A friend says she is a gifted person which in Islam people call it Karamat al-Awliyah and it is part of Aqeedah to believe in such people. She claims she knows the Hidden others cannot and she can see just what Allah allows her to see. She says people like her exist. My question: What is Karamat al-Awliyah in Islam? Is there any gifted person in Islam? And if there is, who are they? Is there any evidence in the Qur'an or Hadith? Please enlighten me the answers with proofs from both Qur'an and authentic Hadith. May Allah bless our Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam). May Allah keep us all on the Haq. Ameen.

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

As to the Sharee’ah concept of the words “Wali-u-Allah”, we state that every righteous and believing person is considered a Wali of Allah. This concept is not limited to somebody or some people, and a Karama (a form of miracle) is not a condition for one to be a Wali.

Allah Says (what means): {Unquestionably, [for] the allies of Allah there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve. Those who believed and were fearing Allah. For them are good tidings in the worldly life and in the Hereafter. No change is there in the words of Allah. That is what is the great attainment.} [Quran 10: 62-63]

A Wali is the one who adheres to the teachings of the Quran and the Sunnah, fulfills obligations, and does more optional good deeds so that one can attain the rank of piety.

Al-Ghayb (the unseen) is not known except by Allah, The Exalted, alone. Al-Ghayb is of two kinds: absolute and restricted.

The absolute Ghayb includes everything that Allah Prevents others from knowing.

The restricted Ghayb: It is known to some people. This means it is also a form of absolute Ghayb to others.

This restricted Ghayb is gained through Ilham (inspiration of the heart) and may be related by reliable people or through scientific knowledge; e.g. a woman's pregnancy (if she is pregnant), the contents of the sea bottom. Some knowledge from soothsayers may be accurate but it is forbidden.

As for the absolute Ghayb, it is known only by Allah, The Exalted.

Allah Says (what means):

• {Say, "None in the heavens and earth knows the unseen except Allah, and they do not perceive when they will be resurrected."} [Quran 27: 65]

• {And with Him are the keys of the unseen; none knows them except Him.} [Quran 6: 59]

Scholars state that one who claims knowing the absolute Ghayb is a disbeliever, since it constitutes a contradiction with the Divine Revelation.

Maybe, this woman deals in soothsaying, so one has to avoid all who deal with fortune-telling, if that is known for certain.

Allah knows best.