Prophet Muhammed ﷺ on Knowledge

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) demonstrated the importance of humility, sincerity, and avoiding speculation by openly saying “I do not know” when asked about matters beyond his revealed knowledge, particularly concerning the unseen or his own future. This approach is central to Islamic teaching about the limits of human knowledge and the necessity of leaving certain matters to Allah.

On Admitting Ignorance

• Humility and Sincerity: The Prophet Muhammad’s willingness to say “I do not know” (often followed by, “until I ask my Lord” or similar statements) is seen as a sign of his sincerity and humility. It teaches believers that it is better to admit ignorance than to speak about something without sure knowledge, especially in religious matters.
• Avoiding Speculation: The Quran explicitly forbids speaking about Allah without knowledge. By refraining from answering questions about the unseen (Al-Ghayb), such as when the Day of Judgment would occur or what his exact fate in the afterlife would be before revelation, the Prophet exemplified this command.
• “Saying ‘I don’t know’ is half of knowledge”: This is a well-known Arabic proverb endorsed by Islamic scholars, reflecting the value placed on acknowledging one’s limitations in knowledge. Imam Malik famously stated, “The shield of the scholar is, ‘I don’t know’, so if he leaves it down, his attacker will strike him”.

On Leaving Matters (to Allah) The Prophet’s teachings encourage believers to leave matters that are uncertain, doubtful, or beyond their control to Allah, fostering a sense of peace of mind and trust in divine will.

• Leaving Doubtful Matters: The Prophet said, “Leave what makes you in doubt for what does not make you in doubt. Verily, truth brings tranquility while falsehood sows doubt”. This hadith encourages clarity and piety by avoiding situations or questions that cause internal uncertainty.
• Leaving What Does Not Concern You: A core teaching for self-improvement and peace of mind is the hadith: “Among the perfection of one’s Islam is to leave what does not concern him”. This principle applies to avoiding useless arguments, excessive questioning about the future or others’ affairs, and focusing on one’s own faith and deeds.
• Trust in Divine Plan: For matters of personal destiny or the future, the Islamic perspective emphasizes that absolute knowledge belongs solely to Allah. The Prophet’s conduct reinforced the principle of tawakkul (trust in Allah), teaching that one should do their best in matters within their control and trust Allah with the outcomes and the unseen.