The Reality of the Prophet ﷺ's Knowledge of the Unseen

Originally authored by Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amaanpuri – enhanced with headings and structured format for easier reading.

✿ Evidence ①: Divine Statement (Surah Hud 11:49)​

Allah says in the Qur’an:
“These are from the news of the unseen which We reveal to you. Neither you nor your people knew them before this. So be patient. Surely, the good outcome is for the righteous.”
(Hud 11:49)

Exegesis by Scholars:
◈ Imam Tabari: Allah conveyed to the Prophet ﷺ the story of Prophet Nuh (عليه السلام) and his people through revelation, which was knowledge of the unseen. Neither the Prophet ﷺ nor his people knew of these events beforehand.
◈ Hafiz Ibn Kathir: These and other unseen events were revealed to the Prophet ﷺ in such a vivid manner as if he were an eyewitness. Neither he nor his people had any prior knowledge of them, affirming that this knowledge was given only through revelation.

✿ Evidence ②: Divine Statement (Surah At-Takwir 81:24)​

Allah says:
“And he ﷺ is not miserly concerning the knowledge of the unseen.”
(At-Takwir 81:24)

Exegesis by Scholars:
◈ Imam Ibn al-Qayyim: There is scholarly consensus that the term "unseen" here refers to revelation and the Qur’an. The Prophet ﷺ could not conceal the knowledge granted to him through revelation.
◈ Saeed ibn Jubair: The word “miserly” signifies that the Prophet ﷺ was not one to conceal the revelation.
◈ Ibn Kathir: The Prophet ﷺ conveyed every part of the revelation he received; nothing was hidden from the people.

✿ Clarification from Qur’an and Hadith​

To deduce from this verse that the Prophet ﷺ had knowledge of the unseen beyond revelation is a mistaken and blasphemous belief. According to the Qur’an and Hadith, knowledge of the unseen belongs solely to Allah. Any knowledge of the unseen that the Prophet ﷺ possessed was through revelation alone.

✿ Revelation and the Unseen​

All knowledge of the unseen that the Prophet ﷺ had came exclusively through revelation (Wahy). Once revealed, it no longer remains unseen but becomes information that he ﷺ conveyed to the Ummah.

✿ Misconceptions and Objections​

Some claim that the Prophet ﷺ or other prophets and saints are ‘Knowers of the Unseen (Alim al-Ghayb)’, but nowhere in the Qur’an or authentic Hadith is this established. If revelation is considered "unseen knowledge," then every Muslim possesses this knowledge since the Qur’an is accessible to all. Believing that the Prophet ﷺ was inherently a knower of the unseen is a serious error.

✔ Summary​

① The Prophet ﷺ received unseen knowledge only through revelation.
② He ﷺ conveyed all of this knowledge openly and did not withhold any part of it.
③ Only Allah is Alim al-Ghayb (Knower of the Unseen), and to label revelation as personal unseen knowledge is a misunderstanding.

❖ Conclusion:​

In light of the Qur’an and Hadith, it is evident that the Prophet ﷺ did not inherently possess knowledge of the unseen except what was revealed to him by Allah. No one other than Allah has knowledge of the unseen.