Holy Quran: Sura: 72 (Al-Jinn) Verse:25-26

عَالِمُ الْغَيْبِ فَلَا يُظْهِرُ عَلَىٰ غَيْبِهِ أَحَدًا 

إِلَّا مَنِ ارْتَضَىٰ مِنْ رَسُولٍ فَإِنَّهُ يَسْلُكُ مِنْ بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِ رَصَدًا

"He knows the Unseen, nor does He make any one acquainted with His Mysteries. Except a messenger whom He has chosen: and then He makes a band of watchers march before him and behind him." (72:25-26)

Tafseer of the Above verse from the Holy Imam's (as):-

Imam Ali (as) says:

و عرف الخلق اقتدارهم على علم الغيب بقوله عالِمُ الْغَيْبِ فَلا يُظْهِرُ عَلى‏ غَيْبِهِ أَحَداً إِلَّا مَنِ ارْتَضى‏ مِنْ رَسُول

"And Allah (swt) has made known to his creations that his Wali's have authority over the knowledge of the unseen as per the saying of Allah "He knows the Unseen, nor does He make anyone acquainted with His Mysteries. Except a messenger whom He has chosen".

[Source: Al-Ehtejaaj Vol.1 Pg. 252 / Tafseer e Noor us Saqlain Vol.5 Pg.444]

حدثنا أحمد بن محمد عن الحسن بن محبوب عن علي بن رئاب عن سدير قال

سمعت حمران بن أعين يسأل أبا جعفر عليه السلام عن قول الله تبارك تعالى بديع السماوات والأرض فقال أبو جعفر ان الله ابتدع الأشياء كلها على غير مثال كان وابتدع السماوات والأرض ولم يكن قبلهن سماوات ولا أرضون اما تسمع قوله تعالى وكان عرشه على الماء فقال له حمران بن أعين أرأيت قوله عالم الغيب فلا يظهر على غيبه أحدا فقال له أبو جعفر عليه السلام الا من ارتضى من رسول وكان محمد والله ممن ارتضاه واما قوله تبارك وتعالى عالم الغيب فان الله عالم بما غاب عن خلقه بما يقدر من شيء ويقضيه في علمه فذلك يا حمران علم موقوف عنده إليه فيه المشية فيقضيه إذا أراد ويبدو له فيه فلا يمضيه فاما العلم الذي يقدره الله ويقضيه ويمضيه فهو العلم الذي انتهى إلى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله ثم إلينا

Narrated to us Ahmad Bin Muhammad, from Al-Hassan Bin Mahboub, from Ali Bin Ra'ab, from Sadeer who said:

"I heard Humran ibn Ayan ask Abu Jafar Imam Baqir (as) about the words of Allah (تبارك تعالى), "One Who is the Originator of the heavens and the earth" (6:101)

Abu Jafar (as) said, "Allah originated all things without any reference to an example. He created the heavens and earth and there were no heavens and earth before. Have you not considered the words of Allah, "His Throne existed on water." (11:7)

Humran then said, "Have you considered the words of Allah, "He knows the unseen and He does not allow anyone to know His secrets" (72:26)

Abu Ja‘far (as) then said, (completing the verse) "Except those of His Messengers whom He chooses." (72:26) Muhammad (saww), I swear by Allah, was one of those whom Allah had chosen. As for the saying of Allah, "He knows the hidden matters." So indeed Allah knows what is hidden from His creatures of the things that He measures and determines (Qadr) and decrees (Qadha) in His knowledge. So that O Humran is the knowledge withheld with Him in which He has a wish, so He then decrees it when He wills. And He may do Bada (change) in it and He then will not execute it. So for the knowledge that Allah measures and determines and executes is the knowledge that reaches the Messenger of Allah and then it reaches us."

[Source: Basaar Al-Darjaat, Vol.2, Chapter. 22, Hadees. 1 & Al-Kafi, Vol.1 Pg. 256]

Holy Quran: Sura: 27 (An-Naml) Verse:75

وَمَا مِنْ غَائِبَةٍ فِي السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ إِلَّا فِي كِتَابٍ مُبِينٍ

Nor is there aught of the unseen, in heaven or earth, but is (recorded) in a clear record. (27:75)

So its very clear from the above verse that even the knowledge of the Unseen is recorded in the Holy Quran. And there are many narrations which very clearly and explicitly say that the Imams (as) have the complete knowledge of the Holy Quran and hence they even have the knowledge of the unseen. Below is one such tradition.

مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ أَبِي زَاهِرٍ أَوْ غَيْرِهِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ حَمَّادٍ عَنْ أَخِيهِ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ حَمَّادٍ عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الْأَوَّلِ ع قَالَ قُلْتُ لَهُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ أَخْبِرْنِي عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ص وَرِثَ النَّبِيِّينَ كُلَّهُمْ قَالَ نَعَمْ قُلْتُ مِنْ لَدُنْ آدَمَ حَتَّى انْتَهَى إِلَى نَفْسِهِ قَالَ مَا بَعَثَ اللَّهُ نَبِيّاً إِلَّا وَ مُحَمَّدٌ ص أَعْلَمُ مِنْهُ قَالَ قُلْتُ إِنَّ عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ كَانَ يُحْيِي الْمَوْتَى بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ قَالَ صَدَقْتَ وَ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنَ دَاوُدَ كَانَ يَفْهَمُ مَنْطِقَ الطَّيْرِ وَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص يَقْدِرُ عَلَى هَذِهِ الْمَنَازِلِ قَالَ فَقَالَ إِنَّ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنَ دَاوُدَ قَالَ لِلْهُدْهُدِ حِينَ فَقَدَهُ وَ شَكَّ فِي أَمْرِهِ فَقالَ ما لِيَ لا أَرَى الْهُدْهُدَ أَمْ كانَ مِنَ الْغائِبِينَ حِينَ فَقَدَهُ فَغَضِبَ عَلَيْهِ فَقَالَ لَأُعَذِّبَنَّهُ عَذاباً شَدِيداً أَوْ لَأَذْبَحَنَّهُ أَوْ لَيَأْتِيَنِّي بِسُلْطانٍ مُبِينٍ وَ إِنَّمَا غَضِبَ لِأَنَّهُ كَانَ يَدُلُّهُ عَلَى الْمَاءِ فَهَذَا وَ هُوَ طَائِرٌ قَدْ أُعْطِيَ مَا لَمْ يُعْطَ سُلَيْمَانُ وَ قَدْ كَانَتِ الرِّيحُ وَ النَّمْلُ وَ الْإِنْسُ وَ الْجِنُّ وَ الشَّيَاطِينُ وَ الْمَرَدَةُ لَهُ طَائِعِينَ وَ لَمْ يَكُنْ يَعْرِفُ الْمَاءَ تَحْتَ الْهَوَاءِ وَ كَانَ الطَّيْرُ يَعْرِفُهُ وَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَقُولُ فِي كِتَابِهِ وَ لَوْ أَنَّ قُرْآناً سُيِّرَتْ بِهِ الْجِبالُ أَوْ قُطِّعَتْ بِهِ الْأَرْضُ أَوْ كُلِّمَ بِهِ الْمَوْتى‏ وَ قَدْ وَرِثْنَا نَحْنُ هَذَا الْقُرْآنَ الَّذِي فِيهِ مَا تُسَيَّرُ بِهِ الْجِبَالُ وَ تُقَطَّعُ بِهِ الْبُلْدَانُ وَ تُحْيَا بِهِ الْمَوْتَى وَ نَحْنُ نَعْرِفُ الْمَاءَ تَحْتَ الْهَوَاءِوَ إِنَّ فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ لآَيَاتٍ مَا يُرَادُ بِهَا أَمْرٌ إِلَّا أَنْ يَأْذَنَ اللَّهُ بِهِ مَعَ مَا قَدْ يَأْذَنُ اللَّهُ مِمَّا كَتَبَهُ الْمَاضُونَ جَعَلَهُ اللَّهُ لَنَا فِي أُمِّ الْكِتَابِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَقُولُ وَ ما مِنْ غائِبَةٍ فِي السَّماءِ وَ الْأَرْضِ إِلَّا فِي كِتابٍ مُبِينٍ ثُمَّ قَالَ ثُمَّ أَوْرَثْنَا الْكِتابَ الَّذِينَ اصْطَفَيْنا مِنْ عِبادِنا فَنَحْنُ الَّذِينَ اصْطَفَانَا اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ أَوْرَثَنَا هَذَا الَّذِي فِيهِ تِبْيَانُ كُلِّ شَي

The narrator says,

I said to Abu al-Hasan al-Awwal Imam Kazim (عليه السلام), "May I be sacrificed for you, inform me about the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله) - did he inherit [from] all the Prophets?"

The Imam said, "Yes."

I said, "From Adam upto himself?"

The Imam said, "Allah did not send any prophet except that Muhammad (صلى لله عليه وآله) was more knowledgeable than him."

I said, "Indeed, Isa ibn Maryam used to revive the dead by the permission of Allah."

The Imam said, "You have spoken the truth."

I said, "And Sulayman ibn Dawud used to understand the speech of birds. Was the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وآله) capable of doing such?"

The Imam said, "Indeed, Sulayman ibn Dawud, when he missed the bird Hud-Hud and doubted its situation, said - 'Why is it I do not see the Hud-Hud? Or is he among the absent?' (27:20). When he missed it, he became angry with it and said, 'I will surely punish him with a severe punishment, or I will surely slaughter him, unless he brings me a clear authority/reason.' (27:21).

And He (Sulayman) only became angry because it (the Hud-Hud) used to guide him to water. So this [bird], while being [just] a bird, had been given what Sulayman was not given. And indeed, the wind, the ants, mankind, the Jinn, the devils, and the rebellious ones were obedient to him (Sulayman), yet he did not know [the location of] the water beneath the air [i.e., underground], while the bird knew it.

And indeed, Allah says in His Book: 'And if there were a Quran with which the mountains were moved, or the earth were travelled over with it, or the dead were made to speak...' (13:31).

And indeed, We [i.e. the Imams] have inherited this Quran, which contains that by which mountains are moved, lands are traversed, and the dead are revived. And we know [the location of] the water beneath the air [i.e., underground].

And indeed, in the Book of Allah there are verses; no affair is intended [to be accomplished] by them except if Allah permits it, along with what Allah may permit from what those of the past have written. Allah has placed it for us in the Mother of the Book (Umm al-Kitab). 

Indeed, Allah says: 'And there is no hidden thing in the heaven and the earth but it is in a clear Book.'(27:75).

Then He said: 'Then We gave the Book for an inheritance to those whom We have chosen from among Our servants...' (35:32).

So we are the ones whom Allah (عز وجل) has chosen, and He has made us inherit this [Quran] in which is the explanation of all things."

[Source: Al-Kafi Vol. 1 Pg. 226 / (similar in) Basaair Al Darajat, Vol. 1, Chapter. 21, Hadees. 1]

رَوَى الْحَسَنُ بْنُ مُعَاذٍ الرَّضَوِيُّ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا لُوطُ بْنُ يَحْيَى الْأَزْدِيُّ، عَنْ عُمَارَةَ بْنِ زَيْدٍ الْوَاقِدِيِّ، قَالَ: حَجَّ هِشَامُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ بْنِ مَرْوَانَ سَنَةً مِنَ السِّنِينَ، وَ كَانَ حَجَّ فِي تِلْكَ السَّنَةِ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ الْبَاقِرُ وَ ابْنُهُ جَعْفَرٌ (عَلَيْهِمُ السَّلَامُ)، فَقَالَ جَعْفَرُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ (عَلَيْهِمَا السَّلَامُ) فِي بَعْضِ كَلَامِهِ: فَقَالَ لَهُ هِشَامٌ: إِنَّ عَلِيّاً كَانَ يَدَّعِي عِلْمَ الْغَيْبِ وَ اللَّهِ لَمْ يُطْلِعْ عَلَى غَيْبِهِ أَحَداً، فَكَيْفَ ادَّعَى ذَلِكَ، وَ مِنْ أَيْنَ؟

فَقَالَ أَبِي: إِنَّ اللَّهَ أَنْزَلَ عَلَى نَبِيِّهِ (صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ) كِتَاباً بَيَّنَ فِيهِ مَا كَانَ وَ مَا يَكُونُ إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ، فِي قَوْلِهِ تَعَالَى

وَ نَزَّلْنا عَلَيْكَ الْكِتابَ تِبْياناً لِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ ، وَ هُدىً وَ مَوْعِظَةً لِلْمُتَّقِينَ وَ فِي قَوْلِهِ تَعَالَى: وَ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ أَحْصَيْناهُ فِي إِمامٍ مُبِينٍ ، وَ فِي قَوْلِهِ: ما فَرَّطْنا فِي الْكِتابِ مِنْ شَيْءٍ  وَ فِي قَوْلِهِ: وَ ما مِنْ غائِبَةٍ فِي السَّماءِ وَ الْأَرْضِ إِلَّا فِي كِتابٍ مُبِينٍ وَ أَوْحَى إِلَى نَبِيِّهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ) أَنْ لَا يُبْقِي فِي غَيْبِهِ وَ سِرِّهِ وَ مَكْنُونِ عِلْمِهِ شَيْئاً إِلَّا يُنَاجِي بِهِ عَلِيّاً، وَ أَمَرَهُ أَنْ يُؤَلِّفَ الْقُرْآنَ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ، وَ يَتَوَلَّى غُسْلَهُ وَ تَحْنِيطَهُ وَ تَكْفِينَهُ مِنْ دُونِ قَوْمِهِ، وَ قَالَ لِأَهْلِهِ وَ أَصْحَابِهِ: حَرَامٌ أَنْ تَنْظُرُوا إِلَى عَوْرَتِي غَيْرَ أَخِي عَلِيٍّ، فَهُوَ مِنِّي وَ أَنَا مِنْهُ، لَهُ مَا لِي وَ عَلَيْهِ مَا عَلَيَّ، وَ هُوَ قَاضِي دَيْنِي وَ مُنْجِزُ وَعْدِي. وَ قَالَ لِأَصْحَابِهِ: عَلِيٌّ يُقَاتِلُ عَلَى تَأْوِيلِ الْقُرْآنِ كَمَا قَاتَلْتُ عَلَى تَنْزِيلِهِ. وَ لَمْ يَكُنْ عِنْدَ أَحَدٍ تَأْوِيلُ الْقُرْآنِ بِكَمَالِهِ وَ تَمَامِهِ إِلَّا عِنْدَ عَلِيٍّ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ)، وَ لِذَلِكَ قَالَ لِأَصْحَابِهِ: أَقْضَاكُمْ عَلِيٌّ. وَ قَالَ عُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ: لَوْ لَا عَلِيٌّ لَهَلَكَ عُمَرُ. أَ فَيَشْهَدُ لَهُ عُمَرُ وَ يَجْحَدُ غَيْرُهُ؟!

In a lengthy narration, Imam Jafar Sadiq (as) said,

Hisham bin Abdul Malik bin Marwan said, "Indeed Ali (as) used to claim to have knowledge of the unseen/hidden (Ilm al-Ghaib), while Allah (swt) has not informed any one of his hidden knowledge. So how come Ali (as) made that claim and from where?"

Then My Father Imam Baqir (as) said, "Indeed Allah has revealed upon His Prophet (saww) a book, explaining in it was has passed and what will happen till the Day of Judgement (Qayamah) which is in the saying of Allah تعالى, "And We have sent down to You the Book explaining all things, a Guide, a Mercy and Glad Tidings to Muslims (pious)." (16:89)

And in the saying of Allah تعالى, "And We have recorded everything in a clear Imam" (36:12)

And in the saying of Allah تعالى, "We have not neglected/omitted anything in the Book" (6:38)

And in the saying of Allah تعالى, "And there is nothing hidden/unseen (Ghaib) in the heaven or the earth but it is in a clear book. "(27:75)

And Allah revealed to the Prophet (saww), that the Prophet (saww) should not leave any of His hidden, secret knowledge but He should entrust/confide it to Ali (as). And the Prophet (saww) commanded Imam Ali (as) to compile the Quran after Him and gave Ali (as) the charge of giving the Prophet (saww) Gusl, Hunoot and shrouding Him, over the others.

And the Prophet (saww) said to His family and His companions, "It's forbidden upon you to look at my organs (while giving gusl) except for My Brother Ali (as), because He is from Me and I am from Him, To him belongs what is Mine and Upon Him is applicable what is applicable to Me. He will pay My debts and fulfill My promises."

And the Prophet (saww) said to His companions, "Ali (as) will fight over the interpretation of the Quran like how I fought over the revelation of the Quran. And none has the interpretation of the Quran in its entirety and completeness, except for Ali (as) and for this reason the Prophet (saww) said to His companions that the best Judge of you all is Ali (as)"

And Umar ibn Khattab said, "If Ali (as) was not there, Umar would have perished". So is it that Umar has witnessed it (i.e. knowledge of Ali) while others reject it?

[Source: Dalail al-Imamah, Pg. 236]

We also have the following in Ziyarat-e-Jamiya, which is an authentic Ziyarat trusted and relied upon by scholars from the past and present. This Ziyarah is also considered authentic by Sheikh Sadooq.

وَارْتَضَاكُمْ لِغَيْبِهِ  -  And Approved you for his unseen

[Source: Ziyarat-e-Jamiya, Uyoon Al-Akbar Al-Reza - Sheikh Sadooq]

A Part of Sermon of Friday from Imam Muhammad Baqir (as):

وأشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له وأشهد أن محمدا عبده ورسوله انتجبه لولايته واختصه برسالته وأكرمه بالنبوة، أمينا على غيبه ورحمة للعالمين وصلى الله على محمد وآله عليهم السلام

And I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, He is the One without a partner;

and I bear witness that Muhammad is his slave and messenger, He chose him for his guardianship, and distinguished him with His message, and blessed him with the prophet-hood; (he was) a trustee of His veiled (unseen matters), and a mercy unto the worlds – the blessings of Allah upon him - Muhammad and his family عليهم السلام

Note: As per the Sanad analysis, this Hadees is Saheeh/Authentic

[Source: Al Kaafi Vol.3 Pg.422]

صفوان بن يحيى عن بعض رجاله عن الصادق قال و الله لقد أعطينا علم الأولين و الآخرين فقال له رجل من أصحابه جعلت فداك أ عندكم علم الغيب فقال له ويحك إني لأعلم ما في أصلاب الرجال و أرحام النساء ويحكم وسعوا صدوركم و لتبصر أعينكم و لتع قلوبكم فنحن حجة الله تعالى في خلقه و لن يسع ذلك إلا صدر كل مؤمن قوي قوته كقوة جبال تهامة إلا بإذن الله و الله لو أردت أن أحصي لكم كل حصاة عليها لأخبرتكم و ما من يوم و لا ليلة إلا و الحصى يلد إيلادا كما يلد هذا الخلق و الله لتباغضون بعدي حتى يأكل بعضكم بعضا

Imam Jafar Sadiq (as) said, “By Allah (swt) we have the knowledge of the firsts (beginning) and the lasts (ending).”

A man from among his companions asked Imam (as), “My I be sacrificed over you. Do you have knowledge of the unseen?”

Imam (as) replied, “Woe upon you. Verily I know what is in the loins of men and wombs of women. Woe upon you. Widen your hearts and open your eyes and accept it in your hearts. We are Allah’s (swt) argument in his creations. And none has the heart to accept that, except all those believers whose hearts are as strong as the mountain of ‘Tihama’ but by the will of Allah (swt).

By Allah (swt)! Verily I can count the total grains pebbles and can inform you of that. And there is no day and night but that the grains (of sand) give birth and are born like are born these creations (humans).

By Allah (swt)! You will have hatred towards each other after me such that some of you will kill other.

[Source: Al Manaqib – Ibn Sharashoub Vol. 4 Pg. 250]

Imam Jafar Sadiq (as) narrates:

عن الصادق قال و الله لقد أعطينا علم الأولين و الآخرين فقال له رجل من أصحابه جعلت فداك أ عندكم علم الغيب فقال له ويحك إني لأعلم ما في أصلاب الرجال و أرحام النساء ويحكم وسعوا صدوركم و لتبصر أعينكم و لتع قلوبكم فنحن حجة الله تعالى في خلقه و لن يسع ذلك إلا صدر كل مؤمن قوي قوته كقوة جبال تهامة إلا بإذن الله و الله لو أردت أن أحصي لكم كل حصاة عليها لأخبرتكم و ما من يوم و لا ليلة إلا و الحصى يلد إيلادا كما يلد هذا الخلق و الله لتباغضون بعدي حتى يأكل بعضكم بعضا

"We have been given the knowledge of begining and the end."

A person from the Imams (as) companions said: "May I be your ransom. Do you have Knowledge of the unseen (Ilm e Ghaib)?"

Imam(as) replied:"Woe unto you. I know what is in the lions of men and womb of women. Woe unto you all. Open us your heart and see with your eyes and accept with your hearts. We are the proof of Allah in his creations. And none can accept this except all those believers whos hearts are as strong as the mount of Tahama and by the will of Allah."

[Source: Al Manaqib - Ibn Sharashoub Vol. 4 Pg. 250 / Bihar Al Anwar Vol. 26 Pg. 28]

عن يعقوب السراج قال: دخلت على أبي عبدالله وهو واقف على رأس أبي الحسن موسى وهو في المهد، فجعل يساره طويلا، فجلست حتى فرغ، فقمت إليه فقال لي

  ادن من مولاك فسلم، فدنوت فسلمت عليه فرد علي السلام بلسان فصيح، ثم قال لي

اذهب فغير أسم ابنتك التي سميتها امس، فإنه اسم يبغضه الله، وكان ولدت لي ابنة سميتها بالحميراء، فقال أبوعبدالله (عليه السلام): انته إلى أمره ترشد، فغيرت اسمها

From Ya‘qub al-Sarraj who has said the following.

"Once I went to see Abu Abd Allah Imam Sadiq (as) who was standing by the cradle of Abu al-Hasan Imam Kazim (as). He began to speak secretly to him for a long time. I sat there until he was free. I then stood for him and he said to me, "Come close to your Mawla (Master)." I went close and said the greetings of peace. He answered my greetings very clearly and then he said to me, "Go and change the name of your daughter that you named just yesterday. It is a name that makes Allah angry." A girl was born to us and I had named her al-Humayra.’" Abu Abd Allah (as) said to me, "Follow his command you will have the right guidance." I then changed her name."

[Source: Al-Kaafi Vol.1 Pg.310 Hadees.11]

قال أبوعبدالله عليه السلام: إن فاطمة بنت أسد جاءت إلى أبي طالب لتبشره بمولد النبي صلى الله عليه وآله فقال أبوطالب: اصبري سبتا ابشرك بمثله إلا النبوة، وقال: السبت ثلاثون سنة وكان بين رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله

"Abu ‘Abd Allah (as) has said, ‘Once Fatima, daughter of Asad came to abu Talib with the glad news of the birth of the Holy Prophet (saww). Abu Talib said, "Wait for a sabt then I will give a glad news of one similar to Him except prophet-hood."

The Imam (as) said, "A sabt is thirty years. Amir al-Mu’minin Ali (as) was born thirty years after the birth of the Holy Prophet (saww).

[Source: Al-Kaafi Vol. 1 Pg. 452 Hadees. 1]