Is it permissible for us to say "Allah and His Messenger know best" when we are asked about something we do not know?
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The questioner: Shaykh, if it is possible, regarding a question.
The Shaykh: Yes.
The questioner: That the Companions, during the time of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), when asked about something they did not know, would say "Allah and His Messenger know best." So in this time, if we are asked about something we do not know, do we say "Allah and His Messenger know best" or not?
The Shaykh: No, the Companions did not say that except when the Messenger was among them. As for after his passing, they did not say that. The question must be corrected; one should not make a general statement that the Companions used to say this. It is restricted to the time of the Messenger. Is that clear?
The questioner : Is that clear?
The Shaykh: All right.
The questioner: I mean, we just need to say "Allah knows best," right? Okay, Shaykh, how do we reconcile this? From the Sunnah, we say "Allah knows best," and there is a report from 'Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) that a man asked him one day about an issue, and he said to him, "Allah knows best." The man said to him, "We are lost if we do not know, for Allah knows best. If one of you is asked about something, let him say 'I do not know.'" What is your opinion on the authenticity of this report?
The Shaykh: This is for a specific case. This is said about something one knows. As for if he does not know, he says "I do not know, Allah knows best." That is, "Wallahu a'lam" (and Allah knows best) is said about something in which the speaker has doubt. So regarding the report of 'Umar, do you understand it absolutely, or do you understand it as restricted? How do you understand it?
The questioner: Based on what you said, Shaykh, I believe it is restricted to things in which one has doubt about his knowledge.
The Shaykh : Yes, that is it.
The Shaykh: Yes.
The questioner: That the Companions, during the time of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), when asked about something they did not know, would say "Allah and His Messenger know best." So in this time, if we are asked about something we do not know, do we say "Allah and His Messenger know best" or not?
The Shaykh: No, the Companions did not say that except when the Messenger was among them. As for after his passing, they did not say that. The question must be corrected; one should not make a general statement that the Companions used to say this. It is restricted to the time of the Messenger. Is that clear?
The questioner : Is that clear?
The Shaykh: All right.
The questioner: I mean, we just need to say "Allah knows best," right? Okay, Shaykh, how do we reconcile this? From the Sunnah, we say "Allah knows best," and there is a report from 'Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) that a man asked him one day about an issue, and he said to him, "Allah knows best." The man said to him, "We are lost if we do not know, for Allah knows best. If one of you is asked about something, let him say 'I do not know.'" What is your opinion on the authenticity of this report?
The Shaykh: This is for a specific case. This is said about something one knows. As for if he does not know, he says "I do not know, Allah knows best." That is, "Wallahu a'lam" (and Allah knows best) is said about something in which the speaker has doubt. So regarding the report of 'Umar, do you understand it absolutely, or do you understand it as restricted? How do you understand it?
The questioner: Based on what you said, Shaykh, I believe it is restricted to things in which one has doubt about his knowledge.
The Shaykh : Yes, that is it.
Source
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