Many people have the false notion that if a peer (shaikh) can read the mind of a person or has the ability to concentrate on the condition of his disciples (murideen) from far away, that this is a sign that the shaikh is righteous and he is accepted in the sight of Allah. Below the greatest khalifah of the Qutubul Aqtaab, Baqiyatus Salaf, Maulana Muhammad Zakariyah Kandhalvi, Faqeehul Ummah Mufti Mahmoodul Hasan Gangohi (رحمهما الله) dispels this false notion. He also discourages from trying to acquire this ability.

Difference between Ilmul Ghaib and Ilm Baatini

Question:

It is famous that Shaiks know the conditions of their disciples. They concentrate (tawajjuh) from far away. What is the difference between this and Ilmul Ghaib?

Answer:

Concentration (tawajjuh) or Ilm Baatini is one thing, while Ilmul Ghaib is another.  Allah, alone, has it (ilm ghaib). It is mentioned in the Quran Karim:

وَعِندَهُ مَفَاتِحُ الْغَيْبِ لَا يَعْلَمُهَا إِلَّا هُوَ

And with Him are the keys of the unseen; none knows them except Him.  {An’am:59}

وَلَوْ كُنتُ أَعْلَمُ الْغَيْبَ لَاسْتَكْثَرْتُ مِنَ الْخَيْرِ 

And if I knew the unseen, I could have acquired much wealth. {Al-A’raaf:188}

قُل لَّا أَقُولُ لَكُمْ عِندِي خَزَائِنُ اللَّـهِ وَلَا أَعْلَمُ الْغَيْبَ

Say, [O Muhammad], “I do not tell you that I have the depositories [containing the provision] of Allah or that I know the unseen. {An’am:59}

What connection does Ilm Batini have with Ilm Ghaib?[1] It (ilm baatini) can be acquired through exercises and it is not a sign of acceptance (qabuliyah in the sight of Allah).

Closeness to Allah is acquired by the favour (fadhl) of Allah and is also a sign of acceptance.

Question:

Exercises should not be made with the intention that one will know the conditions of his desciples?

Answer:

Yes of course. However some people do it with this intention.

Fatawa Mahmoodiyah Vol.30 Pg.402-403

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[1] Rhetorical question