Definition of Al-'Ilm Al-Ladunni
1-2-2016 | IslamWeb
Question:
What is Al-'Ilm Al-Ladunni ? Is it based upon the Quran and Sunnah ?
Answer:
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ʻalayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.
Al-ʻllm Al-Ladunni (the divinely-inspired knowledge) refers to the knowledge inspired and bestowed directly by Allaah, The Exalted, upon whomever He wills of His believing slaves, and it does not contradict the divine revelations (the Quran and Sunnah). Ibn Taymiyyah 
wrote:
“As for Al-ʻllm Al-Ladunni, it is true that Allaah reveals to His allies and pious servants whose hearts are pure from whatever He disapproves and pursue what He approves the like of which He bestows upon no one else. ʻAli (
) alluded to it when he was asked, 'Do you have anything from the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ʻalayhi wa sallam, apart from the Quran?' He replied, 'Nothing special is given to me except an insight into His Book that Allaah imparts to His servant.' Another tradition reads, 'One who acts upon what he knows is given the knowledge of what he does not know.' This may be supported by a number of Quranic verses, such as the following: Allaah, The Exalted, says (what means):- {...But if they had done what they were instructed, it would have been better for them and a firmer position (for them in faith).} [Quran 4:66]- {And then We would have given them from Us a great reward.} [Quran 4:67]- {And We would have guided them to a straight path.} [Quran 4:68] This means that whoever does what he is commanded is guided to the right path … Elsewhere He says (what means): {By which Allaah guides those who pursue His pleasure to the ways of peace...} [Quran 5:16] He also says (what means):- {And those who are guided - He increases them in guidance and gives them their righteousness.} [Quran 47:14]- {...Indeed, they were youths who believed in their Lord, and We increased them in guidance.} [Quran 18:13]” [Majmooʻ Al-Fataawa]
It should be noted that the Sufis have woven illusions about Al-ʻllm Al-Ladunni and claimed that through it the Muslim individual may totally dispense with the divine revelation (Quran and Sunnah). Ibn Al-Qayyim wrote:
“He (Shaykhul-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah ) said, 'Many who speak out of their ignorance and imagination (when asked for evidence or authority) rely on their inner thoughts and premonitions rather than the Quran and the Sunnah and say, 'My heart informed me on the authority of my Lord. We follow the guidance of Allaah, The Ever-Living, and you follow mere mediators; we follow truths and you follow (written) symbols...' and similar statements that constitute disbelief and blasphemy. The only excuse for such a person is ignorance. Some of such people would be told, 'Why do you not go and learn the Hadeeth at the hands of ʻAbd Ar-Razzaaq,' and they would say, 'Why would one need to learn at the hands of ʻAbd Ar-Razzaaq while he can learn at the hands of His Lord directly...!' Whoever thinks that he can dispose of the divine revelation imparted to the Prophet, sallallaahu ʻalayhi wa sallam, and rely only on the inner thoughts and conceptions within his heart, has committed the gravest act of disbelief. The same applies to the person who believes that he can rely only on his own inner thoughts and conceptions at times and at others rely on the divine revelation; verily, one's inner thoughts and conceptions have no weight or authority unless judged against the divine revelation communicated by the Prophet, sallallaahu ʻalayhi wa sallam, and proven to conform to it. In case of contradiction, such inner thoughts and conceptions are declared worthless and part of the work of the Devil and sinful urges of the evil-enjoining soul.'” [Ighaathat Al-Lahfaan min Masaa'id Ash-Shaytaan]
Allaah knows best.