.

Many ‘Sayings of the Holy Prophet’ state his knowledge of the unseen. Let us study some of them, as below:

SAYINGS OF THE HOLY PROPHET ABOUT

HIS KNOWLEDGE OF THE UNSEEN

1. Ans bin Malik narrated that the Holy Prophet once led ‘Zuhr prayers’…spoke about the Day of Judgement…and then said: “ Whosoever wishes to ask me any thing, he may do so ,…and I will let you know about it so long as I am standing here”. Ans stated that many a people then started crying and the Holy Prophet repeated his words: “Ask me, ask me,…” Ans reported that a man stood up and asked about his destination. The Holy Prophet replied that ‘Hell’ was his destination. Then Abdullah bin Huzafa stood up and submitted: ‘Allah’s Messenger! Who is my father?’

The Holy Prophet replied that Huzafa was his father. Ans further reported that Umar (on observing such a situation) got up on his knees and submitted: ‘ We are happy with Allah as (our) Lord, Islam as (our) religion, and Muhammad (peace be upon you) as (our) Messenger’. On hearing that from Umar, the Holy Prophet then became silent. (Bukhari:6864) [See also Bukhari:92,93,6001,6678,6861]

2. Umar Farooq narrated that the Holy Prophet once stood up between them and stated the events since the beginning of creation till the entrance of the people of Paradise to Paradise… (Bukhari:3020)

3. Amar bin Akhtab Ansari narrated that Allah’s Messenger led morning prayers and stood on the rostrum. He delivered a speech till mid day, when he got down and led ‘zuhr’ prayers. He, then, again stood on the rostrum and delivered speech till ‘Asr’. After leading ‘Asr’ prayers, he continued his speech till the sun set off. The Holy Prophet informed them about what was going to happen till the establishment of the Day of Judgement. Amar added that the most intelligent amongst them was the person, who remembered the events.

(Muslim – Mishkat:5682)

3. Abu Saeed Khudri narrated that the Allah’s Messenger delivered a speech after Asr and stated all that was going to happen till the establishment of the Day of Judgement…. The Holy Messenger further said:

“ The world is sweet and green and that Allah is making you as

Caliphs in it so as to see your performance…”. (Tirmizi – Mishkat:4916)

4. Before the battle of Badr, the Holy Prophet indicated certain points on the ground and stated that such and such chiefs of the non – believers would be killed there. Ans bin Malik reported that they were killed exactly on the places, as indicated by the Holy Prophet.

(See Muslim – Mishkat:5620)

5. The Holy Prophet informed Sa’d bin Maaz and others about the killing of Umayya bin Khalf much before the battle of Badr. On hearing that from Sa’d (when he visited Mecca for Umrah), both Umayya and his wife admitted that , by Allah, Muhammad (peace be upon him) never spoke a lie. Before the battle of Badr, Umayya’s wife reminded him (i.e. her husband) about that and tried to stop him for not participating in the battle. Abu Jahl compelled him to participate in the battle. He, therefore, participated in the battle and was killed. (See Bukhari:3433)

6. The Holy Prophet gave the happy news to his Companions that they would be conquering:

i) Rome (Muslim – Mishkat:3684)

ii) Egypt (Muslim – Mishkat:5662)

iii) Khyber (by Ali) (Bukhari:3972)

iv) Yemen, Syria & Iraq (Bukhari:1776)

[Also see Ahmad, Abu Daud – Mishkat:6014,6018,6019]

v) Bait-ul-Muqaddas (Bukhari -Mishkat:5184)

vi) Syria (Ahmad – Mishkat:6016)

vii) Qaiser & Kisra (i.e. Rome & Persia) (Bukhari:2952)

7. Salman Farsi reported that he could not break a stone, while digging the trench in the ‘Battle of Trench’ (i.e. Al-Ahzab). The Holy Prophet took the digging device from him and struck the stone thrice. With every stroke, light was generated and the stone disintegrated. The Holy Prophet then said:

“ The light on the first stroke indicated that Allah will enable you to

conquer Yemen. The light on the second stroke indicated that Allah

will make you victorious in Syria. And the light on the third stroke

indicated that the East (i.e. Persia) will be conquered by you”

(Seerat-un-Nabi by Ibn Hashsham, Vol.II, P.253, Ghulam Ali & Sons)

8. The Holy Prophet said:

“ The Caliphate will be in Madina and monarchy in Syria”. (Baihqi – Mishkat:6017)

9. Ans narrated that the Holy Prophet informed the people ahead of time about the martyrdom of Jafar, Zaid and Abdullah bin Rawaha (in the ‘Battle of Mauta’ by saying: “ Zaid took the flag and was martyred.Then Jafar took the flag and was martyred. After that Abdullah bin Rawaha took the flag and was martyred also. Then a Sword (i.e. Khalid bin Waleed) of the Swords of Allah took the flag and Allah granted them victory. Ans added that while stating the martyrdom (of Zaid, Jafar and Abdullah), tears were flowing from the eyes of the Holy Prophet. (Bukhari:4014) [See also Bukhari:4013]

10. When Abdullah bin Sala’m heard about the coming of the Holy Messenger in Madina, he quickly went to him and submitted that he wished to ask him three questions about which none except a Prophet could answer. He then submitted:

i) What is the first sign of the Day of Judgement?

ii) What will be the first food of the People of Paradise?

iii) Why a child resembles his father or mother?

The Holy Prophet stated that angel Gabriel had just informed him…He then answered (as under):

i) The first sign of the Day of Judgement will be the fire that will push the people from the East to West.

ii) The first food of the People of Paradise will be the pointed end of the liver of fish.

iii) If the water (drop) (spermatozoa) of the man excels that of the woman, the child resembles his father”.

On hearing that, Abdullah bin Salam quickly spoke out:

I testify that no one should be worshipped except Allah,

and that you (Muhammad - peace be upon you) are

definitely the Messenger of Allah’. (Bukhari:4210)

11. After the ‘Battle of Al-Ahzab’, when the united armies of the non- believers retreated, the Holy Prophet said:

“ We will now attack them. They will not attack us. We will

march towards them”. (Bukhari:3884)

12. Adi bin Hatim narrated that …the Holy Prophet said to him:

“ If your life is long, you will see a woman riding a camel all

alone, and will circumambulate Ka’ba after making a long

journey from Hira, and that she will have no fear except

that of Allah…Again, if your life is long, you will see the

treasures of Kisra (i.e. the Emperor of Persia) opened up (for

the Muslims)…Then, if your life is long, you will see a man

carrying gold and silver in his hand, looking for the needy,

but there will be none to accept it…”.

Adi bin Hatim further reported that he himself saw a woman riding all alone and circumambulating Ka’ba, after performing a long journey from Hira with no fear, at all, except that of Allah. Adi further added that he himself was amongst those, who conquered the treasures of Kisra bin Hurmaz (the Emperor of Persia). Adi also sated that the people, in accordance with the Sayings of the Holy Prophet , would surely see, if their lives are long, that a man would carry gold and silver in his hand, looking for a needy, but would not find any one to accept it. (Bukhari:3400)

13. Abu Saeed Khudri narrated that the Holy Prophet said:

“ The time will come, when the people will conduct Jihad, and it

will be said: ‘ Is there any Companion of the Holy Prophet

amongst you?’. They will reply affirmatively. Accordingly, they

they will be victorious. Then another time will come, when the

the people will conduct Jihad, and it will be said: ‘ Is there any

‘Tabii’ (i.e. the follower of the Companion of the Holy

Prophet) amongst you?’. They will reply affirmatively.

Therefore, they will (also) be victorious”. (Bukhari:3399)

14. The Holy Prophet said:

“The Caliphs will be from Quraish…” (Bukhari:3310)

15. Abdullah bin Umar narrated that the Holy Prophet came out with two books in his hands, and said: “ Do you know about these two books?”. We submitted: ‘ No, Allah’s Messenger, till you let us know (please)’. He, then, said: “ The book in my right hand is from the Lord of the universe and contains the names of the People of Paradise along with the names of their fathers as well as of their tribes, and that at its end, all have been totaled so that no one can be added into it nor subtracted from it…[He, then similarly stated about the book in his left hand containing the names of the People of Hell…]

(Tirmizi – Mishkat:89)

16.When the Holy Prophet was on his way to Tabuk, he lost his camel. His Companions moved out in search of it. One of the hypocrites, Zaid bin Lusait, said in the presence of a few persons: ‘ Is it not just the misapprehension of Muhammad (peace be upon him) that he is a Prophet informing about the news of the heaven, whereas he himself does not know where his camel is?’.

The Holy Prophet, who was quite far off, said to Ammara (one of his Companions):

“ A man says: ‘ It is Muhammad (peace be upon him), who states

that he is a Prophet and that he informs you about the news of

the heaven, whereas he himself does not know where his camel is’”.

The Holy Prophet continued:

“ As far as my position is, by Allah, I don’t know beyond the

knowledge that He has granted me, and that He has informed me

where my camel is (at this time) and that it is in that valley, where

its string has stuck up with a tree. Therefore, you may go there and

bring the camel here”.

Accordingly, some of them went there, and brought the camel back. Ammara then returned to his people and informed them what the Holy Prophet stated about the unknown person. One of them spoke out there and then: ‘ By Allah! This is exactly what Zaid bin Lusait stated (about the

Holy Prophet)’. Ammara then burst upon Zaid bin Lusait and expelled him from there.

[Seerat -un-Nabi by Ibn Hashsham, Vol II, P.628, Ghulam Ali & Sons.]

[See also ‘Ibn Khaldun’ under the ‘Battle of Tabuk’ (Ghazwa Tabuk’).]

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