ADNAN OKTAR: I can explain more, for example, the Prophet Abraham (pbuh)'s looking at the stars is the hidden knowledge (ilm al-ladun). He does not look because he believes in the stars or astrological knowledge, not because he has any belief in the tarot or fortune telling or anything like that. There is therefore a belief in astrology, that star signs have an influence on people. They believe that people of one star sign are like this or that. Or they look at the stars and form an opinion about someone, along the lines of "you will suffer these illnesses and these things will happen to you." The Prophet Abraham (pbuh) also looked and said, "I am ill." He was not ill, and neither did he believe in the stars. But this was a method. It is an application of the hidden knowledge (ilm al-ladun). He used such a method in order to drive the ignorant community away from himself. He looked and said, "I have received knowledge from the stars." "According to the stars, I am now ill. So my illness is a dangerous one, so take care," he said. And people fled from him.

Look, he employed particular knowledge to stop people congregating around him. This is the hidden knowledge (ilm al-ladun). In other words, he did something that superficially looked strange and wrong on the outward, but that was in fact righteous on the inward. Look, there are three separate actions. First, looking at the stars. One cannot normally learn anything from the stars, not about a person's character. Second, saying "I am ill" is another method. Third, he wanted the people around him to go away, and he brought that about. This is an example of the hidden knowledge (ilm al-ladun).

Hazrat Khidr (pbuh) also possesses the hidden knowledge (ilm al-ladun). It is described at length in the story of Hazrat Khidr (pbuh). Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) is also a master of this ilm al-ladun. In other words, he learned from Hazrat Khidr (pbuh) in the spiritual realm. For example, people receive revelation frequently but do not know it. For example, the human conscience constantly acts in the light of revelation. Making a right decision, setting one's conscience in operation, happens through revelation. Satan also reveals but deviant things. Some people abide by satan's revelations as these serve their interests, and they do not abide by Allah's revelation, in other words, they do not heed their consciences. They are known as people of ill conscience. They always stand out because of their words and language, they are hypocritical, false and sly, they use people for their own ends, out of self interest, and are perfidious. But an honest person abides by Allah's revelation, and even if it goes against his own interests he will still espouse the truth. He will not fear.

Your mother is sitting right across me now and listening so attentively, and approving my words by nodding her head. And lights is reflected from her face, masha'Allah. Your mother is a blessed person, you should enjoy this and give thanks to Allah every day for this. Masha'Allah.

The hidden knowledge (ilm al-ladun) from Allah appears in many places in the Qur'an. The ilm al-ladun that Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) will use is revealed in the hadiths. There is even a special aspect to it, and the hadiths describe how Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) will act on that hidden knowledge, the knowledge of the inward. It is because of that inward knowledge that the number of his followers will be 313. This is ilm al-ladun, the fact there will be very few people around him. There is also this hidden knowledge in his conduct and behavior. But people will be unaware of this. In other words, what he says is true, but it will seem strange and wrong to people on the outside. But when asked, or if he had in fact spoken the truth, as with Hazrat Khidr (pbuh), they will say "it really was right." We will ask Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh), insha'Allah. "You have done various things. Excuse us, but these surprised us. What is the wisdom here?" He will even answer before we have spoken, and will say, "I did these things for these reasons," like Hazrat Khidr (pbuh). He will say "I did this for that, and the other for that," and we will say, "Masha'Allah." We will express our love for Allah Who bestowed that knowledge to him, insha'Allah. That is the knowledge of the inward, ilm al-ladun. That hidden knowledge is Hazrat Mahdi's (pbuh) armor, insha'Allah.

There are many examples of this secret ilm al-ladun in the Qur'an. What I cited is just one such. There are actions based on the hidden knowledge in the story of the Prophet Joseph (pbuh). But ilm al-ladun is not much deliberated. That is why I do not explain much about it. Even Hazrat Khidr (pbuh) gave three examples to the Prophet Moses (pbuh), and no more. Because this hidden knowledge is for those who look with foresight, who possess deep thinking. Ilm al-ladun is not explained to ones who look with an unworked eye. That is why it is better that there be only a few examples. It is more acceptable that one finds it in these few examples. Giving many examples would exceed the limits of the hidden knowledge.

For example, after giving the Prophet Moses (pbuh) three examples, Hazrat Khidr (pbuh) said that was enough. He said he would give him no more knowledge. He said that their conversation was now over. As you know, the Prophet Moses (pbuh) regarded these as very odd and did not find any one of his applications acceptable. He considered all three of his acts peculiar, but in truth all three were right, as he eventually explains. Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) will also eventually explain why he did what he did one by one. That will cause a great love and an excitement stemming from seeing the knowledge of Allah, insha'Allah.

In order to learn of ilm al-ladun, one has to spend hours on the Qur'an, reflecting deeply. For example, all the rabbinic sages, in ancient times for instance, at the time of Prophet Abraham (pbuh), and the Muslims who studied the Torah in the time of the Prophet Moses (pbuh) were like that. They are even in standing position, and have prayer coverings, to cover themselves with as they pray. They read and studied the Torah at great length, working out the symbols therein and the explanations it gives. People who constantly study the Qur'an find their wisdom improves enormously, let me say that. One should not read the Qur'an so one's mind will develop, but the minds of those who read the Qur'an for worship and resolve the symbols and profundities in it do grow greatly as a blessing, I can state that. This is the healing aspect of the Qur'an. The Qur'an is the nutrition of the brain. The Qur'an provides a wonderful perspective, grand profundity and great development of wisdom. But, of course, if a non-believers says, "Let me read the Qur'an so I can become more intelligent," then he will lose whatever intelligence he does possess, as a punishment, let me say that.