Source: Fatawa Ilmiyyah (Tawdih al-Ahkam)
Question:
Is there any kind of knowledge in the world that can tell a person what a stranger has done in the past? Some people claim they know all the deeds of others. What does Islam say about this?
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh. Ammā baʿd!
According to Islamic teachings, there is no such knowledge on earth that can truly reveal the unseen. Those who make such claims are liars, deceivers, and robbers of faith. It is essential to avoid such individuals because visiting them can endanger one’s Iman.
﴿ وَعِندَهُ مَفَاتِحُ الْغَيْبِ لَا يَعْلَمُهَا إِلَّا هُوَ... ﴾ (Surah al-An‘am: 59)
And with Him are the keys of the unseen — none knows them except Him. He knows whatever is in the land and the sea. No leaf falls but that He knows it, nor any grain in the darkness of the earth, nor anything fresh or dry but it is written in a Clear Record.
﴿ عَالِمُ الْغَيْبِ فَلَا يُظْهِرُ عَلَىٰ غَيْبِهِ أَحَدًا ﴾ (Surah al-Jinn: 26)
He is the Knower of the unseen, and He does not disclose His unseen to anyone.
﴿ قُل لَّا يَعْلَمُ مَن فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ الْغَيْبَ إِلَّا اللَّـهُ... ﴾ (Surah al-Naml: 65)
Say: None in the heavens and earth knows the unseen except Allah, and they do not perceive when they will be resurrected.
The Prophet ﷺ warned against going to such people:
"مَنْ أتى عَرَّافًا فَسَأَلهُ عَنْ شَئٍ لم تقْبَل لَهُ صَلاةُ أربعينَ ليلةً" (Sahih Muslim 7/37)
Whoever goes to a fortune-teller and asks him about something, his prayer will not be accepted for forty nights.
① Knowledge of the unseen (‘ilm al-ghayb) is exclusive to Allah ﷻ.
② No human possesses complete knowledge of the past or future.
③ Those who claim otherwise are liars, and keeping away from them is essential for the safety of one’s faith.
ھذا ما عندي واللہ أعلم بالصواب
Knowledge of the Unseen Belongs Only to Allah ﷻ
Question:
Is there any kind of knowledge in the world that can tell a person what a stranger has done in the past? Some people claim they know all the deeds of others. What does Islam say about this?
Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh. Ammā baʿd!
According to Islamic teachings, there is no such knowledge on earth that can truly reveal the unseen. Those who make such claims are liars, deceivers, and robbers of faith. It is essential to avoid such individuals because visiting them can endanger one’s Iman.
Evidences from the Qur’an
﴿ وَعِندَهُ مَفَاتِحُ الْغَيْبِ لَا يَعْلَمُهَا إِلَّا هُوَ... ﴾ (Surah al-An‘am: 59)
And with Him are the keys of the unseen — none knows them except Him. He knows whatever is in the land and the sea. No leaf falls but that He knows it, nor any grain in the darkness of the earth, nor anything fresh or dry but it is written in a Clear Record.
﴿ عَالِمُ الْغَيْبِ فَلَا يُظْهِرُ عَلَىٰ غَيْبِهِ أَحَدًا ﴾ (Surah al-Jinn: 26)
He is the Knower of the unseen, and He does not disclose His unseen to anyone.
﴿ قُل لَّا يَعْلَمُ مَن فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ الْغَيْبَ إِلَّا اللَّـهُ... ﴾ (Surah al-Naml: 65)
Say: None in the heavens and earth knows the unseen except Allah, and they do not perceive when they will be resurrected.
Guidance from Hadith
The Prophet ﷺ warned against going to such people:
"مَنْ أتى عَرَّافًا فَسَأَلهُ عَنْ شَئٍ لم تقْبَل لَهُ صَلاةُ أربعينَ ليلةً" (Sahih Muslim 7/37)
Whoever goes to a fortune-teller and asks him about something, his prayer will not be accepted for forty nights.
Conclusion
① Knowledge of the unseen (‘ilm al-ghayb) is exclusive to Allah ﷻ.
② No human possesses complete knowledge of the past or future.
③ Those who claim otherwise are liars, and keeping away from them is essential for the safety of one’s faith.
ھذا ما عندي واللہ أعلم بالصواب
