What is meant by the saying of Allah the Exalted: “You did not know what the Book or faith was”?
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The questioner : May Allah reward you. What is meant by the saying of Allah (Mighty and Majestic): [Ash-Shuraa 42:52]?
The Shaykh : Yes, the meaning is that the Messenger did not know about the Book because he was unlettered, and he did not know about faith in detail, even though the innate disposition indicates the foundation of faith, but he did not know it in detail.
The questioner : That is, the faith by which he worshipped in the Cave of Hira was only a general faith.
The Shaykh : Yes.
And thus We have revealed to you an inspiration of Our command. You did not know what is the Book or [what is] faith
وكذلك أوحينا إليك روحا من أمرنا ما كنت تدري ما الكتاب ولا الإيمانThe Shaykh : Yes, the meaning is that the Messenger did not know about the Book because he was unlettered, and he did not know about faith in detail, even though the innate disposition indicates the foundation of faith, but he did not know it in detail.
The questioner : That is, the faith by which he worshipped in the Cave of Hira was only a general faith.
The Shaykh : Yes.