Can saints know the unseen (ghayb)?

- It is stated in verse 26 of the chapter of al-Jinn that only Allah knows the unseen and that He will tell some part of it He wishes to a messenger.
- How can we reach the conclusion that saints can know the unseen (ghayb) acting upon the verse?
- In the verse, only the word “messenger (rasul)” is used. Messengers and saints are not the same.

Dear Brother / Sister,

"He (alone) knows the Unseen, nor does He make any one acquainted with His Mysteries― Except a messenger whom He has chosen (He informs them) ..." (al-Jinn, 72/26 and 27)

It is stated that only Allah knows the unseen and He informs nobody – including jinn – about it except the messenger that He chose. What is meant by the messenger He chose are prophets; the knowledge of the unseen He informs them is divine revelation and news, which shows that they are prophets. For instance, the Quran, which includes a lot of news about the unseen like the incidents that will take place on the Day of Judgment and the hereafter, was revealed to the Prophet (pbuh).  It is stated in the work of Shawkani that the Prophet (pbuh) was given some news about the unseen like tribulations (mischiefs) apart from the Quran and revelation and that the verse also indicates this.

As for the perfect guides that follow the way of the Prophet, God Almighty opens some doors of the unseen to them through the light of the Messenger of Allah (pbuh). We call this «karamah». As a matter of fact, the scholars of Ahl as-Sunnah said, «We believe in the karamah of saints», while Mutazila rejected it. The scholars of Ahl as-Sunnah used the following hadiths as evidence:  

«Amongst the people preceding you, there were people who received inspiration; they were not prophets. If there is one in my ummah, it is 'Umar bin Al-Khattab.» (Sahih Bukhari, Lubab at-Ta'wil: IV/317)

«Amongst the people preceding you, there were people who received inspiration. If there is one in my ummah, it is 'Umar bin Al-Khattab.» (Sahih Muslim, Lubab at- Ta'wil: IV/318)

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