'Ilm Ladunni
Definition
'Ilm ladunni — knowledge from Our presence — is the type of knowledge Allah granted to al-Khidr, described in the Quran as directly given rather than acquired through human means. It is the ability to perceive the divine wisdom and ultimate purpose behind events as they unfold, seeing not only what is but what it will produce and what hidden mercy it contains. Ibn Kathir uses this concept to address a common theological question: can there be a form of divinely granted knowledge that is not prophetic revelation in the ordinary sense? His answer, consistent with classical scholarship, is yes — and al-Khidr is its primary example. The concept has been central to discussions of Sufi spiritual knowledge for centuries.
As understood in the classical tradition of Ibn Kathir and the scholars of his school.
How the scholars use 'Ilm Ladunni.
-
"from my Lord, and He has provided me from Himself with a goodly provision?" And He said of al-Khidr: "And they found a servant from among Our servants, to whom We had given mercy from Us and taught knowledge from Our presence." And He said to His Messenger: "Truly We have granted you a manifest victory, that God may forgive you what has gone before of your sin and what came after, and complete His favour upon you, and guide you upon a straight path, and that He may grant you victory — Guidance and Mercy: All from the Attribute of Giving"
— Ibn al-Qayyim, al-Fawāʾid — Points of Benefit, Volume Two
-
"but rather through inspiration from اللّٰه and His teaching, as happened to الخَضِر, peace be upon him, without the intermediary of مُوسَى. اللّٰه, the Exalted, said: "We gave him mercy from Us and taught him knowledge from Our presence" from سُورَة الكَهْف. اللّٰه distinguished between mercy and knowledge, making them from Him and from His presence, as they were not obtained through any human means."
— Ibn al-Qayyim, Volume Two
Appears in
1 book in the library
Hear the term in context.
Every book above uses 'Ilm Ladunni the way the classical scholars meant it. Listen with the full Study Kit in the app.