❖ Does Allah Share Knowledge of the Unseen with Anyone?
The Holy Qur’an clearly establishes that only Allah possesses knowledge of the unseen (ʿIlm al-Ghayb). No being—whether prophets, saints (Awliya), or jinn—has independent knowledge of the unseen. If Allah chooses, He may grant some aspects of the unseen to His messengers, but this is by divine permission only, not by their own power.❖ Qur'anic Proofs on the Exclusivity of Ghayb to Allah:
① Surah An-Naml (27:65)“Say, none in the heavens and earth knows the unseen except Allah.”
② Surah Al-Baqarah (2:30–33)
“I know what you do not know... I know the unseen of the heavens and the earth, and I know what you reveal and what you conceal.”
③ Surah Al-Jinn (72:26–27)
“(He is) Knower of the unseen, and He does not disclose His (knowledge of the) unseen to anyone, except whom He has approved of messengers...”
④ Surah Aal-e-Imran (3:179)
“And Allah is not to disclose to you the unseen, but Allah chooses of His messengers whom He wills.”
⑤ Surah Al-Ma'idah (5:109)
“The Day when Allah will gather the messengers and say, ‘What response did you receive?’ They will say, ‘We have no knowledge. Indeed, it is You who is Knower of the unseen.’”
⑥ Surah An-Najm (53:1–4)
“Your companion [Muhammad ﷺ] has not strayed, nor has he erred. Nor does he speak from (his own) inclination. It is not but a revelation revealed.”
⑦ Surah Al-An‘am (6:50)
“Say, ‘I do not say to you that I possess the treasures of Allah or that I know the unseen, nor do I say to you that I am an angel. I only follow what is revealed to me.’”
⑧ Surah At-Tawbah (9:101)
“Among those around you of the bedouins are hypocrites, and (also) among the people of Madinah. You do not know them, (but) We know them.”
⑨ Surah Saba (34:14)
“When We decreed death for him (Sulayman), nothing indicated to them his death except a creature of the earth eating his staff. But when he fell, it became clear to the jinn that if they had known the unseen, they would not have remained in humiliating punishment.”
⑩ Surah Luqman (31:34)
“Indeed, Allah (alone) has knowledge of the Hour and sends down the rain and knows what is in the wombs. No soul knows what it will earn tomorrow, and no soul knows in what land it will die.”
⑪ Surah Hud (11:49)
“This is of the news of the unseen which We reveal to you. You did not know it, neither you nor your people, before this.”
⑫ Surah At-Tahrim (66:3)
“When the Prophet ﷺ confided a matter to one of his wives, and she then informed another, and Allah made it known to him, he informed her of part of it and ignored a part.”
⑬ Surah Aal-e-Imran (3:5)
“Indeed, from Allah nothing is hidden in the earth or in the heaven.”
⑭ Surah An-Nahl (16:77)
“And to Allah belongs the unseen of the heavens and the earth.”
⑮ Surah Al-Fath (48:25)
“There are believing men and believing women whom you did not know—lest you trample them...”
⑯ Surah Al-Kahf (18:26)
“Say, ‘Allah is most knowing of how long they remained. His is the unseen of the heavens and the earth.’”
⑰ Surah At-Tawbah (9:94)
“Say, ‘Do not make excuses, never will we believe you. Allah has already informed us of your news.’”
❖ Misconceptions Refuted by Qur'anic Teachings:
Some Muslims believe that Prophets, saints, or jinn have knowledge of the unseen or can help in times of hardship, sickness, or calamity. This is firmly rejected by the Qur’an:- Only Allah removes harm and grants benefit.
(Yunus 107, Al-A‘raf 188, Al-Fath 11) - Even the Prophet ﷺ declared he had no control over benefit or harm without Allah’s will.
- Seeking help from the dead, saints, or other beings—like calling “Ya Rasulullah Madad” or “Ya Ali Madad”—has no basis in Islam.
❖ True Help is from Allah Alone:
- Surah Al-Fatiha (1:4)
“You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help.” - Surah Ash-Shu‘ara (26:80)
“And when I am ill, it is He who cures me.” - Surah Al-Mu’minun (23:84–89)
“Say: Who owns the earth and whoever is in it...? They will say: Allah.”
❖ Practice of the Righteous:
Sayyiduna ʿUmar رضي الله عنه once said while kissing the Black Stone:“I know you are just a stone; you can neither harm nor benefit. Had I not seen the Prophet ﷺ kiss you, I would never have kissed you.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī]
Conclusion:
The Qur’an and Sunnah establish that knowledge of the unseen and control over benefit/harm belongs to Allah alone. Prophets or saints do not have independent access to this knowledge or power. Relying on the deceased or seeking help from other than Allah in matters beyond human means contradicts the foundational beliefs of Tawheed.Muslims must turn only to Allah in dua, trust, fear, and hope, as taught by the Prophet ﷺ and practiced by the righteous companions.
