ghayb

Ghayb, written in Arabic as غيب, literally means the unseen or hidden. In Islamic discourse, it denotes aspects of reality that lie beyond ordinary perception and human knowledge. Full knowledge of the ghayb is regarded as the prerogative of God, while human beings may know only what God chooses to reveal or allows them to perceive through signs.

Scriptural basis for the concept holds that with God rests the unseen of the heavens and the earth, and that no one can know the ghayb except Him. Prophets and other trusted figures may receive knowledge of certain aspects of the unseen through revelation, but most matters remain known only to God. The Day of Judgment, the precise time of the Hour, and the inner realities of hearts are commonly included in ghayb.

In theology, ghayb emphasizes the transcendence of God and the limits of human knowledge. Belief in the ghayb is part of the Islamic creed, shaping attitudes toward the future, fate, and the hidden dimensions of existence. The concept also functions as a constraint on epistemic claims about the unseen, reinforcing reliance on revelation and natural signs rather than speculative knowledge.

Variations exist across traditions. In Twelver Shia Islam, the idea of ghayb is linked to the occultation of the Mahdi, a form of hidden knowledge awaiting a future return. In mainstream Sunni thought, there is extensive emphasis on God’s exclusive knowledge, with prophets receiving only what is revealed to them.

Practically, Muslims are encouraged to seek knowledge through revealed sources and observation, while avoiding ungrounded attempts to penetrate the unseen; divination and similar practices are generally discouraged.