THE KNOWLEDGE

OF UNSEEN
(‫)علم الغيب‬

Written By

SHAIKH MIR ASEDULLAH QUADRI

Sahih Iman Publication

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 Copyright © SAHIH IMAN 2020

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or
transmitted, in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the publisher,
nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is
published and without a similar condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

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 Table of Contents

1. PREFACE ............................................................................................................................... 1

2. ALLAH'S (َّ‫ ) َعزََّّ َو َجل‬KNOWLEDGE ...................................................................................... 2

3. THE FIRST CATEGORY OF UNSEEN .............................................................................. 3

1. Direct Knowledge .......................................................................................................................... 5

2. Indirect knowledge ........................................................................................................................ 5

3. Prophetic Vision ............................................................................................................................. 5

4. THE SECOND CATEGORY OF UNSEEN........................................................................ 7

5. THE THIRD CATEGORY OF UNSEEN.......................................................................... 10

6. KNOWLEDGE OF UNSEEN OF PROPHET MOHAMMAD (‫آلهَّوسلم‬ َّ َّ‫ )صلى‬IN

َّ َّ‫للاَّعليهَّو‬
THE LIGHT OF QURAN AND AHADITH ........................................................................... 11

7. MISUNDERSTANDING OF MUSLIM SECTS ABOUT PROPHET

MOHAMMAD (‫آلهَّوسلم‬ َّ َّ‫ )صلى‬........................................................................................... 13
َّ َّ‫للاَّعليهَّو‬

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 1. PREFACE

‫َّالرحيم‬
َّ ‫سمَّللاَّالرحمن‬
ِ ‫ِب‬

َّ‫َّوالصالةَّوالسالم‬،‫الحمدَّهللَّربَّالعالمين‬
َّ
‫علىَّسيدناَّمحمدَّوعلىَّآلهَّوصحبهَّأجمعين‬
َّ

Allah (‫ )ع ََّز َو َج َّل‬knows about Himself and knows everything about His creation. In this
category, there is nothing 'Unseen' for Allah (َّ‫عز َّ َو َجل‬
َ ). Therefore, whenever we talk
about 'Unseen', it will be with reference to creatures and not with reference to Allah (ََّّ‫عز‬
َ
َّ‫)و َجل‬.
َ

Allah provides knowledge of Unseen to some of His servants from His mercy. In this
category, the Knowledge of Unseen of Prophet Mohammad (‫ )صلى َّللا َّعليه َّو َّآله َّوسلم‬is
highest among the servants.

We have discussed this issue in detail in this book. It is an important read for all
Muslims.

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 2. ALLAH'S (َّ‫عزََّّ َو َجل‬
َ ) KNOWLEDGE

The following Quranic verses confirm the fact that Allah (َّ‫َّو َجل‬
َ ‫عز‬َ ) knows about Himself
and knows the minutest details about His creatures. He also knows about the creatures
who will be created in future or the creatures that will remain hidden from the people
(forever). Thus we cannot refer knowledge of Unseen towards Allah (َّ‫َّو َجل‬ َ ). For Him,
َ ‫عز‬
everything is "seen".

(i) It is in Quran - َّ‫علِيم‬ َ َّۖ ُ‫َّو أالبَاطِ ن‬

َ َّ ‫َّوه َُو َّبِ ُك ِِّل‬
َ َّ ٍ‫ش أيء‬ َ ‫َّوالظاه ُِر‬ َ ‫َّاْلَو ُل‬
َ ‫َّو أاْلخِ ُر‬ ‫ [ ه َُو أ‬He is the
First, and the Last, He is the Manifest (apparent) and the Immanent
(hidden and actually present throughout the material world) and He
knows about all the things.] (Al-Hadid – 3).

‫ير أ‬
َِّ ‫َّال ُمتَعَا‬
(ii) It is in Quran - ‫ل‬ ‫َّوالش َها َدةِ أ‬
ُ ِ‫َّال َكب‬ َ ‫ب‬ ‫عا ِل ُم أ‬
ِ ‫َّالغَ أي‬ َ [ He is knower of the 'seen'
and 'unseen' the Mighty and Most High.] (Ar-Ra'd - 9)

ً ‫ش أيءٍ َّمُّحِ ي‬
(iii) It is in Quran - ‫طا‬ َ َّ ‫[ َو َكانَ ََّّللاُ َّبِ ُك ِِّل‬And all that is in the heavens and
the earth belongs to Allah and Allah encompasses all the things..] (An-
Nisa - 126)

(iv) It is in Quran - َّ‫طَّمِ ن‬ َ َّ‫َّو أالبَ أح ِر‬

ُ ُ‫َّۚو َماَّتَ أسق‬ ‫َّۚويَ أعلَ ُمَّ َماَّف أ‬
َ ‫ِيَّالبَ ِ ِّر‬ َ َّ‫ََّلَّ َي أعلَ ُم َهاَّإَِلََّّه َُو‬
َ ‫ب‬ ‫َوعِن َدهَُّ َمفَاتِ ُح أ‬
ِ ‫َّالغَ أي‬
‫ين‬ ٍ ‫َّو ََل َّيَا ِب ٍس َّ ِإَل َّفِي َّ ِكتَا‬
ٍَّ ‫ب َّ ُّم ِب‬ َ ‫ب‬ ‫َّر أ‬
ٍ ‫ط‬ َ ‫َّو ََل‬َ ‫ض‬ ِ ‫َّاْل َ أر‬
‫ت أ‬ ِ ‫ظلُ َما‬ ُ َّ ‫َّو ََل َّ َحب ٍة َّفِي‬
َ ‫[ َو َرقَ ٍة َّ ِإَل َّيَ أعلَ ُم َها‬He has the
keys of the Unseen. No one but He has knowledge. He knows what is on
the land and in the sea. Not a leaf falls without His knowledge, nor a grain
in the darkest layer of the earth, nor any thing green or dry that is not
recorded in the Manifest book.] (Al-An'aam - 59).

(v) It is in Quran - َّ َ‫َّو َما َّيَ أشعُ ُرونَ َّأَيان‬

َ َّۚ‫ََّّللا‬
ُ ‫أب َّ ِإَل‬ ‫ض أ‬
َ ‫َّالغَي‬ ِ ‫َّو أاْل َ أر‬
َ ‫ت‬ ِ ‫قُل ََّل َّيَ أع َل ُم َّ َمن َّفِي َّالس َم َاوا‬
ََّ ُ ‫ [ يُ أب َعث‬Say : No one in the heavens or in the earth has the knowledge of the
‫ون‬
unseen except Allah, and their gods do not (even) know when they shall
be raised to life again] - (An-Naml - 65).

(vi) It is in Quran - َّ ‫أب‬ َ ‫َّالغَي‬‫َّولَ أو َّ ُكنتُ َّأ َ أعلَ ُم أ‬

َ َُّۚ‫ض ًّرا َّإَِل َّ َما َّشَا َء ََّّللا‬ َ ‫قُل ََّل َّأ َ أم ِلكُ َّ ِلنَ أفسِي َّنَ أفعًا‬
َ َّ ‫َّو ََل‬
ََّ ُ‫َّوبَشِير َّ ِلِّقَ أو ٍم َّيُؤأ مِ ن‬
‫ون‬ َ ‫ِي َّالسُّو ُءَّۚ َّإِ أن َّأَنَا َّإَِل َّنَذِير‬
َ ‫َّو َما َّ َمسن‬ ‫[ ََل أست َ أكث َ أرتُ َّمِ نَ أ‬Say, 'I have no
َ ‫َّال َخي ِأر‬
autonomy to benefit or hurt myself, except what Allah wills; and, were I
to procure knowledge of the hidden on my own, it would be that I had

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 accumulated a lot of good; and no misfortune would touch me; I am
purely a Herald of Warning and Glad Tidings to the people who
believe.'] (Al-A’raaf- 188).

When Allah (َّ‫َّو َجل‬ َ ) says He has the knowledge of unseen, it means that He has
َ ‫عز‬
knowledge about everything that is unseen by human beings. Therefore, the reference
of 'unseen' is related to Human beings, not with Allah (َّ‫َّو َجل‬
َ ‫عز‬َ ).

ََّ ُ‫َّرزَ أقنَا ُه أم َّيُن ِفق‬

It is in Quran - ‫ون‬ َ َ ‫َّويُقِي ُمونَ َّالص َالة‬
َ ‫َّومِ ما‬ َ ‫ب‬ ِ ‫ [ الذِينَ َّيُؤأ مِ نُونَ َّبِ أالغَ أي‬Those who
believe in the Unseen, establish Salah, and spend (righteously) from what
We have given them. (Al-Baqara - 3).

There are different categories of Knowledge of Unseen given by Allah (َّ‫َّو َجل‬
َ ‫عز‬َ ) to his
chosen servants.

3. THE FIRST CATEGORY OF UNSEEN

Allah (َّ‫َّو َجل‬

َ ‫عز‬َ ) bestows the knowledge about (a) Himself (Zaat), (b) His attributes
(Sifaat), (c) How the cosmos was created, (d) How life is being nurtured in the
cosmos, (e) What is the purpose of our creation and (f)What is the right path for our
salvation. This knowledge of 'Unseen' is generally bestowed upon the Prophets. In this
category, 'the knowledge of Unseen' in its most comprehensive format, is naturally
associated with Prophet Mohammad (‫ )صلىَّللاَّعليهَّوَّآلهَّوسلم‬as he is the Chief of Prophets
and Apostles (‫)سيد َّاْلنبياء َّوالمرسلين‬. He is the Master/origin/root of all Creations (َّ ‫سيد‬
‫ )الخالئق‬and Mercy upon all worlds (َّ‫ين‬ َ ِ‫)ر أح َمةًَّ ِلِّ ألعَالَم‬.
َ

ََّ ِ‫َّر أح َمةً َّ ِِّل أل َعا َلم‬

It is in Quran - ‫ين‬ َ ‫س ألنَاكَ َّ ِإَل‬
َ ‫ [ َو َما َّأ َ أر‬We have not sent you (O'
Prophet ‫ )ﷺ‬but as Mercy on all the worlds.] (Al-Anbiya - 107)

It is in Quran - ‫عل َمكَ َّ َماَّلَ أم َّت َ ُكنَّت َ أعلَ َُّم‬

َ ‫[ َو‬And We taught you (O 'Prophet ‫ )ﷺ‬about
the things you did not know.] (An-Nisa -113)

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 It is in Quran – َّ‫ار أكنَا‬ َ ‫صىَّالذِيَّ َب‬ َ ‫َِّاْل َ أق‬ ‫َِّال َح َر ِامَّ ِإلَ أ‬
‫ىَّال َمس ِأجد أ‬ ‫َّمنَ َّ أال َمس ِأجد أ‬
ِّ ِ ‫س أب َحانَ َّالذِيَّأَس َأر ٰىَّ ِب َع أب ِدهَِّلَي ًأال‬
ُ
َُّ ‫ص‬
‫ير‬ ‫ [ َح أولَهَُّ ِلنُ ِريَهَُّمِ أن َّآيَاتِنَاََّّۚإِنهَُّه َُو َّالسمِ ي ُع أ‬The Unity (‫ )ذات الہی‬is pure who took His
ِ َ‫َّالب‬
Servant during the night time from the honored mosque (the mosque of
Makka al-Mukarrama which houses Ka’ba) to the far away mosque (Al-
Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem) around which We have abundant virtue
(around all four sides of Al-Aqsa mosque, there is abundance of virtue) so
that We show him our signs and traces of Omnipotence. Indeed He
(Allah) is the (only) one who sees and listens.] (Al-Isra – 1).

It is in Quran - َّ‫َّإِ ۡنَّه َُو َّإَِل‬-َّ ‫َّٱل َه َو ٰ ٰٓى‬ ۡ ‫ع ِن‬ َ ‫صاحِ بُ ُك ۡم‬
َ َّ ‫َّ َو َماَّيَنطِ ُق‬-َّ ‫َّو َماَّغ ََو ٰى‬ َ َّ‫ضل‬ َ َّ‫َّ َما‬-َّ ‫َوٱلنجۡ ِم َّإِذَاَّه ََو ٰى‬
َّ‫س ۡي ِن‬ َ ‫اب َّقَ ۡو‬ ۡ
َ َ‫َّفَ َكانَ َّق‬-َّ ‫َّثُم َّ َدنَاَّفَت َ َدل ٰى‬-َّ ‫ق َّٱْل َ ۡعلَ ٰى‬ ُ ۡ
ِ ُ‫ََّّوه َُو َّبِٱْلف‬َ ‫َّذُوَّمِ ر ٌ۬ ٍة َّفَٱسۡ ت ََو ٰى‬-َّ ‫َُّٱلقُ َو ٰى‬ۡ
َّ ‫شدِيد‬ َ َّ‫عل َمهَُّۥ‬ َ َّ ‫َو ۡح ٌ۬ى َّيُو َح ٰى‬
ًَّ‫َّر َءاهَُّن َۡزلَة‬ َ ‫َّ َولَقَ ۡد‬-َّ‫علَ ٰىَّ َماَّيَ َر ٰى‬َ َّ‫َّأَفَت ُ َم ٰـ ُرونَهَُّۥ‬-َّ‫اَّرأ َ ٰ ٰٓى‬ ۡ
َ ‫بَّٱلفُ َؤادَُّ َم‬ َ ‫َّ َماَّ َك َذ‬-َّ‫ع ۡب ِدهِۦَّ َمآَّٰأَ ۡو َح ٰى‬
َ َّ‫َّفَأ َ ۡو َح ٰ ٰٓىَّ ِإلَ ٰى‬-َّ‫أ َ ۡوَّأَ ۡدن َٰى‬
َّ-َّ‫طغ َٰى‬ َ َّ‫َّو َما‬ ۡ َ ‫َّ َماَّزَ ا‬-َّ‫س ِۡد َرة ََّ َماَّيَ ۡغش َٰى‬ ۡ ۡ ۡ
ِّ ‫َّ ِإذَّيَ ۡغشَىَّٱل‬-َّ‫َّعِن َدهَاَّ َجنةَُّٱل َمأ َو ٰ ٰٓى‬-َّ‫َّٱل ُمنت َ َه ٰى‬ ۡ ِ‫َّعِن َدَّس ِۡد َرة‬-َّ‫أ ُ ۡخ َر ٰى‬
َ ‫ص ُر‬ َ َ‫غَّٱلب‬
ۡ ‫َّربِِّ ِه‬
َّٰٰٓ ‫َّٱل ُك ۡب َر‬
‫ى‬ َ ‫ت‬ ِ ‫َّرأ َ ٰى َّمِ ۡن َّ َءايَ ٰـ‬
َ ‫[ لَقَ ۡد‬By the star when it sets, Your companion (Apostle
Muhammad ‫ )ﷺ‬neither erred intentionally nor unintentionally, And he
does not speak of (his own) desire. It is the revelation revealed (to him).
The Mighty in power (Allah) has taught him (Prophet Mohammad – ‫صلى‬
‫ )هللا عليه و آله وسلم‬the knowledge. So (equipped), he stood well poised. (With
the perfect vision attained) at the highest horizon. Then he (the Prophet ‫)ﷺ‬
approached closer and hung (by Allah). Then (both) closed up like two
bows, and indeed more closely. And He revealed to His servant (Prophet
Mohammad ‫ )ﷺ‬what He wanted to reveal. The heart of Prophet
Mohammad (‫هللا عليه و آله وسلم‬ ‫ )صلى ه‬did not distrust what he saw. Will you
people wrangle over what he beheld (saw). For indeed he beheld Him
(Allah) yet again. Near the 'Lote' tree lying farthest beyond which, no one
can go. ying close to the Heaven of Rest. When the 'Lote' tree was being
enveloped by what it was to be enveloped with, (a mystery not disclosed).
His (Prophet Mohammad’s ‫ )ﷺ‬sight did not blink or did it miss
anything. Indeed he (the Prophet ‫ )ﷺ‬saw clearly the greatest of the signs
of his Lord.] (An-Najm – 1-18).

It is in Hadith - It is narrated on the authority of Ibn Abbas (َّ‫رضئَّللاَّتعالی‬

‫ )عنہ‬that the Prophet (‫ )صلىَّللاَّعليهَّوَّآلهَّوسلم‬said - 'My Sustainer came to me
in a very good face and said, O' Mohammad (‫)صلى َّللا َّعليه َّو َّآله َّوسلم‬, I
submitted 'Yes, my Lord, present', He said, do you know that the sublime
angels argue with each other in what?, I submitted, I do not know'. Then
He placed His hands of Omnipotence (Dust-e-Qudrat) in between my
shoulders and I found the coolness of the hand into my chest and then I

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 knew whatever there is, in the skies and the earth. (Bukhari, Tirmidhi,
Mishkaat)

It is in Hadith - Narrated Umar (‫ )رضئ َّللا َّتعالی َّعنہ‬: One day the Prophet
(‫ )صلىَّللاَّعليهَّوَّآلهَّوسلم‬stood up among us for a long period and informed us
about the beginning of creation (and talked about everything in detail) till
he mentioned how the people of Paradise will enter their places and the
people of Hell will enter their places. Some remembered what he had said,
and some forgot it. (Bukhari)

It is in Hadith - Narrated Hudhaifa (‫ )رضئَّللاَّتعالیَّعنہ‬: The Prophet (ََّّ‫صلىَّللا‬

‫ )عليهَّوَّآلهَّوسلم‬once delivered a speech in front of us wherein he left nothing
but mentioned (about) everything that would happen till the Hour. Some
of us stored that in their minds and some forgot it. (After that speech) I
used to see events taking place (which had been referred to in that speech)
but I had forgotten them (before their occurrence). Then I would recognize
such events as a man recognizes another man who has been absent and
then sees and recognizes him. (Bukhari)

The sources of knowledge of Unseen of Prophet Mohammad (‫ )صلىَّللاَّعليهَّوَّآلهَّوسلم‬are: (a)

Direct, (b) Indirect, and (c) Prophetic Vision.

1. Direct Knowledge

The above Ahadith and verses refer to the direct knowledge bestowed
upon him.

2. Indirect knowledge

The Quran, was sent to Prophet Mohammad (‫ )صلىَّللاَّعليهَّوَّآلهَّوسلم‬as official

document via Hadhrat Jibreel (‫)عليهَّالسالم‬.

3. Prophetic Vision

In addition to the above two sources, the knowledge of Unseen was

disclosed to Prophet Mohammad (‫ )عليهَّالسالم‬by way of "Prophetic vision".
In this category, the World of Souls (Aalam-e-Arwah), the World of
Similitude (Aalam-e-Mithaal) and Prophetic Dreams are included.

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There are many Ahadith that describe the events unfolded in the past or that will
happen in future till the Day of Resurrection and beyond. This knowledge was
bestowed to Prophet Mohammad (‫ )صلى َّللا َّعليه َّو َّآله َّوسلم‬directly from "Ilm-e-Elahi".
Under this category he witnessed how things unfolded in the past or will happen in
future.

It is in Hadith - Abu Dhar (‫ )رضئَّللاَّتعالیَّعنہ‬narrates; “When the Apostle of

Allah (‫ )صلىَّللاَّعليهَّوَّآلهَّوسلم‬left us, there was not a bird that flies in the sky
but that he had given us some knowledge about it.” (Ahmed, Tabarani)

It is in Hadith - Prophet Mohammad (‫ )صلى َّللا َّعليه َّو َّآله َّوسلم‬said that
“Uthman (‫ )رضئَّللاَّتعالیَّعنہ‬will be martyred whilst reciting Quran. Perhaps
Allah (َّ‫َّو َجل‬
َ ‫عز‬َ ) will have him wearing a shirt. They will want to remove it
and his blood will fall on the words of Allah (َّ‫َّو َجل‬ َ )” (Bukhari, Muslim).
َ ‫عز‬

It is in Hadith - Anas (‫ )رضئَّللاَّتعالیَّعنہ‬narrates that the Beloved Apostle of

Allah (‫)صلى َّللا َّعليه َّو َّآله َّوسلم‬, Abu Bakr Siddiq (‫)رضئ َّللا َّتعالی َّعنہ‬, Umar bin
Khattab (‫ )رضئ َّللا َّتعالی َّعنہ‬and Uthman bin Affan (َّ‫ )رضئ َّللا َّتعالی َّعنہ‬were
climbing Mount Uhud. The mountain shook from under them, the
Beloved Apostle of Allah (‫ )صلى َّللا َّعليه َّو َّآله َّوسلم‬said ‘Be firm Uhud, a
Prophet, a Truthful person (Siddiq) and Two martyrs are walking on
you” (Bukhari, Ibn Maja).

Why Quran was sent via Hadhrat Jibreel (‫?)عليهَّالسالم‬

It is for the simple reason that people should see from their eyes how official documents
are sent to Prophet Mohammad (‫ )صلىَّللاَّعليهَّوَّآلهَّوسلم‬from Allah (َّ‫َّو َجل‬
َ ‫عز‬َ ).

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 4. THE SECOND CATEGORY OF UNSEEN

The second category of the knowledge of Unseen is related with Sahabah, and Awliya
Allah.

In this category, certain things are disclosed to the select people by Prophet Mohammad
(‫)صلىَّللاَّعليهَّوَّآلهَّوسلم‬. It is in Ahadith (Bukhari and others), Prophet (‫)صلىَّللاَّعليهَّوَّآلهَّوسلم‬
disclosed the names of the hypocrites (Munafiqun) to one of his companions, Hadhrat
Hudhaifa al-Yaman (‫)رضئَّللاَّتعالیَّعنہ‬.

Similarly, certain things are disclosed to Awliya Allah by way of 'unveiling' (Kashf /
vision), dreams, etc. On Some favorites of Allah, Aalam-e-Mithaal /Aalam-e-Barzaq are
opened. They can see everything and can communicate with the people there.

It is in Quran - َّ ‫ َّلَ ُه ُم‬-َّ َ‫واَّوكَانُواَّيَتقُون‬ َ ُ‫ َّالذِينَ َّآ َمن‬-َّ َ‫َّو ََل َّهُ أم َّيَ أحزَ نُون‬ َ ‫علَ أي ِه أم‬ َ ‫أ َ ََل َّ ِإن َّأ َ أو ِليَا َء ََّّللا‬
َ َّ ‫ََِّل َّخ أَوف‬
‫َّالف أَو ُز أ‬
‫َّال َعظِ ي َُّم‬ ‫ت ََّّللاََِّّۚ ٰذََّلِكَ َّه َُو أ‬ َ َّ‫خ َر ِة‬
ِ ‫ََّۚل َّت َ أبدِي َل َّ ِل َك ِل َما‬ ‫اَّوف أ‬
َِّ ‫ِيَّاْل‬ ‫[ أالبُ أش َر ٰى َّف أ‬Know well that
َ ‫ِيَّال َح َيا ِة َّال ُّد أن َي‬
the friends of Allah will have no fear (in both the worlds), nor will they
grieve. They are those who believe and are pious. There are good tidings
for them in the life of this world and in the Hereafter; the Words of Allah
cannot change; this is the supreme success.] (Younus - 62-64).

There are certain big categories of Awliya Allah who are known as al-Aqtaab and al-
Abdaal. The biggest among them is known as Ghouse.

Muslims consider Imam Abu Hanifa (‫ )رضئ َّللا َّتعالی َّعنہ‬as Imam-e-Azam. Similarly,
among Sufi Shuyookh, Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jeelani (‫ )رضئ َّللا َّتعالی َّعنہ‬is known as
Ghousul Azam.

Some Muslims do not know or understand about the above categorization of Awliya
Allah. They are not aware of special beneficence of Allah (َّ‫َّو َجل‬ َ ) upon them. Some
َ ‫عز‬
Muslim sects, particularly Salafis and likeminded groups, deny the above status of
Awliya Allah and make fun of these titles. What can we say about these people except
that they would like to remain ignorant from Quran and Sunnah? They do not realize
that these titles were given to them by Allah (َّ‫َّو َجل‬
َ ‫عز‬َ ) and Prophet Mohammad (َّ‫صلىَّللا‬
‫)عليهَّوَّآلهَّوسلم‬.

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 It is in Hadith - The people of Syria were mentioned in front of Hadhrat
Ali ibn Abi Talib (‫ )رضئ َّللا َّتعالی َّعنہ‬when he was in Iraq, and they said:
"Curse them, O' Commander of the Believers." He replied: "No, I heard the
Apostle of Allah (‫ )صلى َّللا َّعليه َّو َّآله َّوسلم‬say: The "al-Abdaal" (the big
spiritual rank of Awliya Allah - translated in English as 'Substitutes') are
in Syria and they are forty men, every time one of them dies, Allah (َّ ‫عز‬ َ
َ substitutes another in his place. By means of them Allah (َّ‫َّو َجل‬
َّ‫)و َجل‬ َ )
َ ‫عز‬
sends down the rain, gives (Muslims) victory over their enemies, and
averts punishment from the people of Syria." (Ahmad 1-112)

This Hadith confirms the titles of Awliya Allah, their status among Muslims and
reiterates that because of them Allah (َّ‫َّو َجل‬
َ ‫عز‬َ ) sends down the rain, gives Muslims
victory over their enemies". This shows that Allah (َّ‫َّو َجل‬
َ ‫عز‬َ ) loves his Awliya Allah and
because of them many things are given to people.

It is in Hadith - It is narrated on the authority of Anas (‫)رضئ َّللا َّتعالی َّعنہ‬

that the Prophet (‫ )صلىَّللاَّعليهَّوَّآلهَّوسلم‬said : "The Earth will never lack forty
men similar to the Friend of the Merciful (Prophet Ibrahim - ‫ )عليهَّالسالم‬and
through them people receive rain and are given help. None of them dies
except Allah (َّ‫َّو َجل‬
َ ‫عز‬َ ) substitutes (Abdaal) another in his place." (Tabarani
in Mujam al-Awsat)

Commenting on the above Hadith, Qatada said: "We do not doubt that
Al-Hasan al-Basri is one of them (Abdaal)."

Ibn Hibban also narrates this Hadith in al-Tarikh through Abu Huraira
(‫ )رضئ َّللا َّتعالی َّعنہ‬as : "The Earth will never lack forty men similar to
Ibrahim (‫ )عليهَّالسالم‬the Friend of the Merciful, and through whom you are
helped, receive your sustenance, and receive rain."

Imam Ahmad narrated another Hadith in his Musnad (5:322) through

Ibn Ata: The Prophet (‫ )صلى َّللا َّعليه َّو َّآله َّوسلم‬said: "The
Substitutes (Abdaal) in this Community are thirty like Ibrahim (‫)عليه َّالسالم‬
the Friend of the Merciful. Every time one of them dies, Allah (َّ‫َّو َجل‬
َ ‫عز‬ َ )
substitutes another one in his place."

Tirmidhi cites the above Hadith in Nawadir al-Usul and Imam Ahmad's
student, Al-Khallal, has mentioned this Hadith in his book Karamat al-
Awliya'.

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 It is in Hadith - Abu Da’wud has mentioned the following Hadith
through three different authentic chains in his book "Sunan" Chapter -
"Book of the Mahdi" (English #4273), and Imam Ahmad has mentioned
this Hadith in his Musnad (6:316), and Ibn Abi Shayba has mentioned
this Hadith in his Musannaf.

Abu Ya'la, al-Hakim, and Baihaqi narrated that Ummul Momineen Umm
Salama (‫ )رضئَّللاَّتعالیَّعنہا‬related that the Prophet (َّ‫ )صلىَّللاَّعليهَّوَّآلهَّوسلم‬said:
"Disagreement will occur at the death of a Caliph and a person from the
people of Madina will come forth flying to Makka. Some of the people of
Makka will come to him, bring him out against his will, and swear
allegiance to him between the Corner and the Maqam (of Khana-e-Ka’ba).
An expeditionary force will then be sent against him from Syria but it will
be swallowed up in the desert between Makka and Madina; and when the
people see that, the Substitutes (Abdaal) of Syria and the best people of
Iraq will come to him and swear allegiance (bay ‘a on his hands) to him
between the rukn and the maqam..." (of Khana-e-Kaaba).

Who is the person (came flying from Madinah to Makka) the Prophet (ََّّ‫صلى‬
‫ )للاَّعليهَّوَّآلهَّوسلم‬is referring in the Hadith? (He may be) Imam Mahdi (َّ‫عليه‬
‫)السالم‬.

It is in Hadith - It is narrated on the authority of Wahb ibn Munabbih,

who said: I saw the Prophet (‫ )صلىَّللاَّعليهَّوَّآلهَّوسلم‬in my sleep, so I said: "Ya
Rasulullah (‫)صلى هللا عليه و آله وسلم‬, where are the Substitutes (Abdaal) of
your Community?" So he gestured with his hand towards Syria. I
said: "Ya Rasulullah (‫)صلى هللا عليه و آله وسلم‬, aren't there any in Iraq?" He
said: "Yes, Muhammad ibn Wasi`, Hassan ibn Abi Sinan, and Malik ibn
Dinar, who walk among the people similarly to Abu Dhar in his time."
(Imam Ahmadmentioned this Hadith in Kitab al-zuhd, also Ibn Abi al-
Dunya, Abu Nu'aym, Baihaqi, and Ibn 'Asakir narrated it.)

Nawawi in his book Bustan al-'Arifin (1985 ed. p. 31) has mentioned that Muhaddith
Hammad ibn Salama ibn Dinar (d. 167) was considered to be one of the abdaal.

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Sakhawi in his narrations of the abdaal in his Maqasid (p. 33 #8) has stated as follows.

QUOTE - What makes this Hadith (narrated by Hadhrat Ali Ibn Abi Talib
- ‫ رضئ َّللا َّتعالی َّعنہ‬mentioned above) stronger and indicates its currency
among the Imams is the statement of our Imam, al-Shafii, concerning a
certain person: "We considered him one of the abdaal".

Also, Bukhari's statement concerning another person:"They did not doubt

that he was one of the abdaal."

And other than these two (among the highly acclaimed Imams), Qatada
and Wahb also used to refer to certain people - stating that they were
from the abdaal. UNQUOTE

Muslims should learn to respect Awliya Allah because they are not only favorites of
Allah (َّ‫َّو َجل‬
َ ‫عز‬َ ) but have been given special assignments in the world as is evident from
the above Ahadith and Quranic verses.

5. THE THIRD CATEGORY OF UNSEEN

The third category of the knowledge of Unseen is related to professional people of this
world. Like a doctor knows how a human body functions or a physicist/scientist knows
how rocket soars into the sky, or a computer software engineer knows how to write a
program. The other people are not aware of these details.

Similarly, with the assistance of some people or with the help of some machines anyone
can know certain things. Like a scanning machine shows the status of a baby and its
gender in mother's womb. Similarly, with the help of an instrument, doctors know the
blood pressure or fever of a person.

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 6. KNOWLEDGE OF UNSEEN OF PROPHET
MOHAMMAD (‫ )صلىَّهللاَّعليهَّوَّآلهَّوسلم‬IN THE LIGHT OF
QURAN AND AHADITH

It is in Quran -‫ل‬ٍَّ ‫سو‬ ‫ َّ ِإَل َّ َم ِن أ‬-‫غ أيبِهَِّأَ َحدًا‬

َ َ ‫َّارت‬
ُ ‫ض ٰى َّمِ نَّر‬ َ َّ ‫علَ ٰى‬ ‫ب َّفَ َال َّي أ‬
َ َّ ‫ُظ ِه ُر‬ ‫عا ِل ُم أ‬
ِ ‫َّالغَ أي‬ َ َّ [ He (alone)
knows the Unseen, nor does He make any one acquainted with His
Mysteries, except an Apostle whom He has chosen (Prophet Mohammad
‫)ﷺ‬. (Al-Jinn - 26-27).

Ibn Hajar al-`Asqalani explained the above verse as follows:

QUOTE - It follows from this verse that Prophets can see some of the
Unseen, and so do the Awliya Allah that follow each particular Prophet
also, as each takes from his Prophet and is gifted (yukram) with his
knowledge. The difference between the two is that the Prophet looks at
this knowledge through all kinds of revelation, while the Wali does not
look upon it except in dreams or through inspiration, and Allah knows
best. UNQUOTE

(Fath al-bari (1989 ed. 8:660) Tafsir Surat Luqman, "Allah has knowledge
of the Hour" (31:34)

Ibn Hajar quotes al-Qurtubi's words confirming this.

QUOTE - The truthful, righteous Muslim (al-muslim al-sadiq al-salih) is

he, whose state is linked to the Prophets and thereby is bestowed (ukrima)
some of the same kind of gifts they were given : that is to behold the
unseen (wa huwa al-ittila` `ala al-ghayb). As for the disbeliever (al-kafir),
the corrupt person (al-fasiq), and the contentious one who confuses
matters for the listeners (al-mikhlat) - then no. UNQUOTE

(al-Qurtubi as quoted by Ibn Hajar in Fath al-bari (1989 ed.) 12:449.)

The gist of the above explanations by Ibn Hajr and Qurtubi is that, those who do not
believe in the Knowledge of Unseen of Prophets and Awliya Allah are Kafir, Fasiq and

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Controversial Troublemakers in the guise of Muslims, (Salafis and their likeminded
groups)

It is in Quran - ‫ِيرا‬
ً ‫اَّونَذ‬ َ ‫س ألنَاكَ َّشَا ِهد‬
ِّ ِ ‫ًاَّو ُم َب‬
َ ‫ش ًر‬ َ ‫ي َّ ِإناَّأَ أر‬
ُّ ‫ [ َياَّأَيُّ َهاَّالن ِب‬Certainly We have sent
to you (Prophet ‫ )ﷺ‬as witness, deponent and the one who gives good
tiding and as a fore warner (Ahzaab - 45).

Who is a witness (as per the law)?

He is the one who sees things from his eyes. Statement of a Deponent who has only
heard about a thing is not acceptable in the Court of law.

The above Quranic verse establishes that Prophet Mohammad (‫ )صلىَّللا َّعليهَّوَّآلهَّوسلم‬sees
our conditions, individually and collectively.

It is in Quran - َّ ‫َّر ُءوف‬ َ َ‫علَ أي ُكمَّبِ أال ُمؤأ مِ نِين‬ َ َّ‫علَ أيهَِّ َما‬
َ َّ ‫عنِت ُّ أم َّ َح ِريص‬ َ َّ ‫َّم أن َّأَنفُ ِس ُك أم‬
َ َّ ‫ع ِزيز‬ ِّ ِ ‫سول‬ َ ‫لَقَدأَّ َجا َء ُك أم‬
ُ ‫َّر‬
َّ‫ [ رحِ يم‬Apostle (‫ )صلىَّللاَّعليهَّوَّآلهَّوسلم‬has been raised for you from yourselves,
your living wrongly with its consequent suffering presses heavily upon
him; he is ardently desirous of your welfare; and for those (of you) who
are believers, he is full of pity, merciful. (At-Tawba-128).

It is in Hadith - Ghousul Azam (‫ )رضئ َّللا َّتعالی َّعنہ‬narrates that - Prophet

(‫ )صلىَّللاَّعليهَّوَّآلهَّوسلم‬said 'Even if a thorn is pricked into your feet, I feel the
pain of it'.

It is in Hadith - Narrated Umar (‫ )رضئ َّللا َّتعالی َّعنہ‬: One day the Prophet
(‫ )صلىَّللاَّعليهَّوَّآلهَّوسلم‬stood up among us for a long period and informed us
about the beginning of creation (and talked about everything in detail) till
he mentioned how the people of Paradise will enter their places and the
people of Hell will enter their places. Some remembered what he had said,
and some forgot it. (Bukhari)

The above Quranic verses and Hadith establishes the comprehensive knowledge of
Prophet Mohammad (‫ )صلىَّللاَّعليهَّوَّآلهَّوسلم‬collectively and individually in the Cosmos.

Prophet Mohammad (‫ )صلىَّللاَّعليهَّوَّآلهَّوسلم‬is the last Prophet sent for the entire humanity
(Kaaffatunnaas). There will be no Prophet after him. Therefore whatever is said about
him in Quran with reference to his Ummah is applicable for all Muslims till the day of
resurrection. We cannot say that the Quranic verses with reference to Prophet

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Mohammad (‫ )صلىَّللاَّعليهَّوَّآلهَّوسلم‬viz-a-viz Ummatul Muslimeen are only for the people
who lived during his life time. Therefore, the above verses establish that Prophet
Mohammad (‫ )صلىَّللاَّعليهَّوَّآلهَّوسلم‬sees the actions of every Muslim till resurrection and
beyond.

It is in Quran - ‫س ِلِّ ُمواَّتَ أسَِّلي ًما‬

َ ‫َّو‬ َ َّ‫صلُّوا‬
َ ‫علَ أي ِه‬ َ َّ‫يََّّۚيَاَّأَيُّ َهاَّالذِينَ َّآ َمنُوا‬ َ َّ َ‫صلُّون‬
ِِّ ِ‫علَىَّالنب‬ َ ُ‫َّو َم َالئِ َكتَهَُّي‬
َ ‫ََّّللا‬
َ ‫إِن‬
[Allah and His angels send blessings (and salutations) on Prophet
Mohammad (‫)صلى َّللا َّعليه َّو َّآله َّوسلم‬: O’ you who believe! Send your
salutations and reverence on him, and salute him with all respect.] (Al-
Ahzaab – 56).

The above Quranic verse is in present tense. It is not that the Durood was sent on
Prophet Mohammad (‫ )صلىَّللاَّعليهَّوَّآلهَّوسلم‬during his life time only. This is a continuous
process. This establishes the fact that the life span of Prophet Mohammad (َّ‫صلىَّللاَّعليهَّو‬
‫ )آله َّوسلم‬is continuous within the framework of existence in different formats in this
Cosmos.

It is in Hadith - Narrated by Abu Hurairah (‫)رضئَّللاَّتعالىَّعنه‬. When Allah's

Apostle was asked since how long he is the Prophet of Allah, He replied,
‘When Adam (‫ )عليه َّالسالم‬had not yet had his spirit joined to his
body. (Tirmidhi).

7. MISUNDERSTANDING OF MUSLIM SECTS

ABOUT PROPHET MOHAMMAD (‫)صلىَّهللاَّعليهَّوَّآلهَّوسلم‬

It is very unfortunate for some people who equate Prophet Mohammad (َّ‫صلىَّللاَّعليهَّوَّآله‬
‫ )وسلم‬with normal sinful human beings and claim that association of knowledge of
Unseen with Prophet Mohammad (‫ )صلى َّللا َّعليه َّو َّآله َّوسلم‬is sin. The problem is that the
things which are visible to the normal physical eyes are also ignored by them.

They do not pay attention to the fact that there is a commonality which is common in
two things, but it is the distinction which is the deciding factor of excellence. They
should know that between human beings and animals there are many commonalities.
The animals are living beings, they eat and they reproduce their species. These are
commonalities between animals and human beings. But the distinction between the two
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is the human beings are crowned with common sense, intelligence, therefore, they have
become masters of the world.

They should know that there are many commonalities between believers and non-
believers as well. The distinction between the two is the Islamic faith. Because of this
distinction, one will go the Jannah and the other will be burned in Hell fire
permanently. Makkan apostates like Abu Jahl and others used to say, what is the
difference between him (Prophet Mohammad –‫ ) َّصلىَّللاَّعليهَّوَّآلهَّوسلم‬and other people of
Makkah, as he lives a life of a normal human being.

َِّ ‫ِيَّاْلَس َأوا‬

It is in Quran - ‫ق‬ ‫َّويَ أمشِيَّف أ‬
َ ‫ام‬َ َ‫سو ِل َّيَأأ ُك ُل َّالطع‬
ُ ‫([ َوقَالُواَّ َما ِل َّ َه ٰـذَاَّالر‬the apostates of
Makka used to say) ‘What is there in this Apostle (‫)صلىَّللاَّعليهَّوَّآلهَّوسلم‬, he
eats food like us and goes to around the markets like us.’ (Al-Furqan – 7).

But Sahabah never used to think on these lines and they never compared Prophet
Mohammad (‫ )صلى َّللا َّعليه َّو َّآله َّوسلم‬with ordinary sinful human beings. They looked at
Prophet Mohammad’s (‫ )صلىَّللاَّعليهَّوَّآلهَّوسلم‬life as an absolute miracle of Allah (َّ‫َّو َجل‬
َ ‫عز‬َ ).
To them Prophet Mohammad (‫ )صلىَّللاَّعليهَّوَّآلهَّوسلم‬has been an unusual phenomenon of
Allah’s (َّ‫َّو َجل‬
َ ‫عز‬َ ) omnipotence.

Prophet Mohammad’s (‫ )صلى َّللا َّعليه َّو َّآله َّوسلم‬life is a perpetual miracle. How come an
apparently unlettered human being could change the course of the world? How could
he culminate the teachings of all Prophets and becomes a stamp on the Divine law?
Whatever he does, whatever he says is the Divine law.

َّٰ ‫َّو ۡح ٌ۬ىَّيُو َح‬

It is in Quran – ‫ى‬ ۡ ‫ع ِن‬
َ ‫َّإِ ۡن َّه َُو َّإَِل‬-َّ ‫َّٱل َه َو ٰ ٰٓى‬ َ َّ ‫[ َو َماَّيَنطِ ُق‬Prophet Mohammad ‫)ﷺ‬
does not say anything with his self-desire, except that this is the revelation
which is coming to him (from Allah)’. (An-Najm – 2).

He brings the news of unseen which was unknown to anyone in this world before him.
These and many more things which are known to every one of us are ignored by these
unfortunate people.

Prophet Mohammad (‫ )صلى َّللا َّعليه َّو َّآله َّوسلم‬represents humanity in all its formats. He
shows happiness on certain things and displeasure on certain things. He shows fore
knowledge of certain things and shows his unawareness of certain things. He pleads
with Almighty for His forgiveness. He walks in streets like normal human beings. He
fights with infidels along with his companions and sometimes the results of the battles
are inconclusive and sometimes he wins. He becomes concerned when something goes

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wrong with his family members and his companions and shares happiness with them
on happy occasions.

Why it is so? Did you ever think about that?

Read this Quranic verse to understand this phenomenon.

It is in Quran - َّ‫سنَة‬ َ ‫سو ِل ََّّللاَِّأُس َأوة َّ َح‬ َ ‫ [ لقَ أد َّ َكانَ َّلَ ُك أم َّف‬Prophet Mohammad (َّ‫صلىَّللا‬
ُ ‫ِيَّر‬
‫ )عليهَّوَّآلهَّوسلم‬is an exemplary model (for all of you) (Al-Ahzaab – 21).

He is the origin as well as an icon of humanity and of all creations. In other words, he is
a perfect human being. Like him there is none. He represents various facets of humanity
at various stages of his life. Sometimes, he shows utmost humility of a desperate human
being and on other occasions, pointing his finger towards the moon splits it into two,
which was witnessed by all Quraish.

It is in Quran - َّ‫ُواَّويَقُولُواَّسِحأ رَّ ُّم أستَمِ ر‬ ‫َّوانشَق أ‬

َ ‫َّ َوإِنَّيَ َر أواَّآيَةًَّيُ أع ِرض‬-َّ‫َّالقَ َم ُر‬ َ ُ ‫عة‬ ِ َ‫' [ ا أقت ََرب‬The
َ ‫تَّالسا‬
Hour (the Day of Resurrection) came near and the moon was split. And if
they see any sign, then turn their faces and say this is magic
perpetual'.] (Al-Qamar -1-2).

One of the most important aspect of our Iman is utmost respect of Prophet Mohammad
(‫ )صلىَّللاَّعليهَّوَّآلهَّوسلم‬and deep-rooted love for him in our hearts.

We should be careful while describing about prophets, Sahabah, prominent Imams and
Sufi Shuyookh of Ihsan and Awliya Allah. They are all virtuous and stand tall in Islamic
Ummah. We should not rebel against their authorities in religion. If we do not keep
these things in mind, we are sure to be doomed on the Day of Judgment.

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