Fatwa #65826 September 2002South Africa
What is the Shar'i ruling on Ilm-ul-Ghaib? Was Nabi(sallallahu alahi wasallam)Aalimul Ghaib as some people claim? Please answer with proofs from the Qur'aan and Sunnah
Answer
From the outset, we should first understand the meaning of Ilmul Ghayb. It%0D%0Ameans 'knowledge acquired without any means'. Whatever knowledge Rasulullah%0D%0A(Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) had, it was given to him by Allah Ta'ala. The%0D%0Aknowledge of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) will not fall under%0D%0Athe category of Ilmul Ghayb.%0D%0A%0D%0AThe quality of Ilmul ghayb is exclusive only to Allah. No prophet, pious%0D%0Asaint or anyone has this quality. To attribute to any person any quality%0D%0Aexclusive to Allah is tantamount to Shirk (ascribing partners).%0D%0A%0D%0A1. Surah Naml Verse 64, Allah Ta'ala says, 'Say, (O Muhammed (Sallallaahu%0D%0AAlayhi Wasallam) that nobody in the skies and earth have knowledge of the%0D%0Aunseen (Ghayb) except Allah.%0D%0A2. Allah Ta'ala says, 'Say (O Muhammad (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam)), I do%0D%0Anot have by me the treasures of Allah and I don't know the unseen (Ghayb)%0D%0Aand I am not an angel. I only follow what Wahy (divine revelation) comes to%0D%0Ame. Don't you realize.' (Surah An'aam Aayat49)%0D%0A3. Allah Ta'ala says, 'By Allah is the key of the unseen. None has any%0D%0Aknowledge of it except him.' (Surah An'aam Aayat59)%0D%0A4. Hadhrat Aaisha (Radhiallaahu Anha) says that person is a liar who says%0D%0ANabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) knew what was going to happen tomorrow.'%0D%0A(Bukhari)%0D%0A%0D%0Aand Allah Ta'ala Knows Best%0D%0A%0D%0AMufti Ebrahim Desai