This excerpt is taken from Sheikh Irshad Ullah Maan's book In Search of Truth.
The command of the Almighty is:
[مَنۡ یُّضۡلِلِ اللّٰہُ فَلَا ہَادِیَ لَہٗ ؕ وَ یَذَرُہُمۡ فِیۡ طُغۡیَانِہِمۡ یَعۡمَہُوۡنَ]،[ یَسۡـَٔلُوۡنَکَ عَنِ السَّاعَۃِ اَیَّانَ مُرۡسٰہَا ؕ قُلۡ اِنَّمَا عِلۡمُہَا عِنۡدَ رَبِّیۡ ۚ لَا یُجَلِّیۡہَا لِوَقۡتِہَاۤ اِلَّا ہُوَ ؕ ثَقُلَتۡ فِی السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الۡاَرۡضِ ؕ لَا تَاۡتِیۡکُمۡ اِلَّا بَغۡتَۃً ؕ یَسۡـَٔلُوۡنَکَ کَاَنَّکَ حَفِیٌّ عَنۡہَا ؕ قُلۡ اِنَّمَا عِلۡمُہَا عِنۡدَ اللّٰہِ وَ لٰکِنَّ اَکۡثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا یَعۡلَمُوۡنَ]،[ قُلۡ لَّاۤ اَمۡلِکُ لِنَفۡسِیۡ نَفۡعًا وَّ لَا ضَرًّا اِلَّا مَا شَآءَ اللّٰہُ ؕ وَ لَوۡ کُنۡتُ اَعۡلَمُ الۡغَیۡبَ لَاسۡتَکۡثَرۡتُ مِنَ الۡخَیۡرِۚ وَ مَا مَسَّنِیَ السُّوۡٓءُ ۚ اِنۡ اَنَا اِلَّا نَذِیۡرٌ وَّ بَشِیۡرٌ لِّقَوۡمٍ یُّؤۡمِنُوۡنَ]،[ ہُوَ الَّذِیۡ خَلَقَکُمۡ مِّنۡ نَّفۡسٍ وَّاحِدَۃٍ وَّ جَعَلَ مِنۡہَا زَوۡجَہَا لِیَسۡکُنَ اِلَیۡہَا ۚ فَلَمَّا تَغَشّٰہَا حَمَلَتۡ حَمۡلًا خَفِیۡفًا فَمَرَّتۡ بِہٖ ۚ فَلَمَّاۤ اَثۡقَلَتۡ دَّعَوَا اللّٰہَ رَبَّہُمَا لَئِنۡ اٰتَیۡتَنَا صَالِحًا لَّنَکُوۡنَنَّ مِنَ الشّٰکِرِیۡنَ]،[ فَلَمَّاۤ اٰتٰہُمَا صَالِحًا جَعَلَا لَہٗ شُرَکَآءَ فِیۡمَاۤ اٰتٰہُمَا ۚ فَتَعٰلَی اللّٰہُ عَمَّا یُشۡرِکُوۡنَ]،[ اَیُشۡرِکُوۡنَ مَا لَا یَخۡلُقُ شَیۡئًا وَّ ہُمۡ یُخۡلَقُوۡنَ]
[Whomever Allah leads astray, there is no guide for him, and He leaves them in their transgression, wandering about], [They ask you about the Hour, when will it be established? Say, its knowledge is only with my Lord; none will reveal it at its time except Him. It will weigh heavily upon the heavens and the earth. It will come upon you suddenly. They ask you as if you are well informed about it. Say, its knowledge is only with Allah, but most people do not know], [Say, I am not the owner of any benefit or harm to myself, except what Allah wills. And if I knew the unseen, I would have acquired much good, and no harm would have touched me. I am only a warner and a bringer of good tidings to those who believe], [He is the One who created you from a single soul and made its mate from it, so that he might find tranquility in her. Then when he covers her, she carries a light burden and continues walking. Then when it becomes heavy, both of them pray to Allah, their Lord, saying: "If You give us a healthy child, we will surely be among the grateful"], [Then when He gives them a healthy child, they associate partners with Him concerning what He has given them. Exalted is Allah above what they associate], [Do they associate with Him those who do not create anything, while they themselves are created?]
Reference: Al-A'raf:186 to 191
① Guidance and misguidance are in the hands of Allah Almighty; even the Messenger of the universe ﷺ cannot guide anyone.
Reference: (Muzammil:56)
② The knowledge of the occurrence of the Day of Judgment is with none except Allah Almighty.
③ The Messenger of the universe ﷺ is neither the owner of his own benefit or harm nor the owner of anyone else’s benefit or harm.
Reference: (Muzammil Yunus:45 to 49), (Al-Jinn:10 to 22)
④ The Messenger of Allah ﷺ is not a knower of the unseen; if he were, there would have been many benefits he could have gained through prior knowledge, and many harms he could have avoided by being forewarned. The word "لو" (if) here proves that despite being the best of the messengers, the Messenger of the Universe ﷺ did not possess knowledge of the unseen. The incident of Al-Ifk is before us, in which the Messenger of the Universe ﷺ remained distressed and troubled for many days. Finally, when Allah revealed the declaration of innocence for Lady Aisha رضي الله عنهما in the Quran, he became aware of the reality. From this one incident alone, those who call him the master of tomorrow and a knower of the unseen can judge for themselves.
⑤ From these verses, it is understood that the greatness of the Prophets and the Saints, whom Allah Almighty has made superior to all people, lies in the fact that they guide to the path of Allah Almighty. Their greatness does not consist in having been given power over the world, such as having control over life and death, or that Allah Almighty has granted them knowledge of the unseen, enabling them to know events whenever they wish. And no one except Allah can grant offspring.
⑥ These verses uprooted polytheism. When the Messenger of the Universe ﷺ, who is the leader of all worlds, does not have control over the benefit or harm to his own life, nor knowledge of the unseen, then what power does any other prophet, saint, elder, faqir, jinn, or angel have to benefit or harm anyone or to reveal any unseen matter? Only Allah Almighty, who informs the Messenger of the Universe ﷺ of the unseen, makes it known to him ﷺ, and he ﷺ conveys this information to the people. These verses should serve as a lesson to those who consider the Messenger of Allah ﷺ to be the master of all things; he ﷺ did not even have the authority to guide someone to the right path.
Reference: (Al-Qasas:56)
As written in the Tafsir Muradabadi of this verse, this verse was revealed concerning Abu Talib, who did not recite the Kalima of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and passed away. It is astonishing what beliefs some people hold, as they consider the Messenger of Allah ﷺ to be the master of all things on one hand, and on the other hand, they consider him the intercessor (one who intercedes). However, one who is the master of all things does not need to intercede, and one who intercedes cannot be the master of all things.Their contradiction and duplicity is astonishing!!
The Seal of the Prophets, the Master of Messengers, the Greatest Imam Muhammad Rasul Allah ﷺ, when he was wounded in the Battle of Uhud, these words came from his blessed tongue:
[كيف يفلح قوم شجوا نبيهم وكسروا رباعيته وهو يدعوهم إلى الله، فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ لَيْسَ لَكَ مِنَ الأَمْرِ شَيْءٌ]، [Al Imran:138]
How will that nation be successful which wounded their Prophet in the head and broke his front tooth, while he was calling them to Allah? On this occasion, Allah Almighty revealed this verse: You have no power in this matter (to make Allah turn to them or punish them for being oppressors)
Reference: Muslim, Book of Jihad, Chapter of Battle of Uhud:1791
[وَ لَا تَقُوۡلَنَّ لِشَایۡءٍ اِنِّیۡ فَاعِلٌ ذٰلِکَ غَدًا]،[ اِلَّاۤ اَنۡ یَّشَآءَ اللّٰہُ ۫ وَ اذۡکُرۡ رَّبَّکَ اِذَا نَسِیۡتَ وَ قُلۡ عَسٰۤی اَنۡ یَّہۡدِیَنِ رَبِّیۡ لِاَقۡرَبَ مِنۡ ہٰذَا رَشَدًا]
[And never say about anything, "I will surely do that tomorrow,"] except [when you say], "If Allah wills," and remember your Lord when you forget and say, "I hope my Lord will guide me to what is nearer than this to right conduct."]
Reference: Al-Kahf:24,23
The commentators say: The Jews asked the Prophet ﷺ three questions: What is the reality of the soul? Who were the Companions of the Cave and Dhul-Qarnayn? It is said that these questions were the reason for the revelation of Surah Al-Kahf. The Prophet ﷺ said: I will answer you tomorrow, but after that, for 15 days, Jibril did not bring any revelation.
When some poor Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ for mounts to go to the Battle of Tabuk, he said: I have no mounts to give you. So the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, returned crying and could not go to the battle because Tabuk was very far from Madinah Munawwarah. Then this verse was revealed:
[اِذَا مَاۤ اَتَوۡکَ لِتَحۡمِلَہُمۡ قُلۡتَ لَاۤ اَجِدُ مَاۤ اَحۡمِلُکُمۡ عَلَیۡہِ ۪ تَوَلَّوۡا وَّ اَعۡیُنُہُمۡ تَفِیۡضُ مِنَ الدَّمۡعِ حَزَنًا اَلَّا یَجِدُوۡا مَا یُنۡفِقُوۡنَ]
When they came to you asking for mounts, you said, "I have nothing to mount you on." So they turned back, their eyes flowing with tears because they had no means of expenditure.
Reference: At-Tawbah: 92
Allah Almighty is the Creator; He created all creatures.
Reference: (Al-Baqarah:29)
Allah Almighty is the Owner of the entire universe (He has no partner in this).
Reference: (Bani Isra'il:111)
The benefit and harm of everything is not in the control of anyone except Allah Almighty.
Reference: (Al-A'raf:188), (Yunus:107,49)
The Prophet ﷺ is neither the owner of his own benefit and harm nor of anyone else's.
Reference: (Al-Qasas:56), (Al-Jinn:18 to 22)
No prophet is the owner of anyone's benefit and harm.
Reference: (Al-Ma'idah:72 to 77), (Hud:45,31, 30 to 123)
Sustenance and its scarcity or abundance are only under the control of Allah Almighty.
Reference: (Hud:6)
No one besides Allah can give offspring.
Reference: (Ash-Shura:50,49)
No one can cure the sick except Allah Almighty.
Reference: (Ash-Shu'ara:78 to 82)
On the Day of Judgment, intercession will be by the permission of Allah Almighty, and whoever speaks correctly will be granted permission for intercession:[رَّبِّ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الۡاَرۡضِ وَ مَا بَیۡنَہُمَا الرَّحۡمٰنِ لَا یَمۡلِکُوۡنَ مِنۡہُ خِطَابًا]،[ یَوۡمَ یَقُوۡمُ الرُّوۡحُ وَ الۡمَلٰٓئِکَۃُ صَفًّا لَّا یَتَکَلَّمُوۡنَ اِلَّا مَنۡ اَذِنَ لَہُ الرَّحۡمٰنُ وَ قَالَ صَوَابًا]
[(From the Lord of the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them, the Most Merciful. None can speak except by His permission), [The Day when the Spirit and the angels will stand in rows, they will not speak except him whom the Most Merciful permits, and he will say what is right]]
Reference: An-Naba:38,37
This permission will be granted by Allah Almighty to these angels and His messengers, and whatever they say will be true and just. Or this means that permission will only be given to those who have spoken correctly, i.e., those who have affirmed the Word of Tawhid.
All blessings are from Allah Almighty (they cannot be counted).
Reference: (An-Nahl:18)
The owner and king of everything in the universe is only Allah Almighty.
Reference: (Al-Hashr:23)
All authority of governance and rule in the universe belongs only to Allah Almighty.
Reference: (Yusuf:40)
The arranger of the universe and the manager of its affairs is only Allah Almighty.
Reference: (Ar-Ra'd:2)
The owner of all treasures of the earth and the heavens is only Allah Almighty.
Reference: (Al-An'am:50)
On the Day of Judgment, the authority of reward or punishment will belong only to Allah Almighty.
Reference: (At-Tahrim:10)
Guidance is only in the control of Allah.
Reference: (Al-Qasas:56)
Life and death are in the control of Allah Almighty.
Reference: (Al-Ma'idah:17)
The names that people have given themselves have no sanction from Allah. For example, Ghaus-ul-Azam, Data Ganj Bakhsh, Gareeb Nawaz, Mushkil Kusha, Dastgir, the giver of offspring, the one who brings the sinking ship to shore:
[اِنۡ ہِیَ اِلَّاۤ اَسۡمَآءٌ سَمَّیۡتُمُوۡہَاۤ اَنۡتُمۡ وَ اٰبَآؤُکُمۡ مَّاۤ اَنۡزَلَ اللّٰہُ بِہَا مِنۡ سُلۡطٰنٍ ؕ اِنۡ یَّتَّبِعُوۡنَ اِلَّا الظَّنَّ وَ مَا تَہۡوَی الۡاَنۡفُسُ ۚ وَ لَقَدۡ جَآءَہُمۡ مِّنۡ رَّبِّہِمُ الۡہُدٰی]
These are just mere names that you and your forefathers have fabricated, for which Allah Almighty has not revealed any certificate; they merely follow illusion and their own desires, even though guidance has already come to them from their Lord.
Reference: An-Najm:23
The authority to forgive or not forgive sins belongs only to Allah Almighty.
Reference: (At-Tawbah:80)
All the goodness of religion and the world is only in the hands of Allah Almighty; He grants to whom He wills and takes away from whom He wills.
Reference: (Aal-Imran:26)
The one who turns hearts is only Allah Almighty.
Reference: (Al-Anfal:24)
The one who grants the ability to do good and avoid sin is only Allah Almighty.
Reference: (Hud:88)
[وَ لَقَدۡ اَرۡسَلۡنَا رُسُلًا مِّنۡ قَبۡلِکَ مِنۡہُمۡ مَّنۡ قَصَصۡنَا عَلَیۡکَ وَ مِنۡہُمۡ مَّنۡ لَّمۡ نَقۡصُصۡ عَلَیۡکَ ؕ وَ مَا کَانَ لِرَسُوۡلٍ اَنۡ یَّاۡتِیَ بِاٰیَۃٍ اِلَّا بِاِذۡنِ اللّٰہِ ۚ فَاِذَا جَآءَ اَمۡرُ اللّٰہِ قُضِیَ بِالۡحَقِّ وَ خَسِرَ ہُنَالِکَ الۡمُبۡطِلُوۡنَ]
And indeed, certainly We have sent many messengers before you, some of whom We have told you about, and some of whom We have not told you about. And no messenger had the authority to bring any sign except by Allah's permission. Then when the command of Allah came, it was judged with truth, and on that day the people of falsehood were in loss.
Reference: Al-Mu’min:78
A miracle is an extraordinary event that indicates the truthfulness of a prophet. The disbelievers kept demanding from the prophets to show them certain things, just as the disbelievers of Mecca demanded many things from the Prophet of the Universe ﷺ, the details of which are present in
Reference: Bani Israel:90 to 93
. Allah Almighty said: No prophet had the authority to produce a miracle on the demand of his people; this was only within Allah’s authority. Some prophets were given miracles from the beginning, some were shown miracles upon their people's demand, and some were not shown miracles despite their demand. The decision was according to Allah Almighty’s will; no prophet had the authority to show a miracle whenever he wished. This clearly refutes those who attribute to some saints the claim that they could manifest extraordinary events (karamat) whenever and however they wanted, such as what is said about Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilani. These are all fabricated stories. When Allah did not grant this authority to the prophets, who needed it as proof of their truthfulness, how could any saint be given this authority? Especially since saints do not need it, because belief in the prophethood of a prophet is necessary, and therefore miracles were necessary for them, but Allah’s wisdom and will did not require it, so this power was not given to any prophet. Belief in the sainthood of a wali is not obligatory, so they do not need karamat. Why would Allah grant them this authority unnecessarily? All actions return to Allah.
Reference: Al-Baqarah:210, Aal Imran:109, Al-Anfal:44
Sayyiduna Nuh (peace be upon him) said this much:
[فَدَعَا رَبَّہٗۤ اَنِّیۡ مَغۡلُوۡبٌ فَانۡتَصِرۡ]They prayed to their Lord, "Indeed, I am overpowered, so help."
Reference: Al-Qamar:10
It is understood that if Nuh (peace be upon him) had supernatural powers, he would not have mentioned being overpowered.
Similarly, for Hud (peace be upon him):
Reference: (Surah Hud:50 to 60)
For Ibrahim (peace be upon him):
Reference: (Al-Anbiya:61 to 73)
For Lut (peace be upon him):
Reference: (Ash-Shu'ara:160 to 175), (Hud:74 to 83)
For Shu'ayb (peace be upon him):
Reference: (Hud:84 to 95)
For Ayyub (peace be upon him):
Reference: (Sad:41 to 44)
For Musa (peace be upon him):
Reference: (Al-A'raf:103 to 162), (Taha:45), (Ash-Shu'ara:10 to 68), (Al-Qasas:33)
For Harun (peace be upon him):
Reference: (Taha:45)
For Yunus (peace be upon him):
Reference: (As-Saffat:139 to 148)
In which Allah Almighty said: if he, that is Sayyiduna Yunus (peace be upon him), had not called upon Me, he would have remained in the belly of the fish until the Day of Resurrection. Study these Surahs.
