Beloved Prophet's Knowledge of
Five Secrets
[Uloom al-Khamsah]

ان الله عنده علم الساعه و ينزل الغيث و يعلم
ما في الارحام وما تدري نفس ما ذا تكسب غدا وما تدري نفس باي ارض تموت ان الله
عليم خبير
Undoubtedly, with Allah is the knowledge of the Hour, and He sends down rain
and knows what is in the wombs of the mothers and no soul knows what it will
earn tomorrow and no soul knows in what land it will die. Undoubtedly, Allah
is the Knower, All Aware. [31:34]
The opponents say on the basis of this verse that the knowledge of all the
above mention things known as Five Branches of Knowledge lies with Almighty
Allah and no one else! By this they conclude that the Holy Prophet (Peace be
upon Him) did not possess Ilm-e-Ghayb. This is indeed a hasty conclusion.
Let us have an eye over some Authentic Commentaries of Qur'an to understand
the real and true meaning of this verse.
Commentaries on the
Above Verse of Holy Qur'an
Tafseer-e-Saavi Hashiya Ala Tafseer al Jalalain comments under this verse:
اي من حيث ذاتها واما باعلام الله للعبد
فلا مانع منه كالانبياء و بعض الاولياء قال تعالى ولا يحيطون بشئي من علمه الا
بما شاء قال تعالى فلا يظهر علي غيبه احدا الا من ارتضي من رسول فلا مانع من
كون الله يطلع بعض عباده الصلحين علي بعض المغيبات فتكون معجزة للنبي و كرامة
للولي ولذلك قال العلماء الحق انه لم يخرج نبينا من الدنيا حتي اطلعه علي تلك
الخمس
It means that no one knows about these five things. But on being informed by
Almighty Allah Himself it is not prohibited that any of chosen people such
as Prophets and Mystic saints (Auliya Allah) may come to know about of
anythings belonging to the Realm of the Unseen (Ghayb). Allah Almighty has
said that (even) these chosen servants can not encompass the knowledge of
Allah except what Almighty Allah pleases to enlighten them and only to the
extent revealed by Him. Similarly he can inform any of these dignitaries of
the knowledge of the Ghayb especially the Prophets and the Friends of Allah
known as Auliya Allah, in the latter case the manifestation of that
knowledge of the unseen (Ghayb) becomes mircales and super human feat (Karamat).
It is for this reason that the scholars have said, as an element of truth
that the Holy Prophet (Peace be upon Him) did not leave the world until he
was fully informed by Almighty Allah on all these five subjects (concerning
human destiny). [Saavi Hashiya Ala Tafseer
al Jalalain, Vol 3, Page 215]
In Tafseer Araais al-Bayan, it is said with reference to what is in the
wombs (of the mothers):
سمعت ايضا من بعض الاولياء انه اخبر ما في
الرحم من ذكر و انثي ورأيت بعيني ما اخبر
We heard some Auliya saying that they had given the advanced information
whether the child in the womb was a boy or a girl and we saw with our own
eyes that the information given by the Auliya (saints) was correct.
[Araa'is al-Bayan, Dar al Kutb Ilmiyah (Berut
- Lebenon), Vol 3, Page 126]
It is said in Rooh al-Bayan, about this verse:
وما روي عن الانبياء و الاولياء من
الاخبار عن الغيوب فبتعليم الله تعالى اما بطريق الوحي او بطريق الالهام والكشف
... و كذا اخبر بعض الاولياء عن نزول المطر و اخبر عما في الرحم من ذكر و انثي
فوقع كما اخبر
And whatever the information about the Unseen (Ghayb) are reported from the
apostles and the mystic saints, these are the blessings from Almighty Allah
either by way instruction from Him or Revelation (Wahi) or Inspiration (Ilhaam).
Likewise some saints (Auliya) predicted rainfall, some about the child in
the womb, these all proved correct. [Tafsir
Rooh al-Bayan, Vol 10, Page 446 / 447]
It is stated in Tafseer-e-Ahmadiyyah under this verse:
ولك ان تقول ان علم هذه الخمسه و ان لايعلمها
احد الا الله لكن يجوز ان يعلمها من يشاء من محبيه و اولياء بقرينه قوله تعالى
ان الله عليم خبير بمعني المخبر
And you can also say that though Allah is the absolute knower of all these
things, it is not unjustifiable that he may inform some such chosen servants
(Prophets, Saints, Scholars) whom He pleases in any or all these subjects
for Allah besides knowing (Aleem) himself, he can also inform others (Khabeer)
of that knowledge.
Prophet's Knowledge of
Five Secrets in Ahadith
Now, Let us discuss the Five Secrets and show how far they relate to the
realm of the Unknown and how much of it can be shared by Messengers of Allah
as far as their knowledge is concerned.
It is recorded in Sahih al Bukhari and Tafsir al Khazin:
فقام على المنبر ، فذكر الساعة ، فذكر أن
فيها أمورا عظاما ثم قال من أحب أن يسأل عن شىء فليسأل ، فلا تسألونى عن شىء
إلا أخبرتكم ما دمت فى مقامى هذا. فأكثر الناس فى البكاء ، وأكثر أن يقول سلونى.
فقام عبد الله بن حذافة السهمى فقال من أبى قال أبوك حذافة. ثم أكثر أن يقول
سلوني سلوني
The Holy Prophet (Peace be upon Him) stood on the Pulpit (Mimbar) and spoke
about the things relating to the Day of Judgment and said that the
occurrence of the fateful day many events of grave significance would have
taken place. He said to the people present on the occasion to ask any thing
they are keen to know about. He said: By Allah the Almighty! till such time
I am on the pulpit (Mimbar) any thing you ask I shall give the answer
thereto. One stood up and asked, "Where is my place? The Holy Prophet (Peace
be upon Him) O replied:' In the hell! Then Abdullah bin Huzafa asked: 'Who
is my farther? He replied, 'Huzafa'. After that he repeatedly said: Ask,
Ask, Ask. (But there was no more question to be asked).
[Sahih Bukhari, Vol 2, Page 424, Hadith
540 - Tafseer al Khazin (5:101), Vol 2, Page 341]
It may be noted that to be a person destined to be sent in the hell or the
paradise, relates to the basic five things of the Unseen, namely whether a
person is a righteous one or a transgressor. Similarly to know about real
father, the real answer is the secret known only to the mother. It has
nothing to do with knowledge of the Unseen! The answers given by the Holy
Prophet (Peace be upon Him) show that he was aware about the reality of the
man who was declared to be sent to hell was transgressor in his practical
life; Similarly. The Holy Prophet (Peace be upon Him) knew that the father
of Abdullah was Huzafa, declaring there by that the mother of Abdullah was
chaste and maintained her purity or her moral modesty.
Sayyeduna Anas narrated about the incident took place in Battle of Badr:
قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم هذا مصرع
فلان قال ويضع يده علي الارض هاهنا هاهنا قال فما مات احدهم عن موضع يد رسول
الله صلي الله عليه وسلم
The Messenger of Allah (may Peace be upon Him) said: This is the place where
so and so would be killed. He placed his hand on the earth (saying) here and
here; (and) none of them fell away from the place which the Messenger of
Allah (may Peace be upon Him) had indicated by placing his hand on the
earth.
Sahih Muslim, Book 19 (The Book of Jihad
and Expedition), Hadith 4394
Sahih Muslim, Kitab Al-Jihad wa'l-Siyar,
Vol 9, Page 247, Hadith 3330
It may be remembered in this connection that according to Holy Qur'an it is
of the Five Fore-knowledge known only to Allah Almighty about the place
where a certain person would die, and which the Holy Prophet (Peace be upon
Him) indicated one day in advance of the battle of Bad'r.
أخبرنى سهل رضى الله عنه يعنى ابن سعد
قال قال النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم يوم خيبر لأعطين الراية غدا رجلا يفتح على
يديه ، يحب الله ورسوله ، ويحبه الله ورسوله فبات الناس ليلتهم أيهم يعطى فغدوا
كلهم يرجوه فقال أين على. فقيل يشتكى عينيه ، فبصق فى عينيه ودعا له ، فبرأ كأن
لم يكن به وجع ، فأعطاه فقال أقاتلهم حتى يكونوا مثلنا . فقال انفذ على رسلك
حتى تنزل بساحتهم ، ثم ادعهم إلى الإسلام ، وأخبرهم بما يجب عليهم ، فوالله لأن
يهدى الله بك رجلا خير لك من أن يكون لك حمر النعم
Narrated Sahl: On the day (of the battle) of Khaybar the Prophet said,
"Tomorrow I will give the flag to somebody who will be given victory (by
Allah) and who loves Allah and His Apostle and is loved by Allah and His
Apostle." So, the people wondered all that night as to who would receive the
flag and in the morning everyone hoped that he would be that person. Allah's
Apostle asked, "Where is 'Ali?" He was told that 'Ali was suffering from
eye-trouble, so he applied saliva to his eyes and invoked Allah to cure him.
He at once got cured as if he had no ailment. The Prophet gave him the flag.
'Ali said, "Should I fight them till they become like us (i.e. Muslim)?" The
Prophet said, "Go to them patiently and calmly till you enter the land.
Then, invite them to Islam, and inform them what is enjoined upon them, for,
by Allah, if Allah gives guidance to somebody through you, it is better for
you than possessing red camels."
Bukhari, Book 4 (Fighting for the Cause of
Allah), Volume 52, Hadith 253
Bukhari, Kitabul Jihad Wal Sayyar, Volume
10, Page 198, Hadith 2787
Bukhari, Kitabul Magazi, Volume 13, Page
110, Hadith 3888
Sahih Muslim, Fazail As-Sahaba, Vol 12,
Page 129, Hadith 4420
Sunan Al Tirmidi, Kitabul Manaqib An
Rasoolillah, Vol 12, Page 187, Hadith 3658
Sunan Ibne Maja, Kitabal Muqaddima, Vol 1,
Page 130, Hadith 114
Hassan ibn Thabit said:
نبي يرى ما لا يرى الناس حوله
ويتلو كتاب الله في كل مشهد
وإن قال في يوم مقالة غائب
فتصديقها في اليوم أو في غد
A Prophet who sees around him what others do not
And recites the Book of Allah in every assembly!
If he says something of a day which he has not yet seen
What he says is confirmed on the morrow or the next day.
Maujam al-Kabir At-Tibraani, Vol 4, Page
48-50
AlAhad Wal Mathani Vol 9, Page 463
Ma'arafatis Sahaba Li Abi Naeem Isbahani,
Vol 6, Page 398
Al-Isti'aab Fi Ma'arfatil Ashaab, Vol 2,
Page 137
Simtun Nujoom, Vol 1, Page 150
Al-Waafi Bil Wafyaat, Vol 5, Page 313
Taraakh-e-Damishq, Vol 3, Page 322
Al-Hakim Vol 3, Page 9-10
Al-Isti'ab Vol 4, Page 1958-1962
Dala'il al-Nubuwwa Lil Baheeqi, Vol 1,
Page 266
Dala'il al-Nubuwwa Li Abi Naeem Isbahani,
Vol 1, Page 276
Sharh Usuli I'tiqadi Ahlas Sunnah, Vol 4,
Page 780
Tafseer At-Tibri, Book 102, Vol 2, Page
411
Ibn Habban in al-Thiqat Vol 1, Page 128
Al-Iktifa Vol 1, Page 343
It is to be noticed in this connection that according to Holy Qur'an it is
of the Five Secrets known only to Allah Almighty about what will happen
tomorrow and which the Holy Prophet (Peace be upon Him) told on the day when
battle of Khaybar took place. Also the Belief of the Exalted Sahabi Hadrat
Hassan bin Thabit is also crystal clear form his lovely Quadrant!!
It is stated in Dalail an-Nabuwwah li Abi Nu'aym:
عن ابن عباس رضي الله عنهما قال : حدثتني
أم الفضل قالت : مررت بالنبي صلى الله عليه وسلم فقال : إنك حامل بغلام فإذا
ولدت فأتيني به . قالت : فلما ولدته أتيت به النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم فأذن في
أذنه اليمنى وأقام في أذنه اليسرى وألبأه من ريقه وسماه عبد الله وقال : اذهبي
بأبي الخلفاء . فأخبرت العباس وكان رجلا لباسا فلبس ثيابه ثم أتى إلى النبي صلى
الله عليه وسلم فلما بصر به قام فقبل بين عينيه . قال : قلت : يا رسول الله ،
ما شيء أخبرتني به أم الفضل ؟ قال : هو ما أخبرتك ، هذا أبو الخلفاء ، حتى يكون
منهم السفاح ، حتى يكون منهم المهدي
Abdullah Ibne Abbas narrates from Ummul Fadl, She said, "Once I passed
nearby Syyeduna Rasoolullah SallAllaho 'Alaihi wa Sallam. He said, 'You are
pregnant and you have a son in your womb. Bring him to me when he will take
birth' Ummul Fadl said that, 'After some time my son took birth and I
brought him to Prophet Peace be upon Him. He gave Adhan in his right ear and
said Aqamat in the left and put his lu'aab in his mouth and name him
Abdullah and said to me, 'take this father of Khaleefa' Ummul Fadl told it
to her Husband Abdullah Ibne Abbas. Ibne Abbas went to Prophet Peace be upon
Him and said that Ummul Fadl had told him such and such. Prophet Peace be
upon Him replied, 'Its true! This child would become the father of
caliphates. One would be named as Saffah and other would be named as Mehdi'".
[Dalail an-Nabuwwah li Abi Nu'aym, Vol 2,
Page 81, Hadith 467]
From these Ahadith it is evident that Almighty Allah has bestowed the
knowledge of these five subjects on the Holy Prophet (Peace be upon Him).
Sayings of Prominent
Scholars and Mystics
We now present the statements given by the scholars in respect of these five
elemental subject matters. Some important explanation, can be consulted
notably Imam Qurtubi, the expositor of Saheeh Muslim, Imam al-Ayni, Imam
Ahmad Qastalani, the expositor of Sahih Bukhari, Allama Ali Qari in the
Mirqat, the exposition of Mishkat, explain the Hadeeth (The Five of which
none but Allah knows):
فمن ادعى علم شيء منها غير مسنده إِلى رسول
الله صلى الله عليه وسلم كان كاذبا في دعواه
"Anybody who claims to have knowledge of any of these Five without Allah's
Prophet's (SallAllaho 'Alaihi wa Sallam) informing him on it is a liar in
his claim."
Umdat al-Qari Sharha Al-Bukhari,
Kitab-al-Eman, Idarat-ut-Taba'at-al-Muniriyya , Vol 1, Page 290
Irshad as-Saari, Sharha Al-Bukhari,
Kitab-al-Eman, Dar-ul-Kitab Al-Arabi , Vol 1, Page 141
Fath al-Baari Sharha Al-Bukhari,
Kitab-al-Eman, Vol 1, Page 80, Hadith 48
It is crystal clear that Allah's Prophet (Sallallahu 'Alaihi wa Sallam)
enshrines the knowledge of these Five Unknowns and can inform any of his men
on any of these Unknown. That is why the claim of a person to the knowledge
of them without His (upon Him Salat and Salam) information is false.
The Researcher Shaikh Abdul Haq Dehlwi (Quddisa Sirruhu), in his "Lama'at" -
The exposition of Mishkat writes on this Hadeeth:
المراد لا تعلم بدون تعلیم اللہ تعالی
منه
"This means that these Five cannot be known without the instruction of Allah
Ta'ala". [Ash'at al Lama'at, Maktabtul
Ma'ariful Ilmiyah, Vol 1, Page 73]
In the same 'Ash'atul Lam'aat, Shaikh Abdul Haq elaborates this very hadith
as under:
The idea is that no one can know those five aspects of the Ghayb with the
help of his own wisdom unless Allah Almighty informs (inspires) him because
no one knows (nor can any one know) about these things except Almighty Allah
Who may inform the person concerned either through inspiration (Ilhaam) or
Revelation (Wahi). [Ash'at al Lama'at,
Maktabtul Ma'ariful Ilmiyah, Vol 1, Page 74]
Imam Qastalani in his book, Sharha Bukhari in the Tafseer of Sura Ra'ad:
لا یعلم متی تقوم الساعة الا اللہ الا من ارتضی
من رسول فانه من یشاء من غیبیه والولی التابع له یا خذ عنه
"No one except ALLAH Ta'ala knows, when the Judgment Day will come, but His
chosen Messengers. He discloses His unseen to any of His Messengers; but as
far as Awliya are concerned, they receive these Unseen from the Prophets (Salat
Was Salam). [Irshad as-Saari,
Kitab-ut-Tafseer, Surah Ra'ad, Darul Kitab al-Arabi, Vol 7, Page 186]
Here the possibility to have that particular knowledge by the Auliya has
been made in the manner that this knowledge is originally imparted to the
Prophets and the Auliya receive it from them. And the very fact is that the
Ayah denies those other than the Prophets the knowledge of the Unknown
originally or directly, not absolutely or indirectly.
Mentioning the false doubts of the false sect Mu'tazala about the miracles
of Auliya and refuting them in "Sharh al-Maqasid", Allama Sa'ad al-Deen
Taftazani says:
الخامس هوا في الاخبار عن المغيات قوله
تعالي فلا يظهر علي غيبيه احدا الا من ارتضي من رسول خص الرسل من بين المرتضين
بالاطلع علي الغيب فلا يطلع غيرهم وان كانوا اولياء مرتضين، الجواب ان الغيب
ههناليس للعموم بل مطلق او معين هوا وقت وقوع القيمة بقرينة السباق ولا يبعد ان
يطلع عليه بعض الرسل من الملئكة او البشر فصيح الاستثناء
"Their fifth argument pertains to their denial that the Auliya have the
knowledge of the Unknown. They predicate their argument on the Ayah. 'Allah
is the Knower of the Unknown, so He does not reveal His Unknown to anyone
but the Prophet whom He chooses' they argue that the Unknown is accordingly
particular to the Prophets, consequently Allah Ta'ala does not inform
anybody except the Prophets on the Unknown, not even the Auliya. The answer
to this argument is that here "The Unknown" is not for the general but is
absolute or definite and that is, in accordance with the previous Ayah, the
time of the occurrence of the Day of Judgement. And it is not distant of the
Messengers out of men and angels to be granted its knowledge. On this ground
the exception made by Allah ta'ala is correct.
[Sharh-ul-Maqasid, Darul Mu'arif An-Nau'maniyah
(Lahore), Vol 2, Page 204/205]
The above exquisite passage amply demonstrates that the Wahhabia are worse
than even the Mu'tazala: for the Mu'tazala denied the Honourable Auliya the
knowledge of the Unknown but not the Prophets; while the vicious Wahhabia
have denied the Prophets themselves.
It is recorded about the Five Knowledges in Anhah al-Hajjah Hashiaya Ibne
Maaja:
اخبر الصديق زوجته بنت خارجة انها حاملة بنت
فولدت بعد وفاته ام كلثوم بنت ابي بكر فهذا من الفراسة والظن و يصدق الله فراسة
المومن
Siddiq-e-Akbar Abu Bakar Siddiq informed his wife Bint-e-Kharijah that she
was pregnant with a daughter. A daughter was born to his wife but by that
time Hadrat Abu Bakr had left the world on his wafat. This is an example of
foresight and prudence of a Momin which Almighty Allah proves true (in due
course of time).
Bayhaqi in his Sunan al-Kubra [6:170] -
Imam Malik Ibn Anas in his Mau'ta [2:752] - Albani in his Irwa al Galeel
[6:61] - Ibn Asakir in Darikh al-Damishq [30:424] - Ibn Hajr in al-Isabah
[8:80] and Imam Jalal al-Din Suyooti in Tarikh al-Khulafa [1:83] have
recorded the the above narration.
Hafiz-ul-Hadith Sayyidi Ahmad Maliki reports the Ghawth of the time Sayyid
Shareef Abdul Azeez Mas'ood Hasani (Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu) as saying:
ھوا صلى اﷲ تعالى عليه وسلم لا یخفی علیه
شئ من الخمس المذكورة فی الایة الشریفة وكیف یخفی علیه ذالك والاقطاب السبعة من
امته الشریفة یعلمونہا وھم دون الغوث فكیف بالغوث فكیف بسید الاولین و الاخرین
الذی ھوا سبب كل شئ ومنه كل شئ
"The Five Unknown [i.e. (1) when will the Day of Judgment be? (2) When,
where and how much will it rain? (3) What is there in the womb of a female?
(4) What is to happen tomorrow? (5) When and where will so and so person
die? Mentioned in the Great Ayah are not secret to Him (Sallallahu 'Alaihi
wa Sallam). And how can they be secret to Him when the Seven Qutbs out of
His Umma know them, and the Qutbs are subordinate to the Ghawth. So what
about the Ghawth! And above all what about the Chief of the First and the
Last, who is the Cause of everything and from Whom everything emanates!
"Al-Ibreez" further goes on:
قلت للشیخ رضی اللہ تعالی عنه فان علماء
الظاھرمن المحدثین وغیرھم اختلفوا فی النبی صلى اﷲ تعالى عليه سلم ھل كان یعلم
الخمس فقال رضی اللہ تعالی عنه كیف یخفی امرالخمس علیه صلي اﷲ تعالى عليه وسلم
والواحد من اھل التصرف الا بمعرفة ھذہ الخمس
"I asked the Shaikh that the exteriorist Ulema out of the Muhadditheen
differed from one another in the issue of the Five whether the Prophet (Sallallahu
'Alaihi wa Sallam) had the knowledge of them or not. The Shaikh said: "How
can the Five be concealed from Him. (SallAllaho 'Alaihi wa Sallam) when none
of "The Ahl-u-Tasarruf" (The Divine power-wielding) of His Umma cannot wield
power and authority unless he knows the Five."
[Al-Ibriz, Chapter 2, Mustafa AlBaabi
(Egypt), Page 167/168]
Allama Shanwani, in "Jami'un Nihaya", has reported it as Hadeeth that:
قد ورد ان اللہ تعالی لم یخرج النبی صلى اﷲ
تعالى عليه وسلم حتی اطلعه علی كل شئ
"Allah Ta'ala did not take the Prophet (SallAllaho 'Alaihi wa Sallam) out of
this world but when He Ta'ala had informed Him (upon Him Salat and Salam) on
every thing. [Jami'un Nihaya]
Allama Shanwa'ee says in the same book:
قال بعض المفسرين لايعلم هذا الخمس علما لدنيا
ذاتيا بلا واسطه الا الله فالعلم بهذا الصفة مما اختص الله به واما بواسطة فلا
يختص به
Some commentators (Mufassireen) are of the opinion that the knowledge of the
five aforesaid events are not possible to be acquired by any one personally
and directly on his own with expect the bestowment by Almighty Allah as
these knowledges are exclusive to Him. But the indirect acquision of these
knowledges through a medium does not remain exclusive to divine authority
and can be known to chosen servants of Almighty Allah.
[Jami'un Nihaya]
The Great Imam Suyuti, in his book Raudh an-Nadheer, the exposition of Jami
as-Sagheer writes on this Hadeeth:
اما قوله صلى اﷲ تعالى عليه وسلم الا هوا
فسر بانه لا يعلمها احد بذاتة ومن ذاته الا هوا لكن قد تعلم باعلام اﷲ تعالى
فان ثمه من يعلمها وقد وجدنا ذالك لغير واحد كما راينا جماعة علموا متي يموتون
و علموا مافي الارحام حال حمل المراة و قبله
"So far as His (upon him salat and salam) statement that none but Allah
knows these Five Unknown, it means that Allah knows these Five Unknown by
his own self, none other. Yet others can know them only by His imparting. So
there are those who know them, and we have met a group of persons who knew
when they would die and what was in the Womb of a woman before delivery."
[Raudh-un-Nadheer Sharah Al-Jami'us
Sagheer]
Again the same Allama Jalaluddin Sayooti says in his 'Khasais al-Kubra':
وعرض عليه ما هو كائن في أمته حتى تقوم الساعة
All the things which were to happen to his Ummah till the advent of the Day
of Judgement by way of the Knowledge of the Unseen were presented to the
Holy Prophet Hadrat Muhammad Mustafa SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam.
[Khasa'is al-Kubra, Vol 2, Page 292]
Allama Bajouri in Sharh Qasida Burdah and Shaykh Ahmad Bin Muhammad as-Sawi
in Hashiya ala Tafsir Jalalain says:
لم يخرج النبي عليه السلام من الدنيا الا بعد
ان اعلمه الله بهذه الامور الخمسة
The Holy Prophet (Peace be upon Him) did not leave the world (Wisaal) until
ALLAH granted all the five things in full to his knowledge.
[Hashiya ala Tafsir Jalalain, Vol 3, Page
215 - Hashiya Al-Bajouri Alal Burda, Page 92]
In Futoohaat-e-Wah'biya Sharha Arba'een al-Nawawi, The religious scholar
Ibne Atiyyah says:
الحق كما قال جمع ان الله لم يقض نبينا
عليه السلام حتي اطلعه علي كل ما ابهم عنه الا انه امر بكتم بعض والاعلام ببعض
The truth is what a sect has said that Almighty Allah did not please the
Holy Prophet (Peace be upon Him) leaving the world (Wisal) until he had
informed him of all the secrets of the universe with special permission to
disclose some of these secrets and some to remain hidden.
Imam Ibn Hajar Makki says in his exposition of The Hamziyya:
انہ تعالی اختص بہ لكن من حیث الاحاطة
فلا ینا فی ذالك اطلاع اللہ تعالی لبعض خواصہ علی كثیر من المغیات حتی من الخمس
التی قال صلی اللہ تعالی وسلم فیھن خمس لا یعلمھن الا اللہ
"The Unknown is peculiar to Allah Ta'ala but in the sense of its
comprehensiveness. Consequently it does not negate Allah Ta'ala's intimating
some of His choice with many of the Unknown Secrets even some of the Five of
which the Prophet (SallAllaho 'Alaihi wa Sallam) has said that none but
Allah knows them." [Afdalul Qura li
Qura'ee Ummul Qura, Majma'us Saqafi (Abu Dhabi), Page 143-144]
In his commendable book "Ajab-ul-Ajaib", the exposition of Salat-ul-Hadrati
Sayyidi Ahmad Badawi Kabeer (radiyallahu ta'ala anhu), Allama Uthmawi says:
قیل انه صلى اﷲ تعالى عليه وسلم اوتی
علمہا ای الخمس فی اخر الامر لكنه امر فیھا بالكتمان وھذا القیل ھوا الصحیح
"It is said that He (SallAllaho 'Alaihi wa Sallam) was granted the knowledge
of the Five at last but was commanded to keep it, and this very is the
accurate statement." [Ajab al-Ajaib Sharah
Salat Syed Ahmad Kabeer Badawi]
Shah Abdul Aziz Muhaddith Dehlawi in Bustaan-e-Muhaddiseen has said:
It is reported that no child of the father of Shaykh Ibn Hajar survived
after birth, Disheartened by this tragedy he approched the shaikh to bless
him with a child. The shaikh gave him the glad tiding that in his progeny a
son will be born who will enlighten the world with his erudition.
Conclusion:
These narrations and sayings also affirm that Almighty Allah has given the
knowledge of the Five Unseen events to His servants with whom He is pleased.
How was it possible that the Holy Prophet Hadrat Muhammad SallAllaho 'Alaihi
wa Sallam did not possess the knowledge of these Five events when his
knowledge supersedes and transcends the total knowledge of all creatures.
Moreover all these events are ephemeral and transitory in nature subject to
change, and as such being in possession of knowledge of these events does
not mean sharing powers of Almighty Allah. Only things which are immutable
and predetermined are in the knowledge of Almighty Allah and beyond the
reach of the people except those of extraordinary merits whom Allah has
chosen for this grace.
AlHamduLILLAH!! we have presented the reported aspects of the Five
Knowledges of the Unseen through the Authentic Commentaries of Qur'an,
Ahadith and the books of the Prominent learned Scholars and Mystic. Through
which, It is proved without a doubt that Allah the Almighty has bestowed the
knowledge of the Greater parts of the Five Exclusive knowledges of the Ghaib
to His Beloved Habeeb Kareem Alaihi afDalus Salati wat Tasleem. One who
denies this quality, is one led astray and faithless, as denier of Ahadith.