Knowledge of the Unseen
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Q6: The categories of the Unseen, and whether the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) knew the Unseen, and whether his knowledge of it was comprehensive or partial?
A6: Some of the Unseen is that which Allah has kept to Himself in knowledge, so He has not revealed it to any angel brought near or any messenger sent, such as determining the time when the creation will stand before Allah, Lord of the Worlds, for the Reckoning. Indeed, no one knows when the Hour will come except Allah. Allah the Exalted said:[Al-A'raf 7:187] And He said: [Al-Ahzab 33:63] And He said: [An-Nazi'at 79:42-45] And al-Bukhari and Muslim narrated in their authentic collections the long, well-known hadith: . Then he informed him of its signs. And some of the Unseen is that which Allah has informed some of His servants of, such as future matters about which the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) gave news, which became a prophetic miracle for him and a sign from the signs of Allah by which Allah distinguished His Messenger. These are included in His saying, the Exalted: [Al-Jinn 72:26-27] and in His saying: [Ali 'Imran 3:179]
And by this it becomes clear that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not know the Unseen with comprehensive knowledge, but rather he knew it with partial knowledge within the limits of what Allah revealed to him, just as his brother prophets did. The intention is clarification by example, not exhaustive listing. And success is from Allah. And may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
A6: Some of the Unseen is that which Allah has kept to Himself in knowledge, so He has not revealed it to any angel brought near or any messenger sent, such as determining the time when the creation will stand before Allah, Lord of the Worlds, for the Reckoning. Indeed, no one knows when the Hour will come except Allah. Allah the Exalted said:
They ask you, [O Muhammad], about the Hour: when is its arrival? Say, "Its knowledge is only with my Lord. None will reveal its time except Him. It lays heavily upon the heavens and the earth. It will not come upon you except unexpectedly." They ask you as if you are familiar with it. Say, "Its knowledge is only with Allah, but most of the people do not know."
يَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ السَّاعَةِ أَيَّانَ مُرْسَاهَا قُلْ إِنَّمَا عِلْمُهَا عِنْدَ رَبِّي لاَ يُجَلِّيهَا لِوَقْتِهَا إِلا هُوَ ثَقُلَتْ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ لاَ تَأْتِيكُمْ إِلا بَغْتَةً يَسْأَلُونَكَ كَأَنَّكَ حَفِيٌّ عَنْهَا قُلْ إِنَّمَا عِلْمُهَا عِنْدَ اللَّهِ وَلَكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لاَ يَعْلَمُونَPeople ask you concerning the Hour. Say," Knowledge of it is only with Allah. And what may make you perceive? Perhaps the Hour is near."
يَسْأَلُكَ النَّاسُ عَنِ السَّاعَةِ قُلْ إِنَّمَا عِلْمُهَا عِنْدَ اللَّهِ وَمَا يُدْرِيكَ لَعَلَّ السَّاعَةَ تَكُونُ قَرِيبًا(42) They ask you, [O Muhammad], about the Hour: when is its arrival? (43) In what [position] are you that you should mention it? (44) To your Lord is its finality. (45) You are only a warner for those who fear it.
يَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ السَّاعَةِ أَيَّانَ مُرْسَاهَا (42) فِيمَ أَنْتَ مِنْ ذِكْرَاهَا (43) إِلَى رَبِّكَ مُنْتَهَاهَا (44) إِنَّمَا أَنْتَ مُنْذِرُ مَنْ يَخْشَاهَاThat Jibril asked the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him): When is the Hour? He said: The one asked about it is no more knowledgeable about it than the one asking!
أن جبريل سأل رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: متى الساعة؟ قال: ما المسؤول عنها بأعلم من السائل!(26) [He is] Knower of the unseen, and He does not disclose His [knowledge of the] unseen to anyone (27) Except whom He has approved of messengers, and indeed, He sends before each messenger and behind him observers
عَالِمُ الْغَيْبِ فَلا يُظْهِرُ عَلَى غَيْبِهِ أَحَدًا (26) إِلا مَنِ ارْتَضَى مِنْ رَسُولٍNor would Allah reveal to you the unseen. But [instead], Allah chooses of His messengers whom He wills
وَمَا كَانَ اللَّهُ لِيُطْلِعَكُمْ عَلَى الْغَيْبِ وَلَكِنَّ اللَّهَ يَجْتَبِي مِنْ رُسُلِهِ مَنْ يَشَاءُAnd by this it becomes clear that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not know the Unseen with comprehensive knowledge, but rather he knew it with partial knowledge within the limits of what Allah revealed to him, just as his brother prophets did. The intention is clarification by example, not exhaustive listing. And success is from Allah. And may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.