How do we respond to the Sufis who say that knowledge is of two types: apparent knowledge known by the messengers and scholars, and hidden knowledge exclusive to the awliya (close friends of Allah)?
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The questioner : He says:The questioner : How do we respond to the Sufis who say that knowledge is of two types: apparent knowledge known by the messengers and scholars, and hidden knowledge exclusive to the awliya (close friends of Allah)?
The Shaykh : I seek refuge in Allah! Did you hear what he said? He says that the Sufis claim there are two kinds of knowledge: apparent knowledge known by the messengers and scholars, and hidden knowledge known only by their awliya (close friends of Allah). We say that what they have stated is a great error that necessitates declaring the messengers ignorant, implying that they do not know what Allah revealed to them, and that these people they claim to be awliya (close friends of Allah) know of Allah’s knowledge what the messengers, peace and blessings be upon them, do not know. This undoubtedly leads to disbelief, and I seek refuge in Allah. Whoever believes that there are sciences in Allah’s Shari'ah (Islamic sacred law) that the knowledge of the messengers did not reach is a disbeliever. It is obligatory for him to repent to Allah, return to the truth, and disavow the path he was following, because it is a path of misguidance, disbelief, and corruption, and I seek refuge in Allah. I hope these people will hear that if they say this statement, they have exited Islam, even if they glorify Allah, praise Allah, and declare the greatness of Allah, because by this statement they have made others other than the messengers more knowledgeable about Allah and His Shari'ah (Islamic sacred law) than the messengers. Yes.
The Shaykh : I seek refuge in Allah! Did you hear what he said? He says that the Sufis claim there are two kinds of knowledge: apparent knowledge known by the messengers and scholars, and hidden knowledge known only by their awliya (close friends of Allah). We say that what they have stated is a great error that necessitates declaring the messengers ignorant, implying that they do not know what Allah revealed to them, and that these people they claim to be awliya (close friends of Allah) know of Allah’s knowledge what the messengers, peace and blessings be upon them, do not know. This undoubtedly leads to disbelief, and I seek refuge in Allah. Whoever believes that there are sciences in Allah’s Shari'ah (Islamic sacred law) that the knowledge of the messengers did not reach is a disbeliever. It is obligatory for him to repent to Allah, return to the truth, and disavow the path he was following, because it is a path of misguidance, disbelief, and corruption, and I seek refuge in Allah. I hope these people will hear that if they say this statement, they have exited Islam, even if they glorify Allah, praise Allah, and declare the greatness of Allah, because by this statement they have made others other than the messengers more knowledgeable about Allah and His Shari'ah (Islamic sacred law) than the messengers. Yes.