In Part I, we dealt with verses in the Quran that mainly express the oneness of Allah, and the fact that we are to worship and praise only him. In the second half of this article we will examine where Allah emphasizes that our holy prophet lacks any special knowledge or ability.
“Unless I proclaim what I receive from Allah and His Messages: for any that disobey Allah and His Messenger,- for them is Hell: they shall dwell therein for ever.”
Quran 72:23
Here Allah makes it clear, by commanding Prophet Muhammed to tell us, that his only mission is to proclaim the messages he receives from Allah. This message is the Quran. Our prophet is not here to forgive our sins, bring us blessings, grant our wishes, heal our children, show us the future, or teach us any supernatural powers. He is only here to deliver the verses of the Quran to us.
At length, when they see (with their own eyes) that which they are promised,- then will they know who it is that is weakest in (his) helper and least important in point of numbers.
Quran 72: 24
Here Allah makes explains that when these people (who disobeyed Allah and his messenger’s message) arrive in the afterlife on the day of judgement, they will look around and they will then know that all of the helpers they thought they had, are not there helping, and the large following that they were a part of, are nowhere to be found. It seems these people would be alone with no one to intercede on their behalf. Whereas during this life, they had many saints they were devoted to and they had millions co-worshippers, all thinking that their strength in numbers would show Allah that there was merit to their beliefs. Rather, Allah will strip you of the people and protectors you thought you had on your side. What you counted on, is gone. You will face Allah alone with your beliefs and actions with no help.
Say, “I do not know if what you are promised is near or my Lord has set a distant time for it.
Quran 72: 24
Here, Allah tells our holy prophet to tell us that he has no idea of when the last day is. He is just as clueless as the rest of us as to what comes tomorrow. So if the prophet does not know the future, how can a subsequent saint know the future? For all our prophet knows, the end of days could come in one minute, so how can he predict what will happen tomorrow? It seems like the message of Allah is that he can’t, and no one can. So if someone tells you they know the future, they are lying. No matter how religious that person may seem.
“He (alone) knows the Unseen, nor does He make any one acquainted with His Mysteries,-
Quran 72:25
Even more specifically, if the preceding verse was vague, Allah makes it crystal clear here. He tells our prophet Muhammad (saws), to tell his followers, that He (Allah) alone knows the unseen (ghayb), and he does not make any one acquainted with his mysteries. Firstly, how clear is this to all mystics? Will they understand Allah’s message here. Secondly, let’s contemplate why Allah (swt) tells our prophet Muhammad (saws) to tell us this, rather than this statement coming from Allah himself in the first person? This to me is clear, that Allah is sending us the message that our Prophet Muhammad is not an exception to the rule of being ignorant of Allah’s mysteries, nor is he a partner with Allah in anything. And we need to understand, that if our prophet, the chosen one, is not privy to Allah’s secrets, then no one else is.
“Except a messenger whom He has chosen: and then He makes a band of watchers march before him and behind him,
Quran 72:26
Here is the test. The last verse was clear. This verse is vague. What does Allah mean here? Is the messenger he is talking about our prophet Muhammad (saws)? And why does he send two watchers to guard this information?
“That He may know that they have (truly) brought and delivered the Messages of their Lord: and He surrounds (all the mysteries) that are with them, and takes account of every single thing.”
Quran 72:27
Here Allah indicates that the job of the ‘watchers’ seems to be to make sure the mysteries that were entrusted to Allah’s messenger do not get loose, and they stay secret. This is the plain reading of the verse. However, I could imagine a person misunderstanding this verse, and nevertheless believe that Allah has mysteries that he gives them to his messengers, and that these mysteries could be shared. However, that reading of the verse would negate the meaning of the preceding three verses It is clear, when the verses are read together that Allah is trying to tell us that no one knows his secrets, and even the messenger who knows some secrets is policed to ensure none get loose. The bottom line here is that Allah will never allow any of us access to his secrets.
Conclusion
If Allah will not share any secret with any of us, then how can some claim that they know when the last day is? How can some claim they can read the Quran and tell you what the future is? How can some tell you how read the Quran and heal a person? How can some teach you how to cure illnesses, gain riches, gain knowledge of the present and future? How can some tell you who is in heaven and how to get there? Where did this knowledge come from? If it is not found in the Quran, then where did it come from? Allah makes it clear here that no knowledge of Allah’s mysteries was leaked.
The above statements seem obvious, but many muslims everywhere believe in superstitions that violate the tenants taught to us by this surah. How many muslims believe that their saint was divinely inspired to know the future or change Allah’s message in the Quran? How many muslims believe that other muslims have the knowledge and power to see and do supernatural things through their level of faith? I hope we can stop wasting our time believing in non sense and begin to live our life with the Quran as a guide for our code of conduct.
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