The Knowledge of the Hour
- philhoraia
- Oct 15, 2024
- 3 min read
S 31:34 Allah, with him is the knowledge of the Hour and he sends down the rain and knows what is in the wombs. And a soul does not know what it earns tomorrow nor does a soul know in what land it dies. Allah is learned, an expert.
Some unnamed author is saying that the knowledge of the Hour is 'with' Allah. Why 'with'? If he wants us to understand that Allah knows the Hour, why doesn't he say that? Does it's being with Allah necessarily mean that Allah knows the Hour? If Allah has knowledge of the Hour, does that indicate that Allah learned it from somewhere? It doesn't necessarily mean that Allah has determined a date and time for judgment day. And does anyone else know it or have knowledge of it? We're not told that the knowledge is exclusively with Allah.
A soul doesn't know where he'll die? Those in for example a hospice don't know where they'll die? What is Allah an expert in?
S 41:47 To him is returned the knowledge of the Hour. And no fruits come out of their spathes and no female bears or lays except with his knowledge. And on a day he calls them: Where are my partners? They said: We have announced to you; there is no witness among us.
The knowledge is returned to 'him', whoever he is? Why, is it sometimes out on loan? Fruits come out and females get pregnant and give birth only with 'his' knowledge? As this is supposedly Allah, and supposedly God, wouldn't God know?
We may consider S 43:61
And he is knowledge of the Hour. So do not doubt about it and follow me. This is a straight path.
Isa is 'knowledge' of the Hour. Personally, I suspect that the word علم was misread as 'ilm 'knowledge' where the author meant 'alam 'sign'. With this reading, which seems the natural one, Isa would be a sign of the Hour. Why? Probably on account of his resurrection. For more on this verse, the reader may take a look at Jesus Christ: Islam’s Greatest Prophet and Messenger
S 43:85 And blessed be the one whose is the dominion of the skies and the Earth and what is between them and has the knowledge of the Hour and to him are you returned.
Some unnamed person is invoking a blessing on some unnamed deity, supposedly Allah. This deity has the knowledge of the Hour. Now, if I were to make an appointment, wouldn't I of course know the date and time of that appointment? Would it be correct of me were I to say that I had knowledge of the appointment? If someone else made an appointment, I might gain knowledge of the appointment; I would then have knowledge of the appointment, in whole or in part. If Allah had knowledge of the Hour, it wouldn't follow that Allah arranged it.
In all three passages, it is not Allah making claims but someone speaking of someone or something else.
Biblical passages that Muslims love so much:
But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. --Matthew 24:36
But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.--Mark 13:32
In these passages, the correctness of God's 'knowing' the Hour may be seen.
Now, people understand 'knows' in these two passages differently. Let's treat of it here literally.
Human beings don't know the Hour. Angels don't know the Hour. The Son doesn't know the Hour. Who knows the Hour? The Father, who sets times and seasons. He would of course know when it would be.
And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.--Acts 1:7
And in the two verses it's the Son affirming that the Father knows the Hour. That's authoritative. What the unnamed author of the quran passages says is not authoritative.
Further reading:
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