How is Knowledge Obtained through Divine Bestowal Granted?

Knowledge Attained through Divine Bestowal (عِلْمِ لَدُنِّی)

Knowledge (عِلْم) is of two types: (1) Acquired Knowledge (ꜤIlm Kasbī) and (2) Knowledge attained through Divine bestowal (ꜤIlm Ladunnī). The knowledge that a person acquires through their own effort by utilising the strength bestowed by Allah Almighty is Acquired Knowledge. The knowledge that is attained directly from Allah Almighty without a teacher is Knowledge attained through Divine bestowal.[1] Through this, an understanding of matters within the noble Quran and blessed Hadith is achieved which is beyond the reach of common people.[2]

Imam al-Ghazālīرَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيه states: "Although every form of knowledge is received from the Lord, some sciences are attained through the instruction of creation; such knowledge is not called Knowledge attained through Divine bestowal. Rather, Knowledge attained through Divine bestowal is that which manifests upon the heart (قَلْب) without any known external cause."[3]

Types of Divinely-bestowed Knowledge

There are many types of Knowledge attained through Divine bestowal: Revelation (Waḥī), Inspiration (Ilhām), Intuition (Firāsah), etc. Revelation is specific to the noble Prophets (عَـلَـيْـهِمُ الـصَّلٰوةُ وَالـسَّـلَام). Inspiration is specific to the Saints of Allah (رَحِمَهُمُ الـلّٰـهُ), while intuition is granted to every believer according to the strength of their faith. Only that intuition and inspiration are valid which do not contradict the Shariah; if they oppose the Shariah, they are merely satanic whispers.[4]

The Knowledge of the Prophets (عَـلَـيْـهِمُ الـصَّلٰوةُ وَالـسَّـلَام)

The general or majority of the blessed knowledge of the Prophets (عَـلَـيْـهِمُ الـصَّلٰوةُ وَالـسَّـلَام) is "Knowledge attained through Divine bestowal". Regarding Sayyidunā Khiḍr عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم, it is stated:

وَ عَلَّمْنٰهُ مِنْ لَّدُنَّا عِلْمًا(۶۵)

and whom We had taught knowledge from Our Court.[5]

And regarding our Master, the holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, it is stated:

وَ عَلَّمَكَ مَا لَمْ تَكُنْ تَعْلَمُؕ-

and taught you all that you did not know;[6]

And it is stated:

اَلرَّحْمٰنُۙ(۱) عَلَّمَ الْقُرْاٰنَؕ(۲)

The Infinitely Gracious: He taught the Quran,[7]

Therefore, no person of knowledge in this world can equal a noble Prophet عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم because people are students of worldly teachers, whereas a noble Prophet عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم learns from the Lord of the worlds.[8]

How is Knowledge Attained through Divine Bestowal Granted?

The Merciful Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said to Sayyiduna Ubayy b. KaꜤb رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ: "O Abū al-Mundhir! Do you know which verse from the Book of Allah with you is the most magnificent?"

I submitted: "Allah and His Messenger know best."

He صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم asked again: "O Abū al-Mundhir! Do you know which verse from the Book of Allah with you is the most magnificent?"

I submitted: "اَللّٰهُ لَاۤ اِلٰهَ اِلَّا هُوَ ^ج اَلْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ".

Upon this, the Greatest Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم tapped my chest and said: "O Abū al-Mundhir! May this knowledge be blessed for you."[9]

Mufti Aḥmad Yār Khān رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيه states in its commentary:

This means, “O Ubayy! Congratulations to you on this Knowledge attained through Divine bestowal, that without reading books, you attained everything through the bounty of the Bestower and a single merciful glance of the Perfect Guide.”[10] Sayyiduna Ubayy b. KaꜤb رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ did not answer the first time but did so the second time. The reason for this is that during the interval between these two questions, the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم cast the answer into his heart as a spiritual blessing. When asked again, he submitted the very answer that had been inspired. The Sufi masters sometimes grant spiritual grace through their sight, sometimes by placing a hand on the chest, sometimes by seating the disciple in front of them, and sometimes by asking a question; the origin of these methods is this Hadith.[11]

As the leader of the Suhrawardiyyah order, Sayyiduna Shihāb al-Ḥaqq wa al-Dīn ꜤUmar al-Suharwardī رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيه states: "Sayyiduna Shaykh ꜤAbd al-Qādir al-Jīlānī رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيه stroked my chest with his blessed hand, and Allah Almighty immediately filled my chest with ꜤIlm Ladunnī. I then stood up from the presence of the Shaykh as one speaking with Divinely-bestowed knowledge."[12]

Knowledge attained through Divine bestowal is a special gift from Allah Almighty and is granted to those who engage in the worship of Allah Almighty and follow His beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم.[13] Therefore, common people should not wait to receive Knowledge attained through Divine bestowal; rather, while striving and making efforts to acquire knowledge, they should continue to spend the days of their lives worshipping and obeying Allah Almighty and practicing the beautiful sunan of His beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. Allah Almighty will grant this blessing to whomever He wills.