❖ The Creed of Ahl al-Sunnah wa’l-Jama‘ah
It is the unanimous and established belief of Ahl al-Sunnah wa’l-Jama‘ah that knowledge of the unseen (ʿIlm al-Ghayb) is a unique attribute of Allah Almighty alone. No prophet, saint, or any other creation possesses this divine knowledge inherently. Any claim or belief that contradicts this principle is in direct opposition to Islamic teachings.❖ The Deviated Beliefs of the Christians and Shi‘ah
The belief that prophets or pious individuals have knowledge of the unseen is not derived from the teachings of the righteous predecessors (salaf al-salihīn). Rather, it originates from the misguided doctrines of Christians and Shi‘ah, who attributed divine qualities to their religious figures.❖ The Qur’anic Verdict: Even the Prophet ﷺ Does Not Know the Unseen
① Surah al-An‘ām (6:50):Qul lā aqūlu lakum ‘indī khazā’inullāh, wa lā a‘lamul-ghayb…
"Say: I do not tell you that I possess the treasures of Allah, nor do I know the unseen..."
② Surah Hūd (11:31):
Wa lā aqūlu lakum ‘indī khazā’inullāh, wa lā a‘lamul-ghayb…
"I do not say to you that I possess the treasures of Allah, nor do I know the unseen..."
③ Surah Luqmān (31:34):
Innallāha ‘indahū ‘ilmus-sā‘ah…
"Indeed, with Allah alone is knowledge of the Hour… no soul knows what it will earn tomorrow…"
✿ These verses decisively affirm that only Allah knows the unseen, and the Prophet ﷺ never claimed such knowledge for himself.
❖ Scholarly Commentary on the Verses
✔ Imam Abu Ja‘far al-Naḥḥās (d. 338 AH):The Prophet ﷺ expressed his humility and dependence upon Allah, denying possession of divine treasures or unseen knowledge.
✔ Imam al-Zajjāj (d. 311 AH):
The Prophet ﷺ clarified that he only knows what is revealed through divine revelation (waḥy).
✔ Imam al-Qurṭubī (d. 671 AH):
These verses indicate that the Prophet ﷺ renounced any claim to the unseen, attributing such knowledge solely to Allah.
❖ Knowledge of the Unseen via Revelation Only
At times, the Prophet ﷺ informed about future events, but this was solely through divine revelation, not personal knowledge.▶ Example: During the expedition of Tabuk, the Prophet ﷺ warned:
"A strong wind will blow tonight, so no one should stand up, and those with camels should tie them firmly."
This was through waḥy, not personal foresight.
❖ Authentic Hadiths Denying Knowledge of the Unseen
① ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar رضي الله عنهما narrated:"None knows what will happen tomorrow except Allah."
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 7379)
② ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها heard women singing at a wedding:
"You know what will happen tomorrow."
The Prophet ﷺ immediately responded:
"None knows what will happen tomorrow except Allah."
(Ṭabarānī and others, ḥasan chain)
③ Jibrīl عليه السلام asked about the Hour (Qiyāmah), and the Prophet ﷺ recited:
{Inna Allāha ‘indahū ‘ilmus-sā‘ah…}
Indeed, only Allah knows the time of the Hour and all matters of the unseen.
(Musnad Aḥmad: 318/1)
❖ Statements from the Companions
✿ ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها said:"Whoever claims that the Prophet ﷺ knew what will happen tomorrow is a liar."
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 4855)
✿ In Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim:
"Whoever claims the Prophet ﷺ gave knowledge of future events has fabricated a great lie upon Allah."
✔ Summary
◈ Knowledge of the unseen is exclusive to Allah.◈ The Prophet ﷺ only knew what was revealed to him through waḥy.
◈ No creation — not even the Prophet ﷺ — can claim independent or inherent knowledge of the unseen.
◈ Believing otherwise contradicts clear texts of the Qur’an, Sunnah, and the understanding of the Companions.
⚠ Muslims must firmly adhere to this belief and guard it from innovations and exaggerated claims that lead to shirk (associating partners with Allah).
