The Jinns and the Knowledge of the Unseen

Question 44: Do the jinns know the unseen?

Response: The jinns do not know the unseen; and none in the heavens and earth knows the unseen except Allaah. Read the saying of Allaah the most High:  “And when We decreed for Solomon death, nothing indicated to the jinn his death except a creature of the earth eating his staff. But when he fell, it became clear to the jinn that if they had known the unseen, they would not have remained in humiliating punishment.” [Soorah Sabaa’: 14]

Whoever claims knowledge of the unseen is a disbeliever and whoever believes in the individual who claims knowledge of the unseen is also a disbeliever due to Allaah’s saying: “Say, "None in the heavens and earth knows the unseen except Allaah…” [Soorah An-Naml: 65]. Therefore, none knows the unseen in the heavens and earth except Allaah alone. Those who claim to know the unseen in the future are all fortunetellers. 

It is established from the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) that he said, “Whoever goes to a fortuneteller and asks him about something, his prayers will not be accepted for forty days.” Muslim and others recorded it. However, he would be considered a disbeliever if he believes in the fortuneteller, because by believing that he knows the unseen, he has rejected the statement of Allaah: “Say, "None in the heavens and earth knows the unseen except Allaah…” [Soorah An-Naml: 65]

Source: Fataawaa Arkaan al-Islaam, p. 68 by Shaykh Muhammad Saalih al-‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah shower his mercy on him)