Al-Ghayb

Last updated

Al-Ghaib is an Arabic expression used to convey that something is concealed (unseen). It is an important concept in Islam, encompassing what cannot be perceived or known by humans. [1] This includes God, the attributes of God, the Last Day and its events, and the heart (qalb). [2] Beyond the theological implications, it can also mean something "unseen" relative to an observer, in the sense that someone acts behind the perceiver's back. [3]

Contents

In general, creatures classified as supernatural in Western scholarship, such as Jinn, are not considered to be part of a-ghayb. [4]

In the Quran it has 6 forms and 3 meanings. But it can also be used in a general sense to refer to something that is known to some but concealed from others.

Meaning

In Arabic, al-Ghaib refers to anything that is hidden in some manner. The term is composed of two words (a definitive article and an adjective), "al" and "Ghaib", literally translating to "the" and "unseen" respectively. It possesses multiple intricate meanings stemming out from the figurative translation "the depth of the well." [5] Given that the bottom of the well is visually concealed as a result of its depth, its contents are generally undeterminable. Al-Ghaib therefore refers to that which is absent, hidden, or concealed. [6] Like majority of adjectives in the Arabic language, al-Ghaib has a triliteral or triconsonantal root. It is composed of three root letters غ ي ب (gaain, yaa, baa), roughly tantamount to g-y-b respectively in the English language.

In Islam

In the Islamic context, al-Ghaib refers to transcendental or divine secrets. It is mentioned in sixty different places in the Qur'an, in six different forms. It has three primary meanings: [7]

  1. Absent – "That is so al-'Azeez will know that I did not betray him in [his] absence and that Allah does not guide the plan of betrayers." [8] (12:52)
  2. The Unknown or Hidden – "[Allah is] Knower of the unseen and the witnessed, the Grand, the Exalted." [9] (13:9)
  3. The Future – "Say, "I hold not for myself [the power of] benefit or harm, except what Allah has willed. And if I knew the unseen, I could have acquired much wealth, and no harm would have touched me. I am not except a warner and a bringer of good tidings to a people who believe." " [10] (7:188) [7]

Types

There are two types of Ghaib:

1. Al-Ghaib al-Mutlaq (الغيب المطلق) - Absolute Ghaib refers to all knowledge that is unseen or concealed and is only known to Allah. As stated in the Quran: "And with Him are the keys of the Ghayb (all that is hidden), none knows them but He…" [11] (6:59) [12]

Examples of this form of Ghaib are illustrated in the narrations of Muhammad: It is narrated that Abdullah bin `Umar said that the Messenger of Allah said, "The Keys of the Ghaib (unseen knowledge) are five, nobody knows them but Allah. Nobody knows what will happen tomorrow except Allah; nobody knows what is in the womb except Allah; nobody knows when it will rain except Allah; no soul knows at what place he will die except Allah; and nobody knows when the (Final) Hour will begin except Allah.) [13]

2. Al-Ghaib al-Nisbi (الغيب النسبي) - Relative Ghaib is proportionate to an individual and their situation; hence it is apparent to some while hidden from others. An example to illustrate this notion is that of a class in which the students can see the lecturer, hear the content of the lecture, and the conversations that take place in the classroom, while those outside are unaware of the occurrences in the classroom. [12]

Examples in Islamic texts

In Islamic context, (al-)Ghaib (غيب) is (the) unseen and unknown, in reference to God ( Allah ) and the forces that shape the world. [14] The Quran states that man (mankind) is unable to see God and his attributes. Belief in al-Ghaib is considered an important Muslim characteristic, as it allows for prayer and faith.

…قَالَ أَلَمْ أَقُل لَّكُمْ إِنِّي أَعْلَمُ غَيْبَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَأَعْلَمُ مَا تُبْدُونَ وَمَا كُنتُمْ تَكْتُمُونَ


He said, "Did I not tell you that I know the unseen [aspects] of the heavens and the earth? And I know what you reveal and what you have concealed." (2:33)

قُل لَّا أَقُولُ لَكُمْ عِندِي خَزَائِنُ اللَّهِ وَلَا أَعْلَمُ الْغَيْبَ وَلَا أَقُولُ لَكُمْ إِنِّي مَلَكٌ ۖ إِنْ أَتَّبِعُ إِلَّا مَا يُوحَى إِلَيَّ


Say, [O Muhammad], "I do not tell you that I have the depositories [containing the provision] of God or that I know the unseen, nor do I tell you that I am an angel. I only follow what is revealed to me. (6:50)

وَعِندَهُ مَفَاتِحُ الْغَيْبِ لَا يَعْلَمُهَا إِلَّا هُوَ ۚ وَيَعْلَمُ مَا فِي الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ ۚ وَمَا تَسْقُطُ مِن وَرَقَةٍ إِلَّا يَعْلَمُهَا وَلَا حَبَّةٍ فِي ظُلُمَاتِ الْأَرْضِ وَلَا رَطْبٍ وَلَا يَابِسٍ إِلَّا فِي كِتَابٍ مُّبِينٍ


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 the clear book. (6:59)

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Names of God in Islam</span>

Names of God in Islam are names attributed to God in Islam by Muslims. Some names are known from either the Qur’an or the hadith, while others can be found in both sources, although most are found in the Qur’an.

Al-Falaq or The Daybreak is the 113th chapter (sūrah) of the Qur'an. It is a brief five ayat (verse) surah, asking God for protection from evil:

Ar-Ra'd,, or the Thunder, is the 13th chapter (sūrah) of the Qur'an, composed of 43 verses (āyāt). It has Muqattat المر.

ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿAbbās, also known as Ibn ʿAbbās, was one of the cousins of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. He is considered to be the greatest mufassir of the Qur'an.

The Throne Verse is the 255th verse of the 2nd chapter of the Quran, Al-Baqara (Q2:255). In this verse, God (Allah) introduces himself to mankind. God tells us how nothing and nobody is regarded to be comparable to God.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Angels in Islam</span> Angels in the Islamic tradition

In Islam, angels are believed to be heavenly beings, created from a luminous origin by God (Allah). The Quran is the principal source for the Islamic concept of angels, but more extensive features of angels appear in hadith literature, Mi'raj literature, Islamic exegesis, theology, philosophy, and mysticism.

The Saved Sect, formerly and more generally known as The Saviour Sect, is an Islamist organization that operated in the United Kingdom from its formation in November 2005 until the British government proscribed it on 17 July 2006. It is widely believed, along with Al Ghurabaa, to be the reformed Al-Muhajiroun which Omar Bakri Muhammad disbanded in 2004. It is believed that Omar Bakri today still heads this organisation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ahmad al-Tijani</span> Algerian Sufi leader (1735–1815)

Abū al-ʻAbbās Ahmad ibn Muhammad at-Tijāniyy or Ahmed Tijani, was an Algerian Sharif who founded the Tijaniyyah tariqa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Imamate in Twelver doctrine</span> Concept in the largest branch of Shia Islam

Imāmah means "leadership" and is a concept in Twelver theology. The Twelve Imams are the spiritual and political successors to Muhammad, the Prophet of Islam, in the Twelver branch of Shia Islam. According to Twelver theology, the successors to Muhammad are infallible human beings, who rule justly over the community and maintain and interpret sharia and undertake the esoteric interpretation of the Quran. The words and deeds of Muhammad and the Imams guide the community. For this, the Imams must be free from error and sin and chosen by divine decree—nass—through the Prophet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ramadan (calendar month)</span> Ninth month of the Islamic calendar

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, and the month in which the Quran is believed to be revealed to the Islamic prophet Muhammad.

Umayr ibn Sa'd al-Ansari was a companion of Muhammad. His father died when Umayr was young, leaving him and his mother poor and destitute. His mother eventually remarried to one of the richest men in Medina, Julas ibn Suwayd from the powerful tribe of al-Aws. When he was barely ten years old, Umayr became a Muslim and was known to frequent the mosque despite his young age. In 630 Muhammad announced his intention to lead an expedition to Tabuk against the Byzantine forces. He ordered the Muslims to make the necessary preparations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">God in Islam</span> Islamic conception of God

In Islam, God is seen as the creator and sustainer of the universe, who lives eternally and will eventually resurrect all humans. God is conceived as a perfect, singular, immortal, omnipotent, and omniscient god, completely infinite in all of his attributes. Islam further emphasizes that God is most-merciful. The Islamic concept of God is generally described as monotheistic, and also as panentheistic in Islamic mystical teachings.

Salat al-Istikhaara, which translates to Prayer of Seeking Counsel, is a prayer recited by Muslims who are in need of guidance from God Almighty (Allah) when facing a decision in their life. The prayer, known as salah in Arabic is performed in two units of prayer or raka'ah followed by the supplication of Salat al-Istikhaara.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Istighfar</span> Islamic act of worship

Istighfar, is the act of seeking forgiveness from God, usually by saying ʾastaġfiru -llāha. A longer variant is ʾastaġfiru -llāha rabbī wa-ʾatūbu ʾilayhi which means "Verily, I seek the forgiveness of God, who is my Lord and Sustainer, and I turn to Him in repentance". It is considered one of the essential parts of worship in Islam.

Abdullah ibn Umm-Maktum was, according to Ibn Kathir (d.1373), a companion of Islamic prophet Muhammad. In some traditions his name has also appeared as `Amr ibn Umm-Maktum. The first verses of He Frowned, the 80th chapter of Qur'an, are considered to be revealed in an incident connected to him.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Al-Kafirun</span> 109th chapter of the Quran

Al-Kāfirūn is the 109th chapter (sūrah) of the Quran. It has six ayat or verses as follows:

Certain verses (āyāt) from the Qur'an have been a subject of controversy among scholars. The 216th verse of the Surah, Al-Baqara is about Jihad in the way of God.

كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلْقِتَالُ وَهُوَ كُرْهٌ لَّكُمْ ۖ وَعَسَىٰٓ أَن تَكْرَهُوا۟ شَيْـًٔا وَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ ۖ وَعَسَىٰٓ أَن تُحِبُّوا۟ شَيْـًٔا وَهُوَ شَرٌّ لَّكُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ وَأَنتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ

Shafa'at in Islam is the act of pleading to God by an intimate friend of God for forgiveness of a believing sinner.

The Verse of Loan is verse 282 in chapter Al-Baqara (Q2:282). This verse is the longest verse in the longest chapter in the Quran. The concept of borrowing was explained in the verse.

Haya is an Arabic word that means "natural or inherent, shyness and a sense of modesty". In Islamic terminology, it is mainly used in the context of modesty. Haya encourages Muslims to avoid anything considered to be distasteful or abominable. Haya plays an important role in Islam, as it is one of the most important parts of Iman. The antonym of Haya in Arabic is badha'a or fahisha.

References

  1. ↑ Al-Baydawi, Abdullah bin Omar. "The lights of revelation and the secrets of interpretation." Dar Ihya al-turath al-arabi, Beirut (1997). p. 263
  2. ↑ Al-Baydawi, Abdullah bin Omar. "The lights of revelation and the secrets of interpretation." Dar Ihya al-turath al-arabi, Beirut (1997). p. 263
  3. ↑ Al-Baydawi, Abdullah bin Omar. "The lights of revelation and the secrets of interpretation." Dar Ihya al-turath al-arabi, Beirut (1997). p. 263
  4. ↑ Teuma, Edmund. "The Solomon legend in Muslim tradition." (1987).
  5. ↑ Brill Dictionary, p.680
  6. ↑ Hans Wehr Dictionary 4th ed., page 806
  7. 1 2 Brill Dictionary, p.680-681
  8. ↑ Qur’an 12:52
  9. ↑ Qur’an 13:9
  10. ↑ Qur’an 7:188
  11. ↑ Qur’an 6:59
  12. 1 2 VIDEO: الغيب المطلق والغيب النسبي.
  13. ↑ Tafseer ibn Katheer
  14. ↑ "Did the Prophet (a.s.) know Al-Ghaib?". quranicteachings.co.uk. Archived from the original on March 5, 2011.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.