In the sayings of the Imams of Ahlu'l‑bayt...

In the sayings of the Imams of Ahlu'l‑bayt, it has been explained that Allah had revealed only one of His Great Names to 'Asif bin Barkhiya (the vizier of Prophet Sulayman); and by that one part of the knowledge he was able to bring the throne of Bilqis, the Queen of Sheba, from her capital to Jerusalem within any eye‑wink.

[^1] But Allah had given our Holy Prophet (upon him and his progeny be peace) all the knowledge given to all the prophets from Adam onwards (upon them be peace), as well as the knowledge given to all the angels; and then his knowledge was being increased constantly. And he, by divine order, taught all that to 'Ali (upon him be peace); and that knowledge passing through the succeeding Imams has come to Imam al‑Mahdi (upon all of them be peace).

[^2] That is why they have been called 'the Treasurers of Allah's knowledge. [^3] "Lawh mah fuz" and "Lawh mahw wa ithbat" Lawh means "tablet of wood or stone used for writing". Metaphorically, it is used for "knowledge," because knowledge usually comes from written things. Mahfuz means secure; in safe keeping; something that cannot be apprehended by unauthorised persons; firmly protected.

Therefore, "lawh mahfuz" means the knowledge which cannot be apprehended by others; the knowledge which is firmly protected. Mahw means erasure; rubbing something out. Ithbat means affirmation; writing. Therefore, " lawh mahw wa ithbat" means the knowledge which is capable of erasure and substitution; the knowledge which is liable to change from time to time.

Now that you know the literal meanings of " lawh mahfuz " and "lahw mahw wa ithbat," let me explain what is meant by these two terms in Islam. We know that the knowledge of God can never be wrong. In other words, there can never be any change in the knowledge of God. It is for this reason that God has called His own knowledge as "lahw mahfuz". This phrase describes the knowledge of Allah because His knowledge can never change.

It is always correct and needs no erasure or substitu­tion or modification. "Ummu 'l‑kitab" is another name used for the knowledge of Allah. It means "the basic book," "the mother of the book." Allah's knowledge is called "the basic book;" that is, the basic knowledge; or "the mother of the book," that is, the source of knowledge because only His knowledge can be called "the true knowledge". "Lawh mahw wa ithbat" is the name given by God to the knowledge of the angels, prophets and Imams.