This excerpt is taken from Sheikh Irshad Ullah Maan's book In Search of Truth.
The fundamental principles regarding knowledge are present in the Quran and Hadith.
Allah Almighty has given as much knowledge to someone as He wills; no one knows more than that.
Reference: [Al-Baqarah: 32]
Above every scholar, there is another scholar:
[وَ فَوۡقَ کُلِّ ذِیۡ عِلۡمٍ عَلِیۡمٌ ]And above every knowledgeable person is one who knows everything.
Reference: Yusuf: 76
And the greatest knower is Allah Almighty; no one knows the unseen except Allah:
[قُلۡ لَّا یَعۡلَمُ مَنۡ فِی السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الۡاَرۡضِ الۡغَیۡبَ اِلَّا اللّٰہُ ؕ وَ مَا یَشۡعُرُوۡنَ اَیَّانَ یُبۡعَثُوۡنَ]
Say, "None in the heavens and earth knows the unseen except Allah, and they do not perceive when they will be resurrected."
Reference: An-Naml: 65
Allah knows the secrets of the hearts (and no one else knows).
Reference: Aal Imran: 154, 119
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ does not know the unseen:
[قُلۡ لَّاۤ اَقُوۡلُ لَکُمۡ عِنۡدِیۡ خَزَآئِنُ اللّٰہِ وَ لَاۤ اَعۡلَمُ الۡغَیۡبَ وَ لَاۤ اَقُوۡلُ لَکُمۡ اِنِّیۡ مَلَکٌ ۚ اِنۡ اَتَّبِعُ اِلَّا مَا یُوۡحٰۤی اِلَیَّ ؕ قُلۡ ہَلۡ یَسۡتَوِی الۡاَعۡمٰی وَ الۡبَصِیۡرُ ؕ اَفَلَا تَتَفَکَّرُوۡنَ]
Say, "I do not tell you that I have the treasures of Allah, nor do I know the unseen, nor do I say to you that I am an angel. I only follow what is revealed to me." Say, "Are the blind and the seeing equal? Then will you not give thought?"
Reference: Al-An'am: 50
For further references, see:
Reference: Al-A'raf:188,187
, [At-Tawbah:101[/ref], [Al-Jinn:25[/ref]In reality, a person knows no more than what knowledge he has been given. The knowledge of the Prophets is limited to what was revealed to them through revelation. Allah's knowledge is unlimited. What has been told to the Prophets is no longer unseen; it has become knowledge.
Reference: Al-Baqarah:145,120
And what has not been told is unseen, and the Quran states that the knowledge of the unseen belongs only to Allah.
Reference: An-Naml:65
Allah's knowledge is unlimited:
[قُلۡ لَّوۡ کَانَ الۡبَحۡرُ مِدَادًا لِّکَلِمٰتِ رَبِّیۡ لَنَفِدَ الۡبَحۡرُ قَبۡلَ اَنۡ تَنۡفَدَ کَلِمٰتُ رَبِّیۡ وَ لَوۡ جِئۡنَا بِمِثۡلِہٖ مَدَدًا]
Say, "If the sea were ink for the words of my Lord, the sea would be exhausted before the words of my Lord are exhausted, even if We brought the like of it as a supplement."
Reference: Al-Kahf:109
Only Allah's knowledge is unlimited; all others' knowledge is limited, including that of the Prophets.
For further references, see:
Reference: Luqman:27 to 34
Moses (peace be upon him) and Khidr (peace be upon him) were taken aboard by the boatmen. At that moment, a bird came and sat on the edge of the boat, pecking once or twice into the sea. Khidr (peace be upon him) said: O Moses! The knowledge that you and I have taken from Allah's knowledge is like the peck of this bird's beak from the sea.
Reference: Bukhari, Book of Knowledge, Chapter: What is recommended for a scholar when asked who is the most knowledgeable among people?:122
From this hadith, the extent of Allah's knowledge and that of His creation can be estimated.
Qur'anic verdicts regarding various Prophets (peace be upon them) that they did not know the unseen:
Allah Almighty said:
[فَوَسۡوَسَ اِلَیۡہِ الشَّیۡطٰنُ قَالَ یٰۤـاٰدَمُ ہَلۡ اَدُلُّکَ عَلٰی شَجَرَۃِ الۡخُلۡدِ وَ مُلۡکٍ لَّا یَبۡلٰی]،[فَاَکَلَا مِنۡہَا فَبَدَتۡ لَہُمَا سَوۡاٰتُہُمَا وَ طَفِقَا یَخۡصِفٰنِ عَلَیۡہِمَا مِنۡ وَّرَقِ الۡجَنَّۃِ ۫ وَ عَصٰۤی اٰدَمُ رَبَّہٗ فَغَوٰی]،[ ثُمَّ اجۡتَبٰہُ رَبُّہٗ فَتَابَ عَلَیۡہِ وَ ہَدٰی]
[Then Satan cast a suggestion into their hearts, to reveal to them that which was hidden from them, saying: "Shall I direct you to the tree of eternity and a kingdom that will never perish?"] [So they both ate from it, and their private parts became apparent to them, and they began to fasten upon themselves from the leaves of Paradise. And Adam disobeyed his Lord and erred.] [Then his Lord chose him and turned to him in mercy and guided him.]
Reference: Ta-Ha: 120 to 122
It is proven that the Master of mankind, Adam (peace be upon him), did not know the unseen, otherwise he would not have eaten from the tree:
[وَ لَاۤ اَقُوۡلُ لَکُمۡ عِنۡدِیۡ خَزَآئِنُ اللّٰہِ وَ لَاۤ اَعۡلَمُ الۡغَیۡبَ وَ لَاۤ اَقُوۡلُ اِنِّیۡ مَلَکٌ وَّ لَاۤ اَقُوۡلُ لِلَّذِیۡنَ تَزۡدَرِیۡۤ اَعۡیُنُکُمۡ لَنۡ یُّؤۡتِیَہُمُ اللّٰہُ خَیۡرًا ؕ اَللّٰہُ اَعۡلَمُ بِمَا فِیۡۤ اَنۡفُسِہِمۡ اِنِّیۡۤ اِذًا لَّمِنَ الظّٰلِمِیۡنَ]
And I do not say to you that I have the treasures of Allah, nor do I know the unseen, nor do I say that indeed I am an angel, nor do I say about those whom your eyes despise that Allah will never grant them any good. Allah is most knowing of what is in their hearts. Indeed, I would then be among the wrongdoers.
Reference: Hud:31
[وَ اُوۡحِیَ اِلٰی نُوۡحٍ اَنَّہٗ لَنۡ یُّؤۡمِنَ مِنۡ قَوۡمِکَ اِلَّا مَنۡ قَدۡ اٰمَنَ فَلَا تَبۡتَئِسۡ بِمَا کَانُوۡا یَفۡعَلُوۡنَ]
And it was revealed to Noah that indeed, none of your people will believe except those who have already believed, so do not be saddened by what they have been doing.
Reference: Hud:36
[وَ نَادٰی نُوۡحٌ رَّبَّہٗ فَقَالَ رَبِّ اِنَّ ابۡنِیۡ مِنۡ اَہۡلِیۡ وَ اِنَّ وَعۡدَکَ الۡحَقُّ وَ اَنۡتَ اَحۡکَمُ الۡحٰکِمِیۡنَ]،[ قَالَ یٰنُوۡحُ اِنَّہٗ لَیۡسَ مِنۡ اَہۡلِکَ ۚ اِنَّہٗ عَمَلٌ غَیۡرُ صَالِحٍ فَلَا تَسۡـَٔلۡنِ مَا لَـیۡسَ لَکَ بِہٖ عِلۡمٌ ؕ اِنِّیۡۤ اَعِظُکَ اَنۡ تَکُوۡنَ مِنَ الۡجٰہِلِیۡنَ]،[ قَالَ رَبِّ اِنِّیۡۤ اَعُوۡذُ بِکَ اَنۡ اَسۡـَٔلَکَ مَا لَـیۡسَ لِیۡ بِہٖ عِلۡمٌ ؕ وَ اِلَّا تَغۡفِرۡ لِیۡ وَ تَرۡحَمۡنِیۡۤ اَکُنۡ مِّنَ الۡخٰسِرِیۡنَ]
[And Noah called upon his Lord and said, "O my Lord! Indeed, my son is of my family, and indeed, Your promise is true, and You are the best of judges."] [He said, "O Noah! Indeed, he is not of your family; indeed, it is an unpleasant thing. So do not ask Me about that of which you have no knowledge. Indeed, I advise you, lest you be among the ignorant."] [He said, "O my Lord! I seek refuge in You from asking You that of which I have no knowledge. And unless You forgive me and have mercy upon me, I will be among the losers."]
Reference: Hud:45 to 47
It is proven that Noah did not know the unseen.
[وَ لَقَدۡ جَآءَتۡ رُسُلُنَاۤ اِبۡرٰہِیۡمَ بِالۡبُشۡرٰی قَالُوۡا سَلٰمًا ؕ قَالَ سَلٰمٌ فَمَا لَبِثَ اَنۡ جَآءَ بِعِجۡلٍ حَنِیۡذٍ]،[فَلَمَّا رَاٰۤ اَیۡدِیَہُمۡ لَا تَصِلُ اِلَیۡہِ نَکِرَہُمۡ وَ اَوۡجَسَ مِنۡہُمۡ خِیۡفَۃً ؕ قَالُوۡا لَا تَخَفۡ اِنَّاۤ اُرۡسِلۡنَاۤ اِلٰی قَوۡمِ لُوۡطٍ]،[وَ امۡرَاَتُہٗ قَآئِمَۃٌ فَضَحِکَتۡ فَبَشَّرۡنٰہَا بِاِسۡحٰقَ ۙ وَ مِنۡ وَّرَآءِ اِسۡحٰقَ یَعۡقُوۡبَ]،[قَالَتۡ یٰوَیۡلَتٰۤیءَ اَلِدُ وَ اَنَا عَجُوۡزٌ وَّ ہٰذَا بَعۡلِیۡ شَیۡخًا اِنَّ ہٰذَا لَشَیۡءٌ عَجِیۡبٌ]،[ قَالُوۡۤا اَتَعۡجَبِیۡنَ مِنۡ اَمۡرِ اللّٰہِ رَحۡمَتُ اللّٰہِ وَ بَرَکٰتُہٗ عَلَیۡکُمۡ اَہۡلَ الۡبَیۡتِ ؕ اِنَّہٗ حَمِیۡدٌ مَّجِیۡدٌ]،[فَلَمَّا ذَہَبَ عَنۡ اِبۡرٰہِیۡمَ الرَّوۡعُ وَ جَآءَتۡہُ الۡبُشۡرٰی یُجَادِلُنَا فِیۡ قَوۡمِ لُوۡطٍ]،[ اِنَّ اِبۡرٰہِیۡمَ لَحَلِیۡمٌ اَوَّاہٌ مُّنِیۡبٌ]،[یٰۤـاِبۡرٰہِیۡمُ اَعۡرِضۡ عَنۡ ہٰذَا ۚ اِنَّہٗ قَدۡ جَآءَ اَمۡرُ رَبِّکَ وَ اِنَّہُمۡ اٰتِیۡہِمۡ عَذَابٌ غَیۡرُ مَرۡدُوۡدٍ]
[And indeed, Our messengers came to Abraham with good news. They said, "Peace." He said, "Peace," and did not delay in bringing a roasted calf.] [So when he saw their hands not reaching toward it, he felt a certain fear of them. They said, "Do not fear. Indeed, we have been sent to the people of Lot."] [And his wife was standing, and she laughed, so We gave her good tidings of Isaac and after Isaac, Jacob.] [She said, "Woe to me! Shall I bear a child while I am an old woman and this is my husband, an old man? Indeed, this is an amazing thing."] [They said, "Do you wonder at the decree of Allah? May the mercy and blessings of Allah be upon you, O household. Indeed, He is Praiseworthy and Honorable."] [Then when the fear had left Abraham and the good tidings had reached him, he began to argue with Us concerning the people of Lot.] [Indeed, Abraham was forbearing, grieving, and repeatedly turning to Allah.] [O Abraham! Leave it. Indeed, the command of your Lord has come, and indeed, there will fall upon them a punishment that cannot be repelled.]
Reference: Hud:69 to 76
It is proven that Abraham (peace be upon him) did not know the unseen.
The same is stated in:
Reference: Al-Hijr:52 to 57
, [As-Saffat:102 to 107], [Adh-Dhariyat:25 to 31[/ref][وَلَمَّا جَآءَتۡ رُسُلُنَا لُوۡطًا سِیۡٓءَ بِہِمۡ وَ ضَاقَ بِہِمۡ ذَرۡعًا وَّ قَالَ ہٰذَا یَوۡمٌ عَصِیۡبٌ]،[وَ جَآءَہٗ قَوۡمُہٗ یُہۡرَعُوۡنَ اِلَیۡہِ وَ مِنۡ قَبۡلُ کَانُوۡا یَعۡمَلُوۡنَ السَّیِّاٰتِ قَالَ یٰقَوۡمِ ہٰۤؤُلَآءِ بَنَاتِیۡ ہُنَّ اَطۡہَرُ لَکُمۡ فَاتَّقُوا اللّٰہَ وَ لَا تُخۡزُوۡنِ فِیۡ ضَیۡفِیۡ اَلَـیۡسَ مِنۡکُمۡ رَجُلٌ رَّشِیۡدٌ]،[قَالُوۡا لَقَدۡ عَلِمۡتَ مَا لَنَا فِیۡ بَنٰتِکَ مِنۡ حَقٍّ ۚ وَ اِنَّکَ لَتَعۡلَمُ مَا نُرِیۡدُ]،[قَالَ لَوۡ اَنَّ لِیۡ بِکُمۡ قُوَّۃً اَوۡ اٰوِیۡۤ اِلٰی رُکۡنٍ شَدِیۡدٍ]،[قَالُوۡا یٰلُوۡطُ اِنَّا رُسُلُ رَبِّکَ لَنۡ یَّصِلُوۡۤا اِلَیۡکَ فَاَسۡرِ بِاَہۡلِکَ بِقِطۡعٍ مِّنَ الَّیۡلِ وَ لَا یَلۡتَفِتۡ مِنۡکُمۡ اَحَدٌ اِلَّا امۡرَاَتَکَ ؕ اِنَّہٗ مُصِیۡبُہَا مَاۤ اَصَابَہُمۡ ؕ اِنَّ مَوۡعِدَہُمُ الصُّبۡحُ ؕ اَلَـیۡسَ الصُّبۡحُ بِقَرِیۡبٍ]
[And when Our messengers came to Lot, he was distressed on their account and felt for them great discomfort and said, "This is a hard day."] [And his people came rushing to him, and before this, they used to do evil deeds. He said, "O my people! These are my daughters; they are purer for you. So fear Allah and do not disgrace me concerning my guests. Is there not among you a single right-minded man?"] [They said, "Indeed, you know that we have no claim to your daughters, and indeed, you know what we want."] [He said, "If only I had against you some power or could take refuge in a strong support."] [They said, "O Lot! Indeed, we are messengers of your Lord. They will never reach you. So set out with your family during a portion of the night and let not any among you look back except your wife. Indeed, she will be struck by that which strikes them. Indeed, their appointment is the morning. Is not the morning near?"]
Reference: Hud:77 to 81
It is proven that Lot (peace be upon him) did not know the unseen.
The same is stated in:
Reference: Al-Hijr:61,62
, [Al-Ankabut:33[/ref]In Surah Yusuf it is:
[قَالَ بَلۡ سَوَّلَتۡ لَکُمۡ اَنۡفُسُکُمۡ اَمۡرًا ؕ فَصَبۡرٌ جَمِیۡلٌ ؕ عَسَی اللّٰہُ اَنۡ یَّاۡتِـیَنِیۡ بِہِمۡ جَمِیۡعًا ؕ اِنَّہٗ ہُوَ الۡعَلِیۡمُ الۡحَکِیۡمُ]،[ وَ تَوَلّٰی عَنۡہُمۡ وَ قَالَ یٰۤاَسَفٰی عَلٰی یُوۡسُفَ وَ ابۡیَضَّتۡ عَیۡنٰہُ مِنَ الۡحُزۡنِ فَہُوَ کَظِیۡمٌ]
[He said, "Rather, your own hearts have made it pleasing to you, so patience is most fitting. Perhaps Allah will bring them all to me. Indeed, He is the Knowing, the Wise."] [And he turned away from them and said, "Oh, my grief over Joseph!" And his eyes became white from sorrow, and he was filled with grief.]
Reference: Yusuf:84,83
It is proven that Prophet Jacob (peace be upon him) did not know the unseen.
This matter is explained in:
Reference: Surah Yusuf: 8 to 20 and 63 to 66
.In Surah An-Naml it is:
[وَتَفَقَّدَ الطَّیۡرَ فَقَالَ مَا لِیَ لَاۤ اَرَی الۡہُدۡہُدَ اَمۡ کَانَ مِنَ الۡغَآئِبِیۡنَ]،[لَاُعَذِّبَنَّہٗ عَذَابًا شَدِیۡدًا اَوۡ لَاَاذۡبَحَنَّہٗۤ اَوۡ لَیَاۡتِیَنِّیۡ بِسُلۡطٰنٍ مُّبِیۡنٍ]،[فَمَکَثَ غَیۡرَ بَعِیۡدٍ فَقَالَ اَحَطۡتُّ بِمَا لَمۡ تُحِطۡ بِہٖ وَ جِئۡتُکَ مِنۡ سَبَاٍۭ بِنَبَاٍ یَّقِیۡنٍ]،[اِنِّیۡ وَجَدۡتُّ امۡرَاَۃً تَمۡلِکُہُمۡ وَ اُوۡتِیَتۡ مِنۡ کُلِّ شَیۡءٍ وَّ لَہَا عَرۡشٌ عَظِیۡمٌ]،[وَجَدۡتُّہَا وَ قَوۡمَہَا یَسۡجُدُوۡنَ لِلشَّمۡسِ مِنۡ دُوۡنِ اللّٰہِ وَ زَیَّنَ لَہُمُ الشَّیۡطٰنُ اَعۡمَالَہُمۡ فَصَدَّہُمۡ عَنِ السَّبِیۡلِ فَہُمۡ لَا یَہۡتَدُوۡنَ]،[اَلَّا یَسۡجُدُوۡا لِلّٰہِ الَّذِیۡ یُخۡرِجُ الۡخَبۡءَ فِی السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الۡاَرۡضِ وَ یَعۡلَمُ مَا تُخۡفُوۡنَ وَ مَا تُعۡلِنُوۡنَ]،[اَللّٰہُ لَاۤ اِلٰہَ اِلَّا ہُوَ رَبُّ الۡعَرۡشِ الۡعَظِیۡمِ]،[قَالَ سَنَنۡظُرُ اَصَدَقۡتَ اَمۡ کُنۡتَ مِنَ الۡکٰذِبِیۡنَ]،[اِذۡہَبۡ بِّکِتٰبِیۡ ہٰذَا فَاَلۡقِہۡ اِلَیۡہِمۡ ثُمَّ تَوَلَّ عَنۡہُمۡ فَانۡظُرۡ مَا ذَا یَرۡجِعُوۡنَ]
[And he took note of the birds and said, "Why do I not see the hoopoe, or is he among the absent?" Indeed, I will surely punish him with a severe punishment or slaughter him unless he brings me clear authorization.] [So he stayed not long and said, "I have encompassed what you have not encompassed, and I have come to you from Sheba with certain news."] [Indeed, I found a woman ruling over them, and she has been given of all things, and she has a great throne.] [I found her and her people prostrating to the sun instead of Allah, and Satan has made their deeds pleasing to them and averted them from the way, so they are not guided,] [That they worship not Allah, who brings forth what is hidden in the heavens and the earth and knows what you conceal and what you declare.] [Allah - there is no deity except Him, Lord of the Great Throne.] [He said, "We will see whether you were truthful or were of the liars."] [Take this letter of mine and deliver it to them, then withdraw from them and see what response they will return.]
Reference: An-Naml: 20 to 28
It is proven that Prophet Solomon (peace be upon him) did not know the unseen. Because the hoopoe said, "I have brought you news that you did not know," and Prophet Solomon (peace be upon him) said: "We will soon see whether you speak the truth or are among the liars." He did not say that I already knew all this.
[فَاَجۡمِعُوۡا کَیۡدَکُمۡ ثُمَّ ائۡتُوۡا صَفًّا ۚ وَ قَدۡ اَفۡلَحَ الۡیَوۡمَ مَنِ اسۡتَعۡلٰی]،[ قَالُوۡا یٰمُوۡسٰۤی اِمَّاۤ اَنۡ تُلۡقِیَ وَ اِمَّاۤ اَنۡ نَّکُوۡنَ اَوَّلَ مَنۡ اَلۡقٰی]،[ قَالَ بَلۡ اَلۡقُوۡا ۚ فَاِذَا حِبَالُہُمۡ وَ عِصِیُّہُمۡ یُخَیَّلُ اِلَیۡہِ مِنۡ سِحۡرِہِمۡ اَنَّہَا تَسۡعٰی]،[ فَاَوۡجَسَ فِیۡ نَفۡسِہٖ خِیۡفَۃً مُّوۡسٰی]،[ قُلۡنَا لَا تَخَفۡ اِنَّکَ اَنۡتَ الۡاَعۡلٰی]
[So prepare your plan and come forward in ranks. Indeed, he who overcomes today will be the predominant.] [They said, "O Moses, either you throw or we will be the ones to throw first."] [He said, "Rather, you throw." And suddenly their ropes and staffs appeared to him as if they were moving swiftly because of their magic.] [So Moses felt a fear within himself.] [We said, "Fear not. Indeed, you will be the predominant."]
Reference: Taha: 64 to 68
[وَمَاۤ اَعۡجَلَکَ عَنۡ قَوۡمِکَ یٰمُوۡسٰی]،[قَالَ ہُمۡ اُولَآءِ عَلٰۤی اَثَرِیۡ وَ عَجِلۡتُ اِلَیۡکَ رَبِّ لِتَرۡضٰی]،[قَالَ فَاِنَّا قَدۡ فَتَنَّا قَوۡمَکَ مِنۡۢ بَعۡدِکَ وَ اَضَلَّہُمُ السَّامِرِیُّ]،[فَرَجَعَ مُوۡسٰۤی اِلٰی قَوۡمِہٖ غَضۡبَانَ اَسِفًا قَالَ یٰقَوۡمِ اَلَمۡ یَعِدۡکُمۡ رَبُّکُمۡ وَعۡدًا حَسَنًا اَفَطَالَ عَلَیۡکُمُ الۡعَہۡدُ اَمۡ اَرَدۡتُّمۡ اَنۡ یَّحِلَّ عَلَیۡکُمۡ غَضَبٌ مِّنۡ رَّبِّکُمۡ فَاَخۡلَفۡتُمۡ مَّوۡعِدِیۡ]
[And what brought you hastily from your people, O Moses?] [He said, "They are close upon my tracks, and I hastened to You, my Lord, that You be pleased."] [He said, "Indeed, We have tried your people after you, and the Samiri has led them astray."] [So Moses returned to his people, angry and grieved. He said, "O my people, did your Lord not make you a good promise? Then, was the time too long for you, or did you wish that wrath from your Lord descend upon you? So you broke your promise to me."]
Reference: Taha: 83 to 86
It is proven that Prophet Moses (peace be upon him) did not know the unseen.
This matter is also explained in:
Reference: Al-A'raf: 143, Taha: 21, An-Naml: 10, Al-Qasas: 20
.Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him) did not know the unseen. See:
Reference: Al-Ma'idah: 116 to 120
[ذِکۡرُ رَحۡمَتِ رَبِّکَ عَبۡدَہٗ زَکَرِیَّا]،[اِذۡ نَادٰی رَبَّہٗ نِدَآءً خَفِیًّا]،[قَالَ رَبِّ اِنِّیۡ وَہَنَ الۡعَظۡمُ مِنِّیۡ وَ اشۡتَعَلَ الرَّاۡسُ شَیۡبًا وَّ لَمۡ اَکُنۡۢ بِدُعَآئِکَ رَبِّ شَقِیًّا]،[وَ اِنِّیۡ خِفۡتُ الۡمَوَالِیَ مِنۡ وَّرَآءِیۡ وَ کَانَتِ امۡرَاَتِیۡ عَاقِرًا فَہَبۡ لِیۡ مِنۡ لَّدُنۡکَ وَلِیًّا]،[یَّرِثُنِیۡ وَ یَرِثُ مِنۡ اٰلِ یَعۡقُوۡبَ وَ اجۡعَلۡہُ رَبِّ رَضِیًّا]،[یٰزَکَرِیَّاۤ اِنَّا نُبَشِّرُکَ بِغُلٰمِۣ اسۡمُہٗ یَحۡیٰی لَمۡ نَجۡعَلۡ لَّہٗ مِنۡ قَبۡلُ سَمِیًّا]،[قَالَ رَبِّ اَنّٰی یَکُوۡنُ لِیۡ غُلٰمٌ وَّ کَانَتِ امۡرَاَتِیۡ عَاقِرًا وَّ قَدۡ بَلَغۡتُ مِنَ الۡکِبَرِ عِتِیًّا]،[قَالَ کَذٰلِکَ ۚ قَالَ رَبُّکَ ہُوَ عَلَیَّ ہَیِّنٌ وَّ قَدۡ خَلَقۡتُکَ مِنۡ قَبۡلُ وَ لَمۡ تَکُ شَیۡئًا]،[قَالَ رَبِّ اجۡعَلۡ لِّیۡۤ اٰیَۃً قَالَ اٰیَتُکَ اَلَّا تُکَلِّمَ النَّاسَ ثَلٰثَ لَیَالٍ سَوِیًّا]
[The mention of the mercy of your Lord upon His servant Zechariah,] [When he called to his Lord a private call.] [He said, "My Lord, indeed my bones have weakened, and my head has filled with white, and never have I been in my supplication to You, my Lord, unhappy."] [And indeed, I fear my relatives after me, and my wife has been barren, so give me from Yourself an heir] [Who will inherit me and inherit from the family of Jacob. And make him, my Lord, pleasing.] [O Zechariah, indeed We give you good tidings of a boy whose name will be John. We have not assigned to any before [this] name.] [He said, "My Lord, how will I have a boy when my wife has been barren and I have reached extreme old age?"] [He said, "Thus [it will be]; your Lord says, 'It is easy for Me, and We will make him a sign to the people and a mercy from Us. And it is a matter [already] decreed.'"] [He said, "My Lord, make for me a sign." He said, "Your sign is that you will not speak to the people for three nights, being sound."]
Reference: Maryam: 2 to 10
It is proven that Prophet Zechariah (peace be upon him) also did not know the unseen.
This matter is also explained in:
Reference: Aal Imran: 37 to 47
.[اِذۡ دَخَلُوۡا عَلٰی دَاوٗدَ فَفَزِعَ مِنۡہُمۡ قَالُوۡا لَا تَخَفۡ ۚ خَصۡمٰنِ بَغٰی بَعۡضُنَا عَلٰی بَعۡضٍ فَاحۡکُمۡ بَیۡنَنَا بِالۡحَقِّ وَ لَا تُشۡطِطۡ وَ اہۡدِنَاۤ اِلٰی سَوَآءِ الصِّرَاطِ]
When they came to Dawud, he became afraid of them. They said, "Do not be afraid; two disputants have come to us. One of us has wronged the other, so judge between us with truth and do not be unjust, and guide us to the right path."
Reference: Saad:22
It is proven that Sayyiduna Dawud (peace be upon him) also did not know the unseen. That is why he was afraid when they came.
[وَ لِسُلَیۡمٰنَ الرِّیۡحَ غُدُوُّہَا شَہۡرٌ وَّ رَوَاحُہَا شَہۡرٌ ۚ وَ اَسَلۡنَا لَہٗ عَیۡنَ الۡقِطۡرِ ؕ وَ مِنَ الۡجِنِّ مَنۡ یَّعۡمَلُ بَیۡنَ یَدَیۡہِ بِاِذۡنِ رَبِّہٖ ؕ وَ مَنۡ یَّزِغۡ مِنۡہُمۡ عَنۡ اَمۡرِنَا نُذِقۡہُ مِنۡ عَذَابِ السَّعِیۡرِ]،[ یَعۡمَلُوۡنَ لَہٗ مَا یَشَآءُ مِنۡ مَّحَارِیۡبَ وَ تَمَاثِیۡلَ وَ جِفَانٍ کَالۡجَوَابِ وَ قُدُوۡرٍ رّٰسِیٰتٍ ؕ اِعۡمَلُوۡۤا اٰلَ دَاوٗدَ شُکۡرًا ؕ وَ قَلِیۡلٌ مِّنۡ عِبَادِیَ الشَّکُوۡرُ]،[ فَلَمَّا قَضَیۡنَا عَلَیۡہِ الۡمَوۡتَ مَا دَلَّہُمۡ عَلٰی مَوۡتِہٖۤ اِلَّا دَآبَّۃُ الۡاَرۡضِ تَاۡکُلُ مِنۡسَاَتَہٗ ۚ فَلَمَّا خَرَّ تَبَیَّنَتِ الۡجِنُّ اَنۡ لَّوۡ کَانُوۡا یَعۡلَمُوۡنَ الۡغَیۡبَ مَا لَبِثُوۡا فِی الۡعَذَابِ الۡمُہِیۡنِ]
[And to Solomon (We subjected) the wind, its morning journey was a month’s journey and its evening journey was a month’s journey, and We caused a spring of molten copper to flow for him, and among the jinn were those who worked for him by the permission of his Lord. And whoever deviated among them from Our command, We made him taste the punishment of the blazing fire. They made for him whatever he wished, of large buildings, statues, basins like reservoirs, and cooking pots fixed in their places. O household of Dawud! Work and be grateful. And very few of My servants are grateful.] [Then when We decreed death for him, they did not know his death except a worm of the earth that ate his staff. And when he fell, the jinn realized that if they had known the unseen, they would not have remained in humiliating punishment.]
Reference: Saba:12 to 14
It is proven that the jinn also do not know the unseen. That is why they did not know about the death of Sayyiduna Sulaiman (peace be upon him). Until the worm of the earth ate the staff, and Sayyiduna Sulaiman (peace be upon him) fell dead on the ground. For so long, Sayyiduna Sulaiman (peace be upon him) remained in a dead state leaning on the staff, and when the worm ate the staff, he fell to the ground. It is proven that after passing away, he was in a dead state, not alive, as people say nowadays.
[وَعَلَّمَ اٰدَمَ الۡاَسۡمَآءَ کُلَّہَا ثُمَّ عَرَضَہُمۡ عَلَی الۡمَلٰٓئِکَۃِ فَقَالَ اَنۡۢبِـُٔوۡنِیۡ بِاَسۡمَآءِ ہٰۤؤُلَآءِ اِنۡ کُنۡتُمۡ صٰدِقِیۡنَ]،[ قَالُوۡا سُبۡحٰنَکَ لَا عِلۡمَ لَنَاۤ اِلَّا مَا عَلَّمۡتَنَا اِنَّکَ اَنۡتَ الۡعَلِیۡمُ الۡحَکِیۡمُ]،[قَالَ یٰۤاٰدَمُ اَنۡۢبِئۡہُمۡ بِاَسۡمَآئِہِمۡ فَلَمَّاۤ اَنۡۢبَاَہُمۡ بِاَسۡمَآئِہِمۡ قَالَ اَلَمۡ اَقُلۡ لَّکُمۡ اِنِّیۡۤ اَعۡلَمُ غَیۡبَ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الۡاَرۡضِ وَ اَعۡلَمُ مَا تُبۡدُوۡنَ وَ مَا کُنۡتُمۡ تَکۡتُمُوۡنَ]
[And He taught Adam the names—all of them. Then He presented them to the angels and said, "Tell Me the names of these, if you are truthful."] [They said, "Exalted are You; we have no knowledge except what You have taught us. Indeed, it is You who is the Knowing, the Wise."] [He said, "O Adam, inform them of their names." And when he had informed them of their names, He said, "Did I not tell you that I know the unseen of the heavens and the earth? And I know what you reveal and what you have concealed."]
Reference: Al-Baqarah:31 to 33
It has been proven that angels do not know the unseen. And from these verses, it is also evident that creation knows only what it has been informed of. Creation does not know the unseen, and it is also proven that before Allah informed him, Adam (peace be upon him) did not know the names of these things, and this principle applies to all creation.
