A Note on an Error Some People Commit, Which Is Saying

The Shaykh : On this occasion, I want to remind you of a common error among people. This phrase, "Allah and His Messenger know best," appears in many hadiths, especially when the Messenger (may Allah’s prayers and peace be upon him) would ask his Companions about something. This question would make the one being asked feel that the Messenger (may Allah’s prayers and peace be upon him) was asking them about something he already knew. The examples are too numerous to count, but among the most famous is the story of Jibril (peace be upon him) when he came to the gathering of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) in the form of a man unfamiliar to the city. But despite that, Who is this man? It is a very long hadith. He asked about Islam, about faith, about excellence in worship, and about the signs of the Hour. For each one, he said, "You have spoken the truth, you have spoken the truth, you have spoken the truth." Then the man left. 'Umar, who is the narrator of that hadith, said: meaning three days. Then he said (peace be upon him): "The one who came and asked such and such." They said: "Allah and His Messenger know best." He said: .
The point is: When the Messenger (peace be upon him) would ask the noble Companions such a question, like "Do you know such and such?" or "Do you know such and such?", the answer would be, "What is it? Allah and His Messenger know best." This phrase has been used among people until today. So I want to distinguish between saying this phrase when the Messenger directed a question to the Companions; in that case, the answer "Allah and His Messenger know best" is in its proper place. But today, it is not permissible to use this phrase. I mean, for the simplest or most trivial occasion, one of us asks the other, saying for example, "Yesterday, did you know where we went? Did you know what we cooked?" Questions like that. A person forgets what the answer should be: "Allah and His Messenger know best." The point is, the answer would be "Allah and His Messenger know best." Here, the Messenger should not be paired with Allah, because the Messenger (peace be upon him) is now in the barzakh (the interval between death and resurrection). He is now receiving some of what Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He) promised him of good reward. So he is not with us like Allah, as He said (the Exalted): ; meaning by His knowledge. So if we are asked any question today, whether it is important or not... do you know what you should say? "Allah knows best." You do not say "Allah and His Messenger know best." "Allah knows best," because if we say "Allah knows best," this is a true statement, because nothing is hidden from Allah on earth or in the sky. But "Allah and His Messenger know best" today about every movement and every stillness, this is an error. And this is considered shirk (associating partners with Allah) of the words. But if it is shirk of the meanings, that would be riddah (apostasy). There are people who believe today that the Messenger (peace be upon him) is present in every gathering, present in every place, just as they believe in their Lord (Blessed and Exalted is He). This is explicit shirk, kufr (disbelief), and riddah. But those who do not hold this belief, yet still utter this utterance, "Allah and His Messenger know best," this is called verbal shirk. So one must purify his speech and cleanse it from the filth of shirk and the stain of shirk. So if we are asked today about something we do not know, we say "Allah knows best," and we do not say "Allah and His Messenger know best." And this is sufficient, and praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds.