Prophecy fulfilled?
Submitted by on Thu, 19/03/2009 - 04:17
Dear Brother / Sister,
We will try to explain the expressions in the question in two categories: The first one is what Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), said to our Mother Fatima and the second is that the Prophet’s knowing the Ghaib (the unknown).
1- What the Prophet said to Fatima
Fatima was the only living daughter of the Prophet. She was the sole daughter with whom the Prophet satisfied the love of offspring.
Fatimatu'z-Zahra was the most similar one to the Prophet among his offspring in high ethics, and in manners.
On the last day of his illness, the Prophet summoned Fatima, his beloved daughter, who is a symbol of high ethics and refinement.
When Fatima came, he made her sit on his right side. He secretly said something to her.
Suddenly an air of sadness settled on Fatima. Then tears rolled down her eyes.
The Prophet said something else secretly to the distinguished daughter of his. This time, Fatima, who burst into tears a while ago, smiled and rejoiced.
The Prophet's wife, our Mother Aisha, who was present at that time, asked her the reason for this. Fatima said:
“Firstly, he said to me that he would leave this world and me very soon. Therefore, I cried.
After that, he said “In my family you will be the first to reach me”, which made me rejoice.” 1
Reference: Salih Suruç, Peygamberimiz'in Hayatı (The Life of Our Prophet)
2- Ghaib means the unknown. The verse which says that no one except Allah can know the Ghaib reminds us this truth.
In Surah the Jinn (Al-Jinn), in the 26th verse, it is expressed that Allah alone is the Knower of the unknown (what lies beyond human sense-perception). However, in the following verse, we are informed that He discloses this unknown (information about the future and the past) to His servants with whom He is well-pleased. Therefore, if Allah informs them, the beloved servants of Allah (awliya) can also know the unknown.
Thus, the expression “Allah alone knows the unknown” should be understood as “If Allah does not inform, no one can know the unknown.” Indeed, the Prophet informed certain events that would occur after him and that had occurred before him with the permission and will of Allah.
Allah may inform one of His beloved servants (prophet or awliya) of the unknown, as He wills. Then, those esteemed people can inform us about an event before it happens. In other words, before an event takes place, Allah may also inform people of it. This is also an evidence for the free will of Allah. If we claimed that prophets and awliya could not know of the unknown by saying that no one but Allah knows it, we would then be both marring the health of the verse and accepting a view in advance, which put limits to the will of Allah. This is against our beliefs.
Revelation comes only to prophets. Inspiration (Allah's inspiring truthful meanings into hearts), though, can be experienced by any of the awliya (those loved by Allah).
“He, my Lord knows all the unknown. He knows both the relative and the absolute unknown.”
1. Tabaqât, 2:247; Bukharî, 3:92; Muslim, 4:1904.
Questions on Islam
- Is it true that Our Prophet offered divorce to his wife Hazrath Sawda?
- Why is the future veiled?
- Why are hadiths about the time during the end of the world not understood clearly?
- Will we be able to see the unknown (ghaib) realms after the Day of Judgment? Will it be possible for us to see the things that we have not seen?
- Will you explain the verse: "Say: I have no power over any good or harm to myself except as Allah willeth" (al-Araf, 7/188)? According to that verse, does the human will have no importance?
- Does the date and time of death never change; or can life be lengthened through prayers (duas)?
- Could you please explain and tell the difference between "Karamah" and "Istidraj"?
- Did the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) know about the future?
- His Information related to the Future Turn out True
- How can I understand that Mohammad (pbuh) is really the prophet of God?