wasalam had informed the people of the martyrdom of Zaid, Jaafar and Ibn Rawaha before the news of their death reached. The Prophet said, Zaid took the flag (as the commander of the army) and was martyred, then Jaafar took it and was martyred, and then Ibn Rawaha took it and was martyred. At that time the Prophets eyes were shedding tears. He added, Then the flag was taken by a Sword amongst the Swords of Allah (i.e. Khalid bin Waleed) and Allah made them (i.e the Muslims) victorious. (Sahih Bukhari, v.5, Book 59, #561) (5) Narrated by Sayyidina Hudhaifa (radi Allahu anhu) : The Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wasalam) once delivered a speech in front of us wherein he left nothing but mentioned (about) everything that would happen till the Hour. Some of us stored that our minds and some forgot it. (After that speech) I used to see events taking place (which had been referred to in that speech) but I had forgotten them (before their occurrence). Then I would recognize such events as a man recognizes another man who has been absent and then sees and recognizes him. (Sahih Bukhari , v.8, Book 77, # 601) (6) Narrated by Sayyidina Abdullah ibn Umar (radi Allahu anhu) : Rasoolullah sal Allahu alaihi wasalam said, “Verily Allah has placed the whole world in front of me and I see it and all that will happen till the day of judgement just like I see the light on my hand. This light is from Allah which He has illuminated for His Nabi. This light was illuminated for previous Prophets as well.” (Majmua Al Kabeer by Imaam Tabarani, Kitaab ul Fitan by Na’eem bin Hammad and Hilyatul Awliya by Abu Na’eem, as cited by Imaam Ahmed Raza Khan Barelvi in Ad-Daulatul Makkiyah, p.57) (7) Narrated by Sayyidina Anas (radi Allahu anhu) : On the night of the battle of Badr, Rasoolullah sal Allahu alaihi wasalam foretold the places of death of the Kuffars the next day. He placed his blessed hand on the ground and said, “InshaAllah at this place the dead body of so-and-so will be found.” Then he went to another place, placed his hand on the ground and said, “InshaAllah at this place, the dead body of so-and-so will be found.” Hazrat Anas says, “I swear by Him who sent Rasoolullah sal Allahu alaihi wasalam with the truth ! Wherever Rasoolullah sal Allahu alaihi wasalam had pinpointed their places of death, their dead bodies were found exactly at the same spots.” (Sahih Muslim : Kitaab Al Jihaad #4394, Khasaais Al Kubra by Imaam Suyuti, v.1, p.476. He cites references of Sahih Muslim, Abu Dawood and Bayhaqi for this narration) Kahaan maraingay Abu Jahal-o-Utba-o-Shayba Ki Jang-e-Badr ka naqsha Huzoor jaantay hain (8) Narrated by Hazrat Asma bint Abi Bakr (radi Allahu anha) : Rasoolullah sal Allahu alaihi wasalam said, “There is not anything that I have not seen before but I have seen now at this place of mine, even paradise and hell.” (Sahih Bukhari v.9, Book 92, #390) (9) Narrated by Sayyidina Anas (radi Allahu anhu) : Rasoolullah sal Allahu alaihi wasalam said, “O People ! I am your Imaam, so do not precede me in bowing and prostration and in standing and turning for I see you in front of me and behind me.” (Sahih Muslim : Kitaab As-salaat, Book 4, #857) (10) Narrated by Sayyidina Muadh bin Jabal (radi Allahu anhu) : Rasoolullah sal Allahu alaihi wasalam said, “ I dozed in my prayer till I was overcome by (sleep) and I found myself in the presence of my Lord, the Blessed and the Glorious, in the best form. He said: Muhammad ! I said : At Your service, my Lord. He said : What these highest angels contend about? I said: I do not know. He repeated it thrice. He said : Then I saw Him put his Palms between my shoulder blades till I felt the coldness of his Fingers between the two sides of my chest. Then everything was illuminated for me and I recognized everything.” (Sunan Tirmidhi, #3235. Imaam Tirmidhi said the hadith is Hassan Sahih) (11) Narrated by Sayyidina Abdullah Ibn Abbas (radi Allahu anhu) from Hazrat Ummul Fadl (radi Allahu anha) : She said, “Once I passed nearby Rasoolullah sal Allahu alaihi wasalam. He said, ‘You are pregnant and you have a son in your womb. Bring him to me when he will take birth.’ “After some time my son took birth and I brought him to Rasoolullah sal Allahu alaihi wasalam. He gave adhaan in his right ear and said iqaamat in the left and put his blessed saliva in his mouth and named him Abdullah and said to me, ‘Take this father of Khaleefa.’ Hazrat Ummul Fadl told it to her husband Sayyidina Abdullah Ibn Abbas. Ibne Abbas went to Rasoolullah sal Allahu alaihi wasalam and said that Ummul Fadl had told him such and such. Rasoolullah sal Allahu alaihi wasalam replied, ‘Its true! This child would become the father of caliphates. One would be named as Saffah and other would be named as Mehdi.’ (Dalaail An Nubuwah by Imaam Bayhaqi, v.2, p.81, #467) Rasoolullah sal Allahu alaihi wasalam knew what was in the womb of Hazrat Ummul Fadl. He even knew what the child would become once he grew up. If this is not the glaring proof of his Ilm, then what is it? (12) Narrated by Sayyidina Abdullah Ibn Mas’ood : Rasoolullah (sal Allahu alaihi wasalam said: “My life is a great good for you, you will relate about me and it will be related to you. And my death is a great good for you, for your actions will be presented to me (in my grave) and if I see goodness I will praise Allah, and if I see other than that I will ask forgiveness of Him for you.” (Majmua As-Sagheer by Imaam Tabarani 1:198, Tabaqaat by Ibn Saad 2:194, Nawadir by Haakim Tirmidhi #283. The narration is Sahih) The proofs for Ilm-e-Ghaib are so numerous that the Najdis can be buried under the evidences. Being a layman with little knowledge, I have cited just a few narrations. For in depth study, I would recommend you get your hands on the book “Jaa Al Haqq” by Mufti Ahmed Yaar Khaan Na’eemi (rahimahullah). He has dedicated a separate chapter for this issue in the book spanning over a hundred pages. You can download and read it from here : rehmani.net/library/Ja-Al-Haq/index.php There is a translation of this book available in english by the name “Obliteration Of Falsehood” OBJECTION 1 : There are verses in the Quran which talk about zaati Ilm-e-Ghaib and there are verses which talk about ayaati Ilm-e-Ghaib. You will find some people quoting the former verses to prove that Rasoolullah sal Allahu alaihi wasalam did not have Ilm-e-Ghaib. For example, this verse : Say: I tell you not that with me are the treasures of Allah, nor do I know what is hidden, nor do I tell you I am an angel. I but follow what is revealed to me. Say: Can the blind be held equal to the seeing? Will ye then consider not? (Quran, Surah Anaam 6:50) This aayah, along with others like 7:188, are the negation of the zaati Ilm-e-Ghaib i.e Rasoolullah sal Allahu alaihi wasalam does not know the Unseen by himself. Rather, it is taught to him by Allah. But Wahaabis make you believe otherwise. Be wary of their traps. Save your Eemaan. Dont let them make your heart devoid of love of Rasoolullah sal Allahu alaihi wasalam by their foolish talks. By Allah ! Our nisbat to Rasoolullah sal Allahu alaihi wasalam is our only way to salvation. Dont loose that nisbat. OBJECTION 2 : “Verily the knowledge of the Hour is with Allah (alone). It is He Who sends down rain, and He Who knows what is in the wombs. Nor does any one know what it is that he will earn on the morrow : Nor does any one know in what land he is to die. Verily with Allah is full knowledge and He is acquainted (with all things).” (Qur’an, Surah Luqmaan 31:34). Indeed no one knows these things by themselves except Allah. And Allah chooses from His Ambiya to reveal this Ilm to them. And the Awliya also partake from that knowledge as has been proven in the previous references. OBJECTION 3 : The ones in whose hearts is a disease commonly quote the following hadith to negate the Ilm-e-Ghaib : The Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wasalam) came to me after consuming his marriage with me and sat down on my bed as you (the sub-narrator) are sitting now, and small girls were beating the tambourine and singing in lamentation of my father who had been killed on the day of the battle of Badr. Then one of the girls said, There is a Prophet amongst us who knows what will happen tomorrow. The Prophet said (to her), Do not say this, but go on saying what you have spoken before. (Sahih Bukhari, v. 5, Book 59, #336) (a) The Naat could not have been written by those small girls. Definitely it was written by some Sahaabi. Was that Sahaabi Mushrik, maaz’Allah? (b) It was a gathering of mourning. Naats should not be recited in such a gathering. Hence the prohibition. (c) Recitation of Naats needs adab. That was another reason why Rasoolullah sal Allahu alaihi wasalam forbade them from doing so. OBJECTION 4 : “Once during a journey, the necklace of Hazrat Ayesha radi Allahu anha went missing. If Rasoolullah sal Allahu alaihi wasalam knew unseen, then why did he not know where the necklace had fallen off?” Not knowing is one thing. Not telling despite knowing is another and it does not negate the possession of Ilm. It was during this journey that while the Muslims were busy finding the chain that the time for Salaah closed in and there was no water. Then the hukm for Tayammum was revealed by Allah. (Surah Maidah 5:6). Had Rasoolullah sal Allahu alaihi wasalam told them about the location of necklace, the Muslim Ummah might not have got the hukm for Tayammum. Of course, this is too much for Najdis to comprehend. The eyes which see the whole universe, how can they not see the missing necklace? Arsh taa farsh hai jiskay zaer-e-nigeen Uski qaahir riyaasat pe laakhon salaam OBJECTION 5 : “If Rasoolullah sal Allahu alaihi wasalam knew the unseen, why did he not clear the slander on Hazrat Ayesha radi Allahu anha by Munaafiqs?” No wonder Munaafiqs of this age are seeking hollow proofs from the actions of Munaafiqs 1400 years back ! Rasoolullah sal Allahu alaihi wasalam knew. And it was the will of Allah that the slander on Hazrat Ayesha be cleared directly from the Quran and the proof of her innocence be enshrined in the Qur’an for all eternity (Surah An-Nur 24: 11-21). Hence the silence of Rasoolullah sal Allahu alaihi wasalam ! OBJECTION 6 : The Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wasalam) said, I am your predecessor at the Lake-Fount (Kauthar) and some men amongst you will be brought to me, and when I will try to hand them some water, they will be pulled away from me by force whereupon I will say, O Lord, my companions! Then the Almighty will say, You do not know what they did after you left, they introduced new things into the religion after you.” (Sahih Bukhari, v.9, Book 88, #173) Hence Rasoolullah sal Allahu alaihi wasalam did not know the Unseen, they say. This objection is the ultimate proof of the lack of their thinking capacity. Ask these guys with a Ph.D in nifaaq : “Who is telling you all this? That some people will be brought to me. That they will be pulled away. Then I would beseech Allah. Then Allah will respond in such and such manner?” And the fools keep on saying that he does not know. By Allah he knows. He knows our love for him and he is aware of the nifaaq that you harbor in your hearts. Daaman main unkay le lo panaah aaj aay munkiro Mehengi padegi warna adaawat Rasool ki The Najdis are stuck up with the issues of Ilm-e-Ghaib and Haazir-o-Naazir. The reality is that the greatness of Rasoolullah sal Allahu alaihi wasalam is far beyond these two traits. No human mind can encompass the lofty status of Allah’s Messenger sal Allahu alaihi wasalam. The true reality of Rasoolullah sal Allahu alaihi wasalam is known to none except Allah. Khuda ki ghairat ne daal rakhe hain tujhpe sat’tar-hazaar parday Jahaan main bun jaatay Toor laakhon jo ik bhi uth’ta hijaab tera May Allah fill our hearts with the love of His Beloved sal Allahu alaihi wasalam and may that love be the Noor which illuminates our dark graves and may it be a source of najaat for us in the aakhirah. May Allah protect us, our families and our future generations from the fitnah and influence of badd’mazhabs. Aameen ! Wa sal Allahu alaa Sayyidina wa Maulaana Muhammad. As-salaamualaikum !
Posted on: Sat, 05 Jul 2014 00:14:45 +0000