باب العلم الغيب

Often times we are asked whether the Prophets or A’immah had ‘Ilm al-Ghayb, and if so, then to what extent, the Ahadith below answer these questions.

1.

عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ صَالِحِ بْنِ السِّنْدِيِّ عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ بَشِيرٍ عَنْ ضُرَيْسٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ إِنَّ لله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ عِلْمَيْنِ عِلْمٌ مَبْذُولٌ وَعِلْمٌ مَكْفُوفٌ فَأَمَّا الْمَبْذُولُ فَإِنَّهُ لَيْسَ مِنْ شَيْ‏ءٍ تَعْلَمُهُ الْمَلائِكَةُ وَالرُّسُلُ إِلا نَحْنُ نَعْلَمُهُ وَأَمَّا الْمَكْفُوفُ فَهُوَ الَّذِي عِنْدَ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فِي أُمِّ الْكِتَابِ إِذَا خَرَجَ نَفَذَ

‘Ali Ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Salih Ibn al-Sindi from Ja‘far Ibn Bashir from Durays who has said that he heard Abu Ja‘far (عليه السلام) say the following. “Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has two kinds of knowledge. One kind is that which is granted and the kind is that which I withheld. Of the one which, is granted, nothing is known to the angels and the Messengers, but only we know it. The one which is withheld is the kind that is before Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High in the original Book. When it appears it permeates.” (مجهول)1

2.

أَبُو عَلِيٍّ الاشْعَرِيُّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْجَبَّارِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ النُّعْمَانِ عَنْ سُوَيْدٍ الْقَلاءِ عَنْ أَبِي أَيُّوبَ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ عَنْ ابي جعفر (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ إِنَّ لله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ عِلْمَيْنِ عِلْمٌ لا يَعْلَمُهُ إِلا هُوَ وَعِلْمٌ عَلَّمَهُ مَلائِكَتَهُ وَرُسُلَهُ فَمَا عَلَّمَهُ مَلائِكَتَهُ وَرُسُلَهُ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَنَحْنُ نَعْلَمُهُ

Abu ‘Ali al-Ash‘ari has narrated from Muhammad Ibn ‘Abd al-Jabber from Muhammad Ibn Isma‘il from ‘Ali Ibn al-Nu‘man from Suwayd al-Qalla from Abu Ayyub from Abu Basir from Abu Ja‘far (عليه السلام) who has said the following. “Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has two kinds of knowledge. One kind of knowledge is that which no one knows except He. The other kind is that which He has taught to the His angels and His messengers. Whatever His angels and Messengers have learned we know it.” (صحيح)2

3.

مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنِ النَّضْرِ بْنِ سُوَيْدٍ عَنْ يَحْيَى الْحَلَبِيِّ عَنْ ذَرِيحٍ الْمُحَارِبِيِّ قَالَ قَالَ لِي أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَا ذَرِيحُ لَوْ لا أَنَّا نَزْدَادُ لانْفَدْنَا

Muhammad Ibn Yabya has narrated from Ahmad Ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn Ibn Sa‘id from an-Nadr Ibn Suwayd from Yahya al-Halabi from Dharih al-Muharibi who has said that Abu ‘Abd Allah (عليه السلام) has said to him the following. “O Dharih, “Would we not receive (new knowledge) we will diminish (in knowledge).” (صحيح)3

4.

مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي نَصْرٍ عَنْ ثَعْلَبَةَ عَنْ زُرَارَةَ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ لَوْ لا أَنَّا نَزْدَادُ لانْفَدْنَا قَالَ قُلْتُ تَزْدَادُونَ شَيْئاً لا يَعْلَمُهُ رَسُولُ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) قَالَ أَمَا إِنَّهُ إِذَا كَانَ ذَلِكَ عُرِضَ عَلَى رَسُولِ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) ثُمَّ عَلَى الائِمَّةِ ثُمَّ انْتَهَى الامْرُ إِلَيْنَا

Muhammad Ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad Ibn Muhammad from Abu Nasr from Tha‘labah from Zurara who has said that he heard Abu Ja‘far (عليه السلام) say the following. “Would we not receive additional (knowledge) we would diminish (in knowledge).” The narrator has said that he asked the Imams (عليه السلام) “Do receive additional something that the Messenger of Allah does not know?” The Imam (عليه السلام) said, “The fact of the matter is that when that happens, it is presented to the Messenger of Allah then to the Imams and then it reaches us.” (صحيح)4

5.

عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ يُونُسَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِهِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ لَيْسَ يَخْرُجُ شَيْ‏ءٌ مِنْ عِنْدِ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ حَتَّى يَبْدَأَ بِرَسُولِ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) ثُمَّ بِأَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) ثُمَّ بِوَاحِدٍ بَعْدَ وَاحِدٍ لِكَيْلا يَكُونَ آخِرُنَا أَعْلَمَ مِنْ أَوَّلِنَا

‘Ali Ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad Ibn ‘Isa from Yunus Ibn ‘Abd al-Rahman from some of his people from Abu ‘Abd Allah (عليه السلام) who has said the following. “Nothing comes from Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, except that first it begins with the Messenger of Allah then Amir al-Mu’minin ‘Ali (عليه السلام) then the Imams one after the other so that the last us would not be more knowledgeable than the first of us.” (مرسل)5

6.

عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ مُعَمَّرِ بْنِ خَلادٍ قَالَ سَأَلَ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ فَارِسَ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَ تَعْلَمُونَ الْغَيْبَ فَقَالَ قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يُبْسَطُ لَنَا الْعِلْمُ فَنَعْلَمُ وَيُقْبَضُ عَنَّا فَلا نَعْلَمُ وَقَالَ سِرُّ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ أَسَرَّهُ إِلَى جَبْرَئِيلَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) وَأَسَرَّهُ جَبْرَئِيلُ إِلَى مُحَمَّدٍ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) وَأَسَرَّهُ مُحَمَّدٌ إِلَى مَنْ شَاءَ الله

A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad Ibn Muhammad Ibn ‘Isa from Mu’ammar Ibn Khallad who has said that a man from Persia asked Abu al-Hasan (عليه السلام) the following. “Do you know al-Ghayb (the hidden facts)?” The Imam (عليه السلام) said, ‘Abu Ja‘far (عليه السلام) has said, ‘It opens to us then we know it and it is withheld from us then we do not know.” The Imam (عليه السلام) then said, “It is the secret of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, who has secretly given to Jibra’il and Jibra’il has secretly given to Muhammad and Muhammad has secretly given to whoever Allah wished.” (صحيح)6

7.

عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنِ ابْنِ أُذَيْنَةَ عَنْ زُرَارَةَ عَنْ ابي جعفر (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ نَزَلَ جَبْرَئِيلُ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) عَلَى رَسُولِ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) بِرُمَّانَتَيْنِ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ فَأَعْطَاهُ إِيَّاهُمَا فَأَكَلَ وَاحِدَةً وَكَسَرَ الاخْرَى بِنِصْفَيْنِ فَأَعْطَى عَلِيّاً (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) نِصْفَهَا فَأَكَلَهَا فَقَالَ يَا عَلِيُّ أَمَّا الرُّمَّانَةُ الاولَى الَّتِي أَكَلْتُهَا فَالنُّبُوَّةُ لَيْسَ لَكَ فِيهَا شَيْ‏ءٌ وَأَمَّا الاخْرَى فَهُوَ الْعِلْمُ فَأَنْتَ شَرِيكِي فِيهِ

‘Ali has narrated from his father from Ibn Abu ‘Umayr from Ibn ‘Udhaynah from Zurara from Abu Ja‘far (عليه السلام) who has said the following. “Once Jibra’il brought from Paradise two pieces of pomegranate to the Messenger of Allah and brought him two pieces of pomegranates. The Messenger of Allah ate one of them and broke the other one into two pieces. He then ate one half and gave the other half to ‘Ali (عليه السلام) who also ate it (عليه السلام). The Messenger of Allah said, “The first one that I ate was prophet-hood. There is no share in it for you. The other one is knowledge in which you are my partner. (حسن)7

8.

أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ عَنْ عَبَّادِ بْنِ سُلَيْمَانَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سُلَيْمَانَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ سَدِيرٍ قَالَ كُنْتُ أَنَا وَأَبُو بَصِيرٍ وَيَحْيَى الْبَزَّازُ وَدَاوُدُ بْنُ كَثِيرٍ فِي مَجْلِسِ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) إِذْ خَرَجَ إِلَيْنَا وَهُوَ مُغْضَبٌ فَلَمَّا أَخَذَ مَجْلِسَهُ قَالَ يَا عَجَباً لاقْوَامٍ يَزْعُمُونَ أَنَّا نَعْلَمُ الْغَيْبَ مَا يَعْلَمُ الْغَيْبَ إِلا الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ لَقَدْ هَمَمْتُ بِضَرْبِ جَارِيَتِي فُلانَةَ فَهَرَبَتْ مِنِّي فَمَا عَلِمْتُ فِي أَيِّ بُيُوتِ الدَّارِ هِيَ قَالَ سَدِيرٌ فَلَمَّا أَنْ قَامَ مِنْ مَجْلِسِهِ وَصَارَ فِي مَنْزِلِهِ دَخَلْتُ أَنَا وَأَبُو بَصِيرٍ وَمُيَسِّرٌ وَقُلْنَا لَهُ جُعِلْنَا فِدَاكَ سَمِعْنَاكَ وَأَنْتَ تَقُولُ كَذَا وَكَذَا فِي أَمْرِ جَارِيَتِكَ وَنَحْنُ نَعْلَمُ أَنَّكَ تَعْلَمُ عِلْماً كَثِيراً وَلا نَنْسُبُكَ إِلَى عِلْمِ الْغَيْبِ قَالَ فَقَالَ يَا سَدِيرُ أَ لَمْ تَقْرَأِ الْقُرْآنَ قُلْتُ بَلَى قَالَ فَهَلْ وَجَدْتَ فِيمَا قَرَأْتَ مِنْ كِتَابِ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ قالَ الَّذِي عِنْدَهُ عِلْمٌ مِنَ الْكِتابِ أَنَا آتِيكَ بِهِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَرْتَدَّ إِلَيْكَ طَرْفُكَ قَالَ قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ قَدْ قَرَأْتُهُ قَالَ فَهَلْ عَرَفْتَ الرَّجُلَ وَهَلْ عَلِمْتَ مَا كَانَ عِنْدَهُ مِنْ عِلْمِ الْكِتَابِ قَالَ قُلْتُ أَخْبِرْنِي بِهِ قَالَ قَدْرُ قَطْرَةٍ مِنَ الْمَاءِ فِي الْبَحْرِ الاخْضَرِ فَمَا يَكُونُ ذَلِكَ مِنْ عِلْمِ الْكِتَابِ قَالَ قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ مَا أَقَلَّ هَذَا فَقَالَ يَا سَدِيرُ مَا أَكْثَرَ هَذَا أَنْ يَنْسِبَهُ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ إِلَى الْعِلْمِ الَّذِي أُخْبِرُكَ بِهِ يَا سَدِيرُ فَهَلْ وَجَدْتَ فِيمَا قَرَأْتَ مِنْ كِتَابِ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ أَيْضاً قُلْ كَفى‏ بِالله شَهِيداً بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَكُمْ وَمَنْ عِنْدَهُ عِلْمُ الْكِتابِ قَالَ قُلْتُ قَدْ قَرَأْتُهُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ قَالَ أَ فَمَنْ عِنْدَهُ عِلْمُ الْكِتَابِ كُلُّهُ أَفْهَمُ أَمْ مَنْ عِنْدَهُ عِلْمُ الْكِتَابِ بَعْضُهُ قُلْتُ لا بَلْ مَنْ عِنْدَهُ عِلْمُ الْكِتَابِ كُلُّهُ قَالَ فَأَوْمَأَ بِيَدِهِ إِلَى صَدْرِهِ وَقَالَ عِلْمُ الْكِتَابِ وَالله كُلُّهُ عِنْدَنَا عِلْمُ الْكِتَابِ وَالله كُلُّهُ عِنْدَنَا

Ahmad Ibn Muhammad has narrated from Muhammad Ibn al-Hasan from ‘Abbad Ibn Sulayman from Muhammad Ibn Sulayman from his father from Sadir who has said that he, Abu Basir, Yahya al-Bazzaz and Dawud Ibn Kathir were in the presence of Abu ‘Abd Allah (عليه السلام). The Imam (عليه السلام) came to us while he was angry. When he settled in his seat he then said, “How strange is it that certain people think we know the hidden facts. No one knows the hidden things except Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High. I thought to discipline our house maid, so and so, and could not find in which quarter she was.” Sadir has said, “When the meeting was over and the Imam (عليه السلام) went home, I, Abu Basir and Muyassir went to his house. We said to him, “May Allah take our souls in service for your cause, we heard you say so and so about the matter of your house maid but we know that you have a great deal of knowledge. We do not say that you possess the knowledge of (al-Ghayb) hidden facts.” The narrator has said that the Imam (عليه السلام) said, “O Sadir, Do you not read the Holy Qur’an?” I said, “Yes, I do read the Holy Qur’an.” The Imam (عليه السلام) then asked, “In your reading have you found the following words of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High? “The one who had knowledge from the Book said, “I can bring it to you before you even blink your eye…” (27:40). The narrator has said that he said that he has read those words. The Imam (عليه السلام) asked, “Do you know who the man is? Do you know how much knowledge of the Book he had?” The narrator has said that he asked the Imams (عليه السلام) “Please tell me about his knowledge.” The Imam (عليه السلام) said, “His knowledge of the Book was like one drop compared to the green ocean (Atlantic). The narrator has said that he said, “May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, that is very little…” The Imam (عليه السلام) then said, “O Sadir, say, “What a great knowledge is that when Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, would ascribe to a knowledge that I am about to speak of to you. Have you found in the book of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, the following. “Say, “God and those who have the knowledge of the Book are sufficient witness (to my prophethood)” (13:43). The narrator has said that he said to the Imams (عليه السلام), “Yes. “May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, I have read it.” The Imam (عليه السلام) then said, “Is the knowledge of one who possesses the knowledge of the whole book greater or that of the one who possesses some knowledge of the Book?” I said, “The knowledge of one who possesses the knowledge of the whole book is greater.” The narrator has said that the Imam (عليه السلام) pointing to his chest said, “The knowledge of the whole Book, I swear by Allah, is with us. The knowledge of the whole Book, I swear by Allah, is with us.” (مجهول)8

9.

أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنْ مُصَدِّقِ بْنِ صَدَقَةَ عَنْ عَمَّارٍ السَّابَاطِيِّ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) عَنِ الامَامِ يَعْلَمُ الْغَيْبَ فَقَالَ لا وَلَكِنْ إِذَا أَرَادَ أَنْ يَعْلَمَ الشَّيْ‏ءَ أَعْلَمَهُ الله ذَلِكَ

Ahmad Ibn Muhammad has narrated from Muhammad Ibn al-Hasan from Ahmad Ibn a1-Hasan Ibn ‘Ali from ‘Amr Ibn Sa‘id from Musaddiq Ibn Sadaqa from ‘Ammar al-Sabati who has said that he asked Abu ‘Abd Allah (عليه السلام) the following. “Dose the Imam have the knowledge of the hidden facts?” The Imam (عليه السلام) said, “No, he does not have such knowledge but if he would like to know about a thing Allah grants him such knowledge.” (موثق)9

10.

مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ عِمْرَانَ بْنِ مُوسَى عَنْ مُوسَى بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ سَعِيدٍ الْمَدَائِنِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عُبَيْدَةَ الْمَدَائِنِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ إِذَا أَرَادَ الامَامُ أَنْ يَعْلَمَ شَيْئاً أَعْلَمَهُ الله ذَلِكَ

Muhammad Ibn Yahya has narrated from ‘Umrah Ibn Musa from Musa Ibn Ja‘far from ‘Amr Ibn Sa‘id al-Mada’ini from Abu ‘Ubayda al-Mada’ini from Abu ‘Abd Allah (عليه السلام) who has said the following. “When the Imam (عليه السلام) would will to know something Allah will grant him such knowledge.” (مجهول)10

11.

مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنْ عَمِّهِ حَمْزَةَ بْنِ بَزِيعٍ عَنْ عَلِيٍّ السَّائِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الاوَّلِ مُوسَى (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قَالَ مَبْلَغُ عِلْمِنَا عَلَى ثَلاثَةِ وُجُوهٍ مَاضٍ وَغَابِرٍ وَحَادِثٍ فَأَمَّا الْمَاضِي فَمُفَسَّرٌ وَأَمَّا الْغَابِرُ فَمَزْبُورٌ وَأَمَّا الْحَادِثُ فَقَذْفٌ فِي الْقُلُوبِ وَنَقْرٌ فِي الاسْمَاعِ وَهُوَ أَفْضَلُ عِلْمِنَا وَلا نَبِيَّ بَعْدَ نَبِيِّنَا

Muhammad Ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad Ibn Muhammad from Muhammad Ibn Isma‘il from his paternal uncle Hamzah Ibn Bazi‘ from ‘Ali as-Sa’i from Abu al-Hasan, the first, Musa (عليه السلام) who has said the following. “The totality of our knowledge is of three aspects. Knowledge of the past, future and that coming into being. The knowledge of the past is that which is interpreted. The knowledge of the future is that which is written and the knowledge of that which come into being is the kind that is thrown into the hearts and is heard by the ears and this is best aspect of our knowledge and there is no prophet after our Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم.” (صحيح على الظاهر)11

12.

قال: أخبرني الحسين بن أحمد بن المغيرة قال: أخبرني أبو محمد حيدر بن محمد السمرقندي قال: أخبرني أبو عمرو محمد بن عمرو الكشي قال: حدثنا حمدويه بن نصير قال: حدثنا يعقوب بن يزيد، عن ابن أبي عمير، عن ابن المغيرة قال: كنت أنا ويحيى بن عبد الله بن الحسن عند أبي الحسن عليه السلام فقال له يحيى، جعلت فداك إنهم يزعمون أنك تعلم الغيب، فقال: سبحان الله، ضع يدك على رأسي فوالله ما بقيت شعرة فيه و [لا] في جسدي إلا قامت، ثم قال: لا والله ما هي إلا وراثة عن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله

He said: I have been informed by al-Husayn Ibn Ahmad Ibn al-Mughairah, who reported from Abu Muhammad Haider Ibn Muhammad al-Samarqandi, who reported from Abu Amru Muhammad Ibn Amru al-Kashi, who reported from Hamdawayh Ibn Naseer, who reported from Ya’qoob Ibn Yazeed, who reported from Ibn Abi Umayr, who reported from Ibn al-Mughairah who said: Yahya Ibn ‘Abd Allah Ibn al-Hasan and I were with Abu al-Hasan, (عليه السلام), and Yahya asked him: "May I be your ransom, they think that you have the knowledge of the unseen (Ilmul Ghaib)." He said: "Glory be to Allah! Place your hand over my head." When I did that, every hair in my head and on my body stood on its end. Then he said: "No, By Allah, it is nothing but what we have inherited from the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم)."12

• 1. Al-Kāfi, v1, ch44, h3↩︎
• 2. Al-Kāfi, v1, ch44, h4↩︎
• 3. Al-Kāfi, v1, ch43, h2↩︎
• 4. Al-Kāfi, v1, ch43, h3↩︎
• 5. Al-Kāfi, v1, ch43, h4↩︎
• 6. Al-Kāfi, v1, ch45, h1↩︎
• 7. Al-Kāfi, v1, ch49, h2↩︎
• 8. Al-Kāfi, v1, ch45, h3↩︎
• 9. Al-Kāfi, v1, ch45, h4↩︎
• 10. Al-Kāfi, v1, ch46, h3↩︎
• 11. Al-Kāfi, v1, ch50, h1↩︎
• 12. Al-Amālī (Mufīd), ch3, h5↩︎