Allaah revealed to His Prophet what will occur to his Ummah till the Day of Resurrection – Sharh as-Sunnah | Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]

Sharh as-Sunnah : Lesson 52: Point 89
Shaykh Fawzan | Dawud Burbank [Audio|English]

Imaam Barbahaaree rahimahullaah said:

And to have eemaan that Allaah, the Most High, showed His Prophet sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam what was going to occur in his nation until the Day of Resurrection.[1]

[Souncloud Audio Link] 

Transcribed Audio:

The Prophet sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallamdoes not know the ghayb (hidden and unseen) and no-one from the created beings knows the hidden and unseen (ghayb).

قُل لَّا يَعْلَمُ مَن فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ الْغَيْبَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ

Say, no-one in the heavens or on the earth knows the hidden and unseen except Allaah. (Sooratun-Naml (27), aayah65)

And al-ghayb (hidden and the unseen) is that which is hidden from us, whether it be in the past or in the future, we do not know it. However, the Prophets `alayhimussalaatu wassalaam, Allaah shows them something from the hidden and the unseen for the benefit of the da`wah (call to Allaah, the Perfect and Most High). And from them was our Prophet Muhammad sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam for Allaah showed him some of the matters of the unseen and he sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam informed of them for the benefit of the nation.

He, the Most High, said:

عَالِمُ الْغَيْبِ فَلَا يُظْهِرُ عَلَىٰ غَيْبِهِ أَحَدًا
إِلَّا مَنِ ارْتَضَىٰ مِن رَّسُولٍ

Allaah is the Knower of the unseen so He does not reveal what He has kept hidden to anyone except to a messenger whom He is pleased with. (Sooratul-Jinn (72), aayah 26-27)

Except to a messenger He is pleased with; meaning that Allaah shows to him whatever He, the Perfect and Most High, wishes. For e.g. the Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam was walking along with his companions and they passed by two graves so he said:

“These two are certainly being punished.”[2]

The companions were not aware that the two inhabitants of the graves were being punished. Allaah revealed it to His Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam, the punishment of the two deceased. So he said:  “These two are certainly being punished.”

This was something which Allaah made him aware of and this was from the khasaa·is, from the matters specific to the Messengers `alayhimussalaatu wassalaam. And Allaah made him aware of events that were going to occur in the future and he sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam informed us about Ashraatis-Saa’ah (The Signs of the Last Hour). He informed us about the fitan(trials and tribulations) in order that we should beware and have fear lest these matters come upon us so that we could be upon clear insight.

He informed us for our benefit from the angle of warning so that we could safeguard ourselves. He sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam also said:

“This nation will split into 73 sects, all of them will be in the Fire except one.”[3]

This was news for him (sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam) that splitting would occur in the nation and it occurred just as he (sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam) informed so that we should remain firm upon the truth and not go off along with those who contradict the truth.[4]

Footnotes:

[1] Translator’s side point: Allaah Bi Annallaaha Ta`ala and in some of the versions it has Bi Annallaaha Tabaaraka Wa Ta`ala (Allaah, the Exalted and Most High). Just a slight one addition word; Tabaaraka Wa Ta`ala.

[2] Reported by Al-Bukhaariyy (218) and Muslim (292) from a hadeeth of Ibn `Abbaas radiyAllaahu `anhumaa.

[3] Translator’s side point: In the footnote it mentions checking of this has preceded and it will follow in the next point inshaaAllaah also.

[4] Translator’s side point:

Firstly, with regard to the main point that Allaah, the Most High, shows His Prophet sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam what will occur in his nation until the Day of Resurrection and the reference for this as some of the verifiers mention is a hadeeth reported by al-Bukhaariyy (6604) and reported by Muslim (2891) as a hadeeth of Huthayfah radiyAllaahu `anhu who said:

“The Prophet gave us an address; khutbah, he did not leave anything out of it that will happen until the establishment of the Hour except that he mentioned it. Whoever knew of it, knew it and whoever was ignorant of it was ignorant of it and I used to see things happening, which I had forgotten so then I would recognise them just as a man recognises when something has been absent from him then when he sees it again, he recognises it.”

Also, Shaykh Ahmad an-Najmeerahimahullaah made an important point also with regard to this point that “Allaah, the Most High made His Prophet sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam aware. He showed him things that would happen in his nation until the Day of Resurrection”. Shaykh Ahmad said,

“I say, this saying contains some degree of generality. So Allaah, the Perfect and Most High did not show His Prophet everything that was going to occur in his nation until the Day of Resurrection because this is from ilm ul-ghaib (the knowledge of the hidden and unseen), which is specific to the Lord of Might and Majesty. However, He showed him some events and some matters that were going to occur. And therefore, there occurs in the two saheehs from a hadeeth of Aboo Hurayrah radiyAllaahu `anhu that:

“Allaah’s Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam came to the graveyard and gave the greeting, “May Allaah grant you security O believing people and we will if Allaah wills be joining you.” Then he said, “I would have loved that I would have seen my brothers.” So they (the companions) said, “Are we not your brothers Oh Messenger of Allaah?” So he said, “You are my companions and my brothers are those who have not yet come.” So they said, “How will you recognise those who have not yet come from your nation O Messenger of Allaah?” He said, do you see if a man had some horses with white marks upon their heads and their arms and they were amongst some dark horses, would he not recognise his own horses?” So they said, “Yes indeed O Messenger of Allaah”. He said, “Then they will come with white marks on account of the wudu and I will precede you to the hawd (the great reservoir). Indeed some men will be repelled away from my reservoir just as a stray camel is repelled away. I will call to them, Come. So it will be said, they changed after you. So then I will say, suhqan, suhqan, be away, be far away.” 

[Reported by Al-Bukhaariyy and Muslim]

“So this is a proof that he was not informed of everything that would occur in his nation but rather, he was informed of some things that were going to have a serious effect. So the Prophet sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam informed of some of that just as is written in the books of the Sunnah and that does not mean that he became aware of everything that was going to occur in his nation and everything that would occur amongst them and to them as is believed by some people and I have researched this matter of my refutation of Ibn ul Haaj in the book Awza hul al ishaarah fir raddi ala man ajaza mamnu minal ziyaara, the clear indication in refutation of those who make permissible the forbidden type of visitation of graves.”

“So refer to that treatise because it is beneficial in its topic and that is from the bounty and beneficence of Allaah and His grant of success. And beware O student of knowledge of being slow or being too lazy to digest this matter because it is something that has great importance and by researching it and understanding it, you can become free from the beliefs of shirkand you can come to know the position of the Salaf well in this matter and Allaah is the one who grants success.”

Then finally on this point, Shaykh Saalihas-Suhaymee hafizahullaah summarised this point by saying the ghaib (hidden and the unseen) is of two categories. He mentioned:

• Firstly, Ghaib ul-Mutlaq: That which is totally hidden and unseen and that is known only to Allaah, nobody else knows it, and,
• Ghaib ul-Nisbee: That which is partially hidden and unseen.

That which is partially hidden and unseen refers to that which Allaah has made His Prophets aware of just as, He, the Most High said, the aayah that came at the beginning:

عَالِمُ الْغَيْبِ فَلَا يُظْهِرُ عَلَىٰ غَيْبِهِ أَحَدًا
إِلَّا مَنِ ارْتَضَىٰ مِن رَّسُولٍ

Allaah, the Most High, is the Knower of the hidden and unseen so He does not reveal that which He has kept hidden to anyone except to a messenger whom He is pleased with. (Sooratul-Jinn (72), aayah 26-27)

So the Ghaib ul-Mutlaq; that which is unrestrictedly hidden and unseen is something specific to Allaah and the Ghaib ul-Nisbee; that which is partially hidden and unseen is that which He made His Prophets aware of.

—

Ithaaful-Qaaree bit-Ta`leeqaat `alaa Sharhis-Sunnah
(A Gift To The Reader In Annotation Of Sharh As-Sunnah)
by Shaykh Saalih ibn Fowzaan al-Fowzaan hafizahullaah
Translated by Aboo Talhah Daawood Burbank, rahimahullaah

Transcribed by Saima Zaher.

Posted with kind permission from Dawud Burbank rahimahullaah

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How long did the Israelite's dwell in Egypt 430 years or 215 years?

the idea that the children of Israel lived in Egypt for 430 years is mathematically incorrect. If we carefully study the timeline, we find that the Bible makes a serious mistake in calculating the length of time dwelt in Egypt by the Children of Israel.

Exodus 7:7 Moses was 80 years old

Exodus 6:20 Amram was 137 years old

Exodus 6:17 Kohath was 133 years old

Genesis 46:11 Kohath was the son of Levi when they went to Egypt genesis 46:26 with Jacob

Let’s assume   Kohath was a new born baby when he went to Egypt. And let’s assume Amram was born the year his father passed away, and let’s assume Moses was born the year his father passed way

133 + 137 + 80 = 350

Which means, the amount of the spent in Egypt would have been no longer than 350 years maximum. Now more than likely Amaram was not a baby when he arrived to Egypt, and it's more than likely Kohath was not born the year his father passed away, and it’s more than likely Moses was not born the year his father passed way.

this means the amount of time spent in Egypt would have been significantly less than 350 years. so why does Exodus 12:40 say the time Israelites spent in Egypt was 430 years?

Now the length of time the Israelite people lived in Egypt was 430 years. (Exodus 12:40)

in one of the letters of Paul to Galatians we read:

This is what I am trying to say: The agreement God made with Abraham could not be canceled 430 years later when God gave the law to Moses. God would be breaking his promise. (Galatian 3:17)

Basically, what Paul is saying from the time Abraham received his promise to the time Moses received his law there was 430 years.

Let’s do the maths

Abraham received the promise when he entered Canaan when he was 75 Genesis 12:3-5,7. then 25 years later when Abraham was 100 years old, that’s when Isaac was born Genesis 21:5. then 60 years later when Isaac was 60 years old, that’s when Jacob was born Genesis 25:26. then a 135 years later when Jacob was 130 years old that’s when all of Israel arrived in Egypt Genesis 47:9.

So add 25 + 60 + 130 = 215 which means there’s 215 years from the time that Abraham entered Canaan to the time all of Israel arrived in Egypt

Now Moses received the law the same time they left Egypt, so Paul is saying there was 430 between Abraham and Moses. And according to the Old Testament there is 215 between Abraham and Jacob entering Egypt.

So take 430 and subtract 215 and that equals to 215 years, which means the amount of time the Israelites were in Egypt was 215 years. (215 in Egypt 215 in Canaan) 430 total.

Now that's mathematically possible.

Flavius Josephus a 1st century Jewish Historian mentions:

"they left Egypt…four hundred and thirty years after out forefather Abraham came into Canaan, but two hundred and fifteen years only after Jacob removed into Egypt" (Josephus Antiquities of the Jews 2.15.2)

What even more interesting is the Samaritan Pentateuch says

Now the sojourning of the children of Israel and fathers of them, who dwelt in Canaan and in Egypt, [was] four hundred and thirty years. (Exodus 12:40 Samaritan Torah) This means the Masoretic Torah was altered (corrupted) by the scribes to received it and dropped out Canaan. Unless you disagree with the Samaritan Torah? The other problem seems to point at the God of the Old Testament, who was corrected by Paul and Flavius Josephus.

Benefit: O you who believe! If you obey and fear Allaah, He will grant you Furqan – Tafseer Ibn Katheer

by AbdurRahman.org يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِن تَتَّقُوا اللَّهَ يَجْعَل لَّكُمْ فُرْقَانًا وَيُكَفِّرْ عَنكُمْ سَيِّئَاتِكُمْ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ۗ وَاللَّهُ ذُو الْفَضْلِ الْعَظِيمِ O you who believe! If you obey and fear Allaah, He will grant you Furqan, and will expiate for you your sins, and forgive you; and Allah is the Owner of the great bounty. (Al-Anfal 8:29) Ibn `Abbas, As-Suddi, Mujahid, `Ikrimah, Ad-Dahhak, Qatadah, Muqatil bin Hayyan and several others said that, (Furqan), means, `a way out'; Mujahid added, "In this life and the Hereafter.'' In another narration, Ibn `Abbas is reported to have said, `Furqan' means `salvation' or -- according to another narration -- `aid'. Muhammad bin Ishaq said that `Furqan' means `criterion between truth and falsehood'. This last explanation from Ibn Ishaq is more general than the rest that we mentioned, and it also includes the other meanings. Certainly, those who have Taqwa of Allah by obeying what He ordained and abstaining from what he forbade, will be guided to differentiate between the truth and the falsehood. This will be a triumph, safety and a way out for them from the affairs of this life, all the while acquiring happiness in the Hereafter. They will also gain forgiveness, thus having their sins erased, and pardon, thus having their sins covered from other people, as well as, being directed to a way to gain Allah's tremendous rewards, يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَآمِنُوا بِرَسُولِهِ يُؤْتِكُمْ كِفْلَيْنِ مِن رَّحْمَتِهِ وَيَجْعَل لَّكُمْ نُورًا تَمْشُونَ بِهِ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ۚ وَاللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ O you who believe! Have Taqwa of Allah, and believe in His Messenger, He will give you a double portion of His mercy, and He will give you a light by which you shall walk (straight). And He will forgive you. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful (57:28) Source: Tafseer Ibn Katheer, Dar-us-salam English Publication