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Fatwa CenterRefuting some statements of Barelvis
Question
Assalaamu alaykum wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatuhu. Shaykh, some of the Barelvis say, “How is it Shirk (polytheism) to say that Muhammed, sallallaahu ʻalayhi wa sallam, knows the Unseen; everything is written in the Preserved Tablet and the Pen and the Preserved Tablet are part of the creation of Allaah, The Exalted, and they know it given that Allaah, The Exalted, commanded the Pen to write the destiny of everyone, so how is it Shirk if someone claims that the best of creation, the Prophet, sallallaahu ʻalayhi wa sallam, knows the future given that the Pen and the Preserved Tablet are part of the creation but still know what will take place in the future?”
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ʻalayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.
It is an established fact in Islam that the knowledge of the Unseen is the exclusive domain of Allaah, The Exalted, and no one shares it with Him. Allaah, The Exalted, says (what means):
- {Say: None in the heavens and earth knows the Unseen except Allaah, and they do not perceive when they will be resurrected.} [Quran 27:65]
- {And with Him are the keys of the Unseen; none knows them except Him. And He knows what is on the land and in the sea. Not a leaf falls but that He knows it. And no grain is there within the darknesses of the earth and no moist or dry (thing) but that it is (written) in a clear record.} [Quran 6:59]
These religious texts with clear and decisive indication underline the fact that only Allaah possesses the knowledge of the Unseen. It is becoming of those who are firm in knowledge to adhere to the verses with clear and specific indication and abstain from looking for those with unspecific indication with the purpose of refuting the former ones. Allaah, The Exalted, says (what means): {It is He Who has sent down to you (O Muhammad) the Book; in it are verses (that are) precise - they are the foundation of the Book - and others unspecific. As for those in whose hearts is deviation (from truth), they will follow that of it which is unspecific, seeking discord and seeking an interpretation (suitable to them). And no one knows its (true) interpretation except Allaah. But those firm in knowledge say, “We believe in it. All (of it) is from our Lord.” And no one will be reminded except those of understanding.} [Quran 3:7]
ʻAa'ishah 
narrated that the Prophet, sallallaahu ʻalayhi wa sallam, recited this verse and then said, “If you see those who follow that which is not entirely clear thereof, then they are those whom Allaah has named (as having deviation from the Truth), so beware of them.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
For more benefit, please refer to fataawa only knew the unseen that Allaah informed him about">91400and 5721.
The argument of these people can be refuted in the following points:
First, they should be asked as to whether the early scholars brought forth this religious text as evidence in this regard indicating that the Preserved Tablet and Pen actually possess the knowledge of the Unseen or not. If any of the early scholars actually brought forth this religious text as evidence in this regard, then they should be asked to list their names; otherwise, it is their personal opinion and we are in no need of it.
Second, if it is correct to bring forth this hadeeth as evidence with regards to the knowledge of the Unseen, then it is actually against their argument and not supportive of it, because the hadeeth reads “The Pen asks, ‘What should I write?’” This indicates that it does not know the Unseen; otherwise it would have written directly without asking because it would already possess the knowledge of the Unseen, as they claim.
Third, the Pen is a means used by Allaah, The Exalted, to record the matters of the Unseen according to His knowledge in the Preserved Tablet (which is also a means that carries this knowledge).
Allaah knows best.
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