The Quran about the hidden
In the name of God, the Gracious, the Merciful
Aspiration to unravel the secrets of the universe has always been inherent to mankind. Basically, the ways to realize such a dream went in two directions: spiritual and materialistic. There have been attempts to combine these vectors, but for the most part they have confronted each other.
The materialistic point of view cannot explain the unexpected manifestations of once hidden information, however the spiritual sources on the contrary give some idea of this.
In the Quran, the theme of the “hidden” is presented quite clearly, and the “mechanism” of realization is shown as follows.
God would not leave the believers in that state you are in [presently] until He separates the evil from the good. Nor would God reveal to you the hidden. But God chooses of His messengers whom He wills, so believe God and His messengers. And if you believe and be circumspect, then for you is a great reward! (3:179)
Muhammad explained to others that he was only a messenger and he was not the initiator, and even more, he was not the possessor of the secret knowledge.
Say, “I do not tell you that I have the depositories of God or that I know the hidden, nor do I tell you that I am a maintainer. I only follow what is suggested to me!”
Say, “Is the blind equivalent to the seeing? Then will you not give thought?” (6:50)
Against the ground of a whole layer of legends about the messenger with his descriptions of the future, the text of the Quran shows the messenger from the other side.
And I do not tell you that I have the depositories of God or that I know the hidden, nor do I tell you that I am a maintainer, nor do I say of those upon whom your eyes look down that God will never grant them any good. God is most knowing of what is within them. Indeed, I would then be among the obscurantists!” (11:31)
Basing on elementary logic, Muhammad tried to justify the transcendence of the message.
Say, “I hold not for myself benefit or harm, except what God has willed! And if I knew the hidden, I could have acquired much wealth, and no evil would have touched me. I am not except a warner and a bringer of good tidings to a people who believe!” (7:188)
On a philistine opinion about the messengers’ powers to independently initiate the signs of God exhaustive answer was given.
And they say, “Why is a sign not sent down to him from his Lord?”
So say, “The hidden is only for God [to administer], so wait; indeed, I am with you among those who wait!” (10:20)
Even in polemics, the messenger did not rely on his opinion, but was guided only by the commands and the information from the Creator.
That is from the news of the hidden which We suggested to you. And you were not with them when they cast their pens as to which of them should be responsible for Maryam (Mary). Nor were you with them when they disputed. (3:44)
That is from the news of the hidden which We suggested to you. You knew it not, neither you nor your nation, before this. So be patient; indeed, the outcome is for the circumspect! (11:49)
That is from the news of the hidden which We suggested to you. And you were not with them when they put together their intrigues while they conspired. (12:102)
They will say there were three, the fourth of them being their dog;
and they will say there were five, the sixth of them being their dog,
and they will say there were seven, and the eighth of them was their dog, – guessing at the hidden.
Say, “My Lord is most knowing of their number. None knows them except a few. So do not take them as an example.” (18:22)
Say, “God is most knowing of how long they remained. He has the hidden of the heavens and the earth. How perfectly He hears and sees! They have not besides Him any patron, and He shares not His judgement with anyone!” (18:26)
Muhammad’s persistent refusal to know the hidden information, beyond the suggested Prescription, gives reason to doubt the information that comes not from the Quran, especially regarding the time of the Day of Debt.
The task of the messenger was the notification of the population through the information received, accompanied by the Lord’s control over the fulfilment of this mission.
Say, “I do not know if what you are promised is near or if my Lord will grant for it a [long] period.” [He is] Knower of the hidden, and He does not disclose His [knowledge of the] hidden to anyone Except whom He has approved of messengers, and indeed, He sends before each messenger and behind him observers That he may know that they have conveyed the messages of their Lord; and He has encompassed whatever is with them and has enumerated all things in number!” (72:25-28)
Belief in the hidden from the Prescription is one of the basic qualities on which the Quran is oriented.
Alif, Lam, Meem
This is the Prescription about which there is no doubt, guidance for those circumspect – Who believe in the hidden, establish prayer, and spend out of what We have provided for them. (2:1-3)
However, many people do not accept the information about the things hidden from their understanding. Self-confidence dictates to them a certain kind of behaviour and statements.
Then, have you seen he who closed himself from Our signs and said, “I will surely be given wealth and children!”
Has he looked into the hidden, or has he taken from the Gracious a promise? (19:77-78)
It would be understandable if such people had unshakable basis for their opinions. But there are no such guarantees.
Or have they [knowledge of] the hidden, so they write [it] down? (52:41)
Does he have knowledge of the hidden, so he sees? (53:35)
Or have they [knowledge of] the hidden, so they write [it] down? (69:47)
The narrowness of human intelligence gave birth to the concept of “accidental” events. However, the unprecedented logicality, orderliness and intelligence of all existing things make it clear that all processes that do not fit to the human mind are controlled and managed.
And with Him are the keys of the hidden!
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 in a clear Prescription. (6:59)
Creator’s absolute powers are demonstrated by our universal environment. Modern scientific data makes it clear to us that the mysteries of being are immeasurably numerous. All is known only to the Lord.
And it is He who created the heavens and earth in truth. And the day He says, “Be,” and it is, His word is the truth. And His is the kingship on the day the horn is blown. Knower of the hidden and the witnessed! And He is the Wise, the Acquainted! (6:73)
Therefore, people’s attempts to determine the date of the “Hour X” are useless and groundless.
And to God belongs the hidden of the heavens and the earth. And the command for the hour is not but as a glance of the eye or even nearer! Indeed, God is over all things competent! (16:77)
And even more, counting on someone from the “saints” is vicious.
Say, “None in the heavens and earth knows the hidden except God, and they do not perceive when they will be resurrected!” (27:65)
Many mistakes can be avoided, if you know the qualities of the Creator,.
[He is] Knower of the hidden and the witnessed, the Grand, the Exalted! (13:9)
That is the Knower of the hidden and the witnessed, the Exalted in Might, the Merciful! (32:6)
Say, “Indeed, my Lord projects the truth. Knower of the hidden!” (34:48)
Indeed, God is Knower of the hidden of the heavens and earth. Indeed, He is Knowing of that within the thoughts! (35:38)
He is God, other than whom there is no deity!
Knower of the hidden and the witnessed!
He is the Gracious, the Merciful! (59:22)
Knower of the hidden and the witnessed, the Exalted in Might, the Wise! (64:18)
Demonstration of the knowledge about the hidden by the Creator can be traced through the example of the dialogue with the maintainers.
He said, “O Adam! Inform their names!”
And when he had called their names, He said,
“Did I not tell you that I know the hidden of the heavens and the earth? And I know what you reveal and what you have concealed.” (2:31-33)
All the invisible creatures were convinced of their limitations in secret knowledge.
And when We decreed for Solomon death, nothing indicated his death except a creature of the earth eating his staff. But when he fell, it became clear to the invisible creatures that if they had known the hidden, they would not have remained in humiliating punishment. (34:14)
However, the lack of faith in the absolute powers of the Almighty pushed the hypocrites to all kinds of intrigues and conspiracies.
Did they not know that God knows their secrets and their private conversations and that God is the Knower of the hidden? (9:78)
They will make excuses to you when you have returned to them.
Say, “Make no excuse – never will we believe you. God has already informed us of your news. And God will observe your deeds, and [so will] His messenger; then you will be taken back to the Knower of the hidden and the witnessed, and He will inform you of what you used to do!” (9:94)
The contact of the messenger with God made it possible to discover the true intentions of the hypocrites.
They did not understand that all deeds are fixed by the Creator.
And say, “Do [as you will], for God will see your deeds, and [so, will] His messenger and the believers. And you will be returned to the Knower of the hidden and the witnessed! And He will inform you of what you used to do!” (9:105)
Indeed, God knows the hidden of the heavens and the earth! And God is Seeing of what you do! (49:18)
Appeal to the powers of the Creator had taken place in the dialogue with the holders of the Prescription as well. The Jews were proposed to pay attention to God’s knowledge of the hidden which took place in polemics about the truth of faith and the correctness of the path.
Say, “Indeed, the death from which you flee – indeed, it will meet you. Then you will be returned to the Knower of the hidden and the witnessed, and He will inform you about what you used to do!” (62:8)
By the reminder, the Lord gave the opportunity to be resistant to the influence of this world and to do the right things.
And to God belong the hidden of the heavens and the earth!
And to Him will be returned the matter, all of it!
So serve Him and rely upon Him!
And your Lord is not unaware of that which you do! (11:123)
Muhammad’s opponents’ absence of faith in the signs caused the denial of the hour of reckoning, inquire for what was done.
But those who closed themselves say, “The hour will not come to us.”
Say, “Yes, by my Lord, the Knower of the hidden, it will surely come to you..” Not absent from Him is an atom’s weight within the heavens or within the earth or [what is] smaller than that or greater, except that it is in a clear Prescription. (34:3)
Unlike the closed people, the believers do not doubt the summing up of the whole life.
Say, “O God, Creator of the heavens and the earth, Knower of the hidden and the witnessed, You will judge between your servants concerning that over which they used to differ!” (39:46)
The Day of Debt will clarify all our mistakes, including those regarding honoured messengers. Everyone will be convinced that they also did not know more than God had allowed them to.
The day when God will assemble the messengers and say, “What was the response you received?”
They will say, “We have no knowledge. Indeed, it is You who is Knower of the hidden” (5:109)
And also, the grossest distortion of the essence of faith by the adherents of the dogma of the division of the Creator into incarnations will be revealed.
When God will ask, “O Isa (Jesus), Son of Maryam (Mary), did you say to the people, ‘Take me and my mother as deities besides God?'”
He will say, “Exalted are You! It was not for me to say that to which I have no right. If I had said it, You would have known it. You know what is within my personality, and I do not know what is within Your Personality. Indeed, it is You who is knower of the hidden! (5:116)
Only compliance with the Creator guidance guarantees a successful outcome on the Day of Debt.
[Therein are] gardens of Adn (Eden) which the Merciful has promised His servants being invisible for them. Indeed, His promise has ever been coming. (19:61)