Question:

What is the ruling on someone who claims knowledge of the unseen?

Answer:

The ruling regarding one who claims knowledge of the unseen is that he is a kafir (disbeliever), because he is denying Almighty Allah. Allah the Almighty said: “Say: ‘None in the heavens and the earth knows the Ghaib (unseen) except Allah, nor can they perceive when they shall be resurrected.’“ [An-Naml: 65].

Since Almighty Allah commanded His Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) to announce to the public that no one in the heavens and the earth knows the unseen except Allah, anyone who claims knowledge of the unseen has belied Almighty Allah in this statement. We say to such people: How can you claim to know the unseen when the Prophet (peace be upon him) did not know it? Are you more noble, or is the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) more noble? If they say, “We are more noble than the Messenger,” they commit disbelief by this statement. If they say, “He is more noble,” we say, “Then why was the unseen withheld from him while you supposedly know it?”

Furthermore, Almighty Allah says regarding Himself: “(He Alone) the All-Knower of the Gha’ib (unseen), and He reveals to none His Gha’ib (unseen). Except to a Messenger (from mankind) whom He has chosen (He informs him of unseen as much as He likes), and then He makes a band of watching guards (angels) to march before him and behind him.” [Al-Jinn: 26–27].

This is a second verse indicating the disbelief of one who claims knowledge of the unseen.

Moreover, Almighty Allah commanded His Prophet (peace be upon him) to announce to the public: “Say (O Muhammad ﷺ): ‘I don’t tell you that with me are the treasures of Allah, nor (that) I know the unseen; nor I tell you that I am an angel. I but follow what is revealed to me by inspiration.’“ [Al-An’am: 50].