There is no secret knowledge in Islam that is only for the awliyaa’ (“saints”)
Question

                What is the ruling on one who claims that the rulings of the Qur’aan apply to the Prophets and the masses, and that esoteric, mystical knowledge (al-‘ilm al-laduni) which the awliyaa’ receive through mystic intuition is only for the awliyaa’?
Praise be to Allah. 
          Al-Shanqeeti said: 
 
          Al-Qurtubi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: 
 
          Our Shaykh, Abu’l-‘Abbaas, said: some heretics who followed 
          batiniyyah (esoteric teachings) wanted to follow a path that did not 
          enjoin these shar’i rulings. They said: these general shar’i rulings 
          are obligatory upon the Prophets and the masses only. As for the awliyaa’ 
          and the elite, they do not need those texts. Rather what is required 
          of them is what they receive in their hearts through intuition and the 
          thoughts that dominate their minds. They said: this is because their 
          hearts are free of anything that may cause distraction and of thoughts 
          of anything other than Allaah. In this manner divine knowledge becomes 
          manifest to them, and they discover the secrets of creation and learn 
          the rulings concerning minor issues, thus they are no longer subjected 
          to the holistic shar’i rulings. This is what happened in the case of 
          al-Khidr who, by means of the knowledge that was made manifest to him 
          was rendered independent of the knowledge that Moosa had. One of the 
          things that they narrated was the words: “Consult your heart, no matter 
          how many people give you fatwas and advice.” 
 
          Our shaykh (may Allaah 
          be pleased with him) said: These are the words of heresy and kufr; the 
          one who says them should be executed without being asked to repent, 
          because he has denied that which is known from the sharee’ah. For Allaah 
          has set up the system by His wisdom in such a way that His rulings can 
          only be known through His Messengers who are ambassadors between Him 
          and His creation. They are the only ones who convey His Message and 
          His words from Him, explaining His laws and rulings, and He has chosen 
          them for that purpose.
 
          Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 
 
          “Allaah chooses Messengers from angels and from men. 
          Verily, Allaah is All-Hearer, All-Seer”
 
          [al-Hajj 22:75]
 
          “Allaah knows best with whom to place His Message”[al-An’aam 
          6:124] 
 
          “Mankind were one community and Allaah sent Prophets 
          with glad tidings and warnings”[al-Baqarah 2:213]
 
          and there are other similar aayahs. 
 
          In conclusion, we know definitely and for certain, and 
          the consensus of the earlier and later generations states likewise, 
          that there is no way to learn the rulings of Allaah, which have to do 
          with His commands and prohibitions, except through His Messengers. Whoever 
          says that there is another way through which His commands and prohibitions 
          may be known, independently of the Messengers, is a kaafir who should 
          be executed without asking him to repent; there is no need to question 
          him. For this is stating belief in Prophets after our Prophet 
          
          (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), whom Allaah has made the 
          Seal of the Prophets and Messengers, after whom there is no Prophet 
          or Messenger.  
 
          What that means is that 
          whoever says that he has taken the ruling of Allaah from his heart or 
          from what he received in his heart through intuition, and that he acts 
          upon that and thus has no need of the Qur’aan or Sunnah, has claimed 
          for himself the unique qualities of Prophethood, because this is like 
          what the Prophet 
          
          (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The Holy Spirit [i.e., 
          Jibreel] told me in my heart…” 
 
          (From Tafseer al-Qurtubi). 
 
          What he quoted from his shaykh, that the heretic should 
          not be asked to repent, is the view of Maalik and those who agreed with 
          him. We have explained the views of the scholars and their evidence, 
          and what is most correct according to the evidence, in our book Daf’ 
          Ayhaam al-Idtiraab ‘an Ayaat al-Kitaab, in the chapter on 
          Soorat Aal ‘Imraan.