[18].Surah Al-Kahf [The Cave]: Ayat 25-26

 

Ayat 25. Say: "Allah knows best how long they stayed. With Him is (the knowledge of) the unseen of the heavens and the earth. How clearly He sees, and hears (everything)! They have no Wali (Helper, Disposer of affairs, Protector, etc.) other than Him, and He makes none to share in His Decision and His Rule." 

Ayat 26. And recite what has been revealed to you (O Muhammad  [SAWW](PBUH) of the Book (the Qur'an) of your Lord (i.e. recite it, understand and follow its teachings and act on its orders and preach it to men). None can change His Words, and none will you find as a refuge other than Him.

[Tafseer] And they tarried in the Cave three hundred (read [with tanwīn] thalāthami’atin) years (sinīn is an explicative supplement to thalāthami’atin, ‘three hundred’): these three hundred years in the case of the People of the Cave were solar years; but for [the number of] lunar ones, the Arabs add nine years thereto 309 years, and this is mentioned in His saying: and add nine, that is, nine years; in other words three hundred solar years, while three hundred and nine lunar ones.

Say: ‘Allah is more knowledgeable of how long they tarried, [more knowledgeable] than those contending over this [issue] — and this [fact] has already been mentioned [earlier, in verse 19 of this Surah]. To Him belongs the Unseen of the heavens and the earth, that is, [to Him belongs] the knowledge thereof. How well He sees!, namely, Allah (SWT) — this form is for [expressing] amazement [at something]. How well He hears!, likewise [for expressing amazement]. These two [expressions] are being used metaphorically. What is meant is that nothing can escape Allah’s sight or hearing. They, the inhabitants of the heavens and the earth, have no guardian, someone to assist [them], besides Him, and He makes none to share in His rule’, for He is Independent, without need of a partner.  

Hazrat Masruq (May Allah be pleased with him) said: We visited `Abdullah bin Mas`ud (May Allah be pleased with him) and he said to us: O people! He who has the knowledge of any matter may convey it to the others. And he who has no knowledge, thereof, should say: "Allahu a`lam (Allah knows better).'' It is a part and parcel of knowledge that a man who has no knowledge of a matter should say: "Allah knows better.'' Allah said to His Prophet [SAWW](PBUH): "Say (O Muhammad [SAWW](PBUH)): `No wage do I ask of you for this (the Qur'an), nor am I one of the Mutakallifun (those who pretend and fabricate things which do not exist).''' (38:86)

[Al-Bukhari Book 06, Chapter 60, Hadith # 333]. 

Lesson : as mentioned above in Surah Al-Kahf Ayat 26. "Allah knows best how long they stayed. With Him is (the knowledge of) the unseen" If one does not know about something, he should not say anything about it by way of conjecture, speculation and guesswork because this is also pretension which is forbidden. When religious scholars are asked about anything which they do not know, they should confess their ignorance. Such a confession is also a mark of scholarship. In other words, they should abstain from giving verdict about any matter without making a thorough study and research on it.