Hadith Research Libraryمكتبة الحديث والرجال

Chapter 3.0

Asking too many questions and troubling with what does not concern one

باب مَا يُكْرَهُ مِنْ كَثْرَةِ السُّؤَالِ وَتَكَلُّفِ مَا لاَ يَعْنِيهِ

وَقَوْلُهُ تَعَالَى: {لاَ تَسْأَلُوا عَنْ أَشْيَاءَ إِنْ تُبْدَ لَكُمْ تَسُؤْكُمْ}.

9 hadiths

Sahih al-Bukhari, 7289sahih

Chain of narration · Isnād

Each narrator name opens their biography and classical source evidence.

6 transmitters

Narrated by 'Abdullah bin Muhammad al-MusandifromHisham bin Abi 'Abdullah al-Dastawa'ifromMa'mar bin Rashidfromal-ZuhrifromAbu Salama bin 'Abdur RahmanfromAbu Hurairah

Hadith text · Matn

‏ إِنَّ أَعْظَمَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ جُرْمًا مَنْ سَأَلَ عَنْ شَىْءٍ لَمْ يُحَرَّمْ، فَحُرِّمَ مِنْ أَجْلِ مَسْأَلَتِهِ ‏

‏‏.‏

English translation

Narrated Sa`d bin Abi Waqqas:

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "The most sinful person among the Muslims is the one who asked about something which had not been prohibited, but was prohibited because of his asking."

Original Arabic chain wording

حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ يَزِيدَ الْمُقْرِئُ، حَدَّثَنَا سَعِيدٌ، حَدَّثَنِي عُقَيْلٌ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ عَامِرِ بْنِ سَعْدِ بْنِ أَبِي وَقَّاصٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏

Sahih al-Bukhari, 7290sahih

Chain of narration · Isnād

Each narrator name opens their biography and classical source evidence.

5 transmitters

Narrated by 'Umar bin Hafs bin GhyathfromHafs bin GhyathfromSulaiman al-A'mashfromIbrahim bin Yazid - Taym al-RababfromYazid bin Sharayk bin Tariq

Hadith text · Matn

‏ مَا زَالَ بِكُمُ الَّذِي رَأَيْتُ مِنْ صَنِيعِكُمْ، حَتَّى خَشِيتُ أَنْ يُكْتَبَ عَلَيْكُمْ، وَلَوْ كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمْ مَا قُمْتُمْ بِهِ فَصَلُّوا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ فِي بُيُوتِكُمْ، فَإِنَّ أَفْضَلَ صَلاَةِ الْمَرْءِ فِي بَيْتِهِ، إِلاَّ الصَّلاَةَ الْمَكْتُوبَةَ ‏

‏‏.‏

English translation

Narrated Zaid bin Thabit:

The Prophet (ﷺ) took a room made of date palm leaves mats in the mosque. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) prayed in it for a few nights till the people gathered (to pray the night prayer (Tarawih) (behind him.) Then on the 4th night the people did not hear his voice and they thought he had slept, so some of them started humming in order that he might come out. The Prophet (ﷺ) then said, "You continued doing what I saw you doing till I was afraid that this (Tarawih prayer) might be enjoined on you, and if it were enjoined on you, you would not continue performing it. Therefore, O people! Perform your prayers at your homes, for the best prayer of a person is what is performed at his home except the compulsory congregational) prayer." (See Hadith No. 229,Vol. 3) (See Hadith No. 134, Vol. 8)

Original Arabic chain wording

حَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ، أَخْبَرَنَا عَفَّانُ، حَدَّثَنَا وُهَيْبٌ، حَدَّثَنَا مُوسَى بْنُ عُقْبَةَ، سَمِعْتُ أَبَا النَّضْرِ، يُحَدِّثُ عَنْ بُسْرِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ ثَابِتٍ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم اتَّخَذَ حُجْرَةً فِي الْمَسْجِدِ مِنْ حَصِيرٍ، فَصَلَّى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِيهَا لَيَالِيَ، حَتَّى اجْتَمَعَ إِلَيْهِ نَاسٌ، ثُمَّ فَقَدُوا صَوْتَهُ لَيْلَةً فَظَنُّوا أَنَّهُ قَدْ نَامَ، فَجَعَلَ بَعْضُهُمْ يَتَنَحْنَحُ لِيَخْرُجَ إِلَيْهِمْ فَقَالَ ‏

Sahih al-Bukhari, 7291sahih

Hadith text · Matn

حَدَّثَنَا يُوسُفُ بْنُ مُوسَى، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو أُسَامَةَ، عَنْ بُرَيْدِ بْنِ أَبِي بُرْدَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي بُرْدَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى الأَشْعَرِيِّ، قَالَ سُئِلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَنْ أَشْيَاءَ كَرِهَهَا، فَلَمَّا أَكْثَرُوا عَلَيْهِ الْمَسْأَلَةَ غَضِبَ وَقَالَ ‏"‏ سَلُونِي ‏"‏‏.‏ فَقَامَ رَجُلٌ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَنْ أَبِي قَالَ ‏"‏ أَبُوكَ حُذَافَةُ ‏"‏‏.‏ ثُمَّ قَامَ آخَرُ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَنْ أَبِي فَقَالَ ‏"‏ أَبُوكَ سَالِمٌ مَوْلَى شَيْبَةَ ‏"‏‏.‏ فَلَمَّا رَأَى عُمَرُ مَا بِوَجْهِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مِنَ الْغَضَبِ قَالَ إِنَّا نَتُوبُ إِلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ‏.‏

English translation

Narrated Abu Musa Al-Ash`ari:

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) was asked about things which he disliked, and when the people asked too many questions, he became angry and said, "Ask me (any question)." A man got up and said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) ! Who is my father?" The Prophet (ﷺ) replied, "Your father is Hudhaifa." Then another man got up and said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) ! Who is my father?" The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Your father is Salim, Maula Shaiba." When `Umar saw the signs of anger on the face of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) , he said, "We repent to Allah."

Sahih al-Bukhari, 7292sahih

Chain of narration · Isnād

Each narrator name opens their biography and classical source evidence.

4 transmitters

Narrated by Muhammad bin Maqatil al-Kisa'ifromWaki' bin al-JarrahfromNafi' bin 'Umar al-Jumhifrom'Abdullah bin 'Ubaidullah b. Abi Mulayka

Hadith text · Matn

‏ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ، وَحْدَهُ لاَ شَرِيكَ لَهُ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ، وَهْوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ، اللَّهُمَّ لاَ مَانِعَ لِمَا أَعْطَيْتَ، وَلاَ مُعْطِيَ لِمَا مَنَعْتَ، وَلاَ يَنْفَعُ ذَا الْجَدِّ مِنْكَ الْجَدُّ ‏

‏‏.‏ وَكَتَبَ إِلَيْهِ إِنَّهُ كَانَ يَنْهَى عَنْ قِيلَ وَقَالَ، وَكَثْرَةِ السُّؤَالِ، وَإِضَاعَةِ الْمَالِ، وَكَانَ يَنْهَى عَنْ عُقُوقِ الأُمَّهَاتِ وَوَأْدِ الْبَنَاتِ وَمَنْعٍ وَهَاتِ‏.‏

English translation

Narrated Warrad:

(The clerk of Al-Mughira) Muawiya wrote to Al-Mughira 'Write to me what you have heard from Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) .' So he (Al-Mughira) wrote to him: Allah's Prophet (ﷺ) used to say at the end of each prayer: "La ilaha illalla-h wahdahu la sharika lahu, lahul Mulku, wa lahul Hamdu wa hula ala kulli shai'in qadir. 'Allahumma la mani' a lima a'taita, wala mu'tiya lima mana'ta, wala yanfa'u dhuljadd minkal-jadd." He also wrote to him that the Prophet (ﷺ) used to forbid (1) Qil and Qal (idle useless talk or that you talk too much about others), (2) Asking too many questions (in disputed Religious matters); (3) And wasting one's wealth by extravagance; (4) and to be undutiful to one's mother (5) and to bury the daughters alive (6) and to prevent your favors (benevolence to others (i.e. not to pay the rights of others (7) And asking others for something (except when it is unavoidable).

Original Arabic chain wording

حَدَّثَنَا مُوسَى، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَوَانَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْمَلِكِ، عَنْ وَرَّادٍ، كَاتِبِ الْمُغِيرَةِ قَالَ كَتَبَ مُعَاوِيَةُ إِلَى الْمُغِيرَةِ اكْتُبْ إِلَىَّ مَا سَمِعْتَ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم‏.‏ فَكَتَبَ إِلَيْهِ إِنَّ نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ يَقُولُ فِي دُبُرِ كُلِّ صَلاَةٍ ‏

Sahih al-Bukhari, 7293sahih

Chain of narration · Isnād

Each narrator name opens their biography and classical source evidence.

5 transmitters

Narrated by Isma'il bin 'Abdullah bin 'AbdullahfromImam MaalikfromHisham bin 'Urwafrom'Urwa ibn al-Zubayrfrom'Aisha bint Abi Bakr

Hadith text · Matn

حَدَّثَنَا سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ، عَنْ ثَابِتٍ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، قَالَ كُنَّا عِنْدَ عُمَرَ فَقَالَ نُهِينَا عَنِ التَّكَلُّفِ‏.‏

English translation

Narrated Anas:

We were with `Umar and he said, "We have been forbidden to undertake a difficult task beyond our capability (i.e. to exceed the religious limits e.g., to clean the inside of the eyes while doing ablution).

Sahih al-Bukhari, 7294sahih

Chain of narration · Isnād

Each narrator name opens their biography and classical source evidence.

4 transmitters

Narrated by Aadm bin Abi IyasfromMuhammad bin 'Abdur Rahman b. Abi Dh'abfromal-ZuhrifromSahl bin Sa'd bin Malik

Hadith text · Matn

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْيَمَانِ، أَخْبَرَنَا شُعَيْبٌ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ،‏.‏ وَحَدَّثَنِي مَحْمُودٌ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَعْمَرٌ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، أَخْبَرَنِي أَنَسُ بْنُ مَالِكٍ ـ رضى الله عنه‏.‏ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم خَرَجَ حِينَ زَاغَتِ الشَّمْسُ فَصَلَّى الظُّهْرَ فَلَمَّا سَلَّمَ قَامَ عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ فَذَكَرَ السَّاعَةَ، وَذَكَرَ أَنَّ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهَا أُمُورًا عِظَامًا ثُمَّ قَالَ ‏"‏ مَنْ أَحَبَّ أَنْ يَسْأَلَ عَنْ شَىْءٍ فَلْيَسْأَلْ عَنْهُ، فَوَاللَّهِ لاَ تَسْأَلُونِي عَنْ شَىْءٍ إِلاَّ أَخْبَرْتُكُمْ بِهِ، مَا دُمْتُ فِي مَقَامِي هَذَا ‏"‏‏.‏ قَالَ أَنَسٌ فَأَكْثَرَ النَّاسُ الْبُكَاءَ، وَأَكْثَرَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنْ يَقُولَ ‏"‏ سَلُونِي ‏"‏‏.‏ فَقَالَ أَنَسٌ فَقَامَ إِلَيْهِ رَجُلٌ فَقَالَ أَيْنَ مَدْخَلِي يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ ‏"‏ النَّارُ ‏"‏‏.‏ فَقَامَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ حُذَافَةَ فَقَالَ مَنْ أَبِي يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ ‏"‏ أَبُوكَ حُذَافَةُ ‏"‏‏.‏ قَالَ ثُمَّ أَكْثَرَ أَنْ يَقُولَ ‏"‏ سَلُونِي سَلُونِي ‏"‏‏.‏ فَبَرَكَ عُمَرُ عَلَى رُكْبَتَيْهِ فَقَالَ رَضِينَا بِاللَّهِ رَبًّا، وَبِالإِسْلاَمِ دِينًا، وَبِمُحَمَّدٍ صلى الله عليه وسلم رَسُولاً‏.‏ قَالَ فَسَكَتَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم حِينَ قَالَ عُمَرُ ذَلِكَ، ثُمَّ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ لَقَدْ عُرِضَتْ عَلَىَّ الْجَنَّةُ وَالنَّارُ آنِفًا فِي عُرْضِ هَذَا الْحَائِطِ وَأَنَا أُصَلِّي، فَلَمْ أَرَ كَالْيَوْمِ فِي الْخَيْرِ وَالشَّرِّ ‏"‏‏.‏

English translation

Narrated Anas bin Malik:

The Prophet (ﷺ) came out after the sun had declined and offered the Zuhr prayer (in congregation). After finishing it with Taslim, he stood on the pulpit and mentioned the Hour and mentioned there would happen great events before it. Then he said, "Whoever wants to ask me any question, may do so, for by Allah, you will not ask me about anything but I will inform you of its answer as long as I am at this place of mine." On this, the Ansar wept violently, and Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) kept on saying, "Ask Me! " Then a man got up and asked, ''Where will my entrance be, O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) ?" The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "(You will go to) the Fire." Then `Abdullah bin Hudhaifa got up and asked, "Who is my father, O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) ?" The Prophet (ﷺ) replied, "Your father is Hudhaifa." The Prophet (ﷺ) then kept on saying (angrily), "Ask me! Ask me!" `Umar then knelt on his knees and said, "We have accepted Allah as our Lord and Islam as our religion and Muhammad as an Messenger." Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) became quiet when `Umar said that. Then Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "By Him in Whose Hand my life is, Paradise and Hell were displayed before me across this wall while I was praying, and I never saw such good and evil as I have seen today."

Sahih al-Bukhari, 7295sahih

Chain of narration · Isnād

Each narrator name opens their biography and classical source evidence.

6 transmitters

Narrated by 'Abdullah bin Yusuf al-Tunaysifromal-Laith bin Sa'dfrom'Aqil bin Khalid bin 'Aqilfromal-ZuhrifromMalik bin Aws bin al-HadathanfromMuhammad bin Jubayr bin Mut'im

Hadith text · Matn

‏ أَبُوكَ فُلاَنٌ ‏

‏‏.‏ وَنَزَلَتْ ‏{‏يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لاَ تَسْأَلُوا عَنْ أَشْيَاءَ‏}‏ الآيَةَ‏.‏

English translation

Narrated Anas bin Malik:

A man said, "O Allah's Prophet! Who is my father?" The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Your father is so-and-so." And then the Divine Verse:-- 'O you who believe! Ask not questions about things..(5:101)

Original Arabic chain wording

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحِيمِ، أَخْبَرَنَا رَوْحُ بْنُ عُبَادَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، أَخْبَرَنِي مُوسَى بْنُ أَنَسٍ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَنَسَ بْنَ مَالِكٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَجُلٌ يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ مَنْ أَبِي قَالَ ‏

Sahih al-Bukhari, 7296sahih

Chain of narration · Isnād

Each narrator name opens their biography and classical source evidence.

3 transmitters

Narrated by Musa bin Isma'il al-Munqari al-Tabudhakifrom'Abdul Wahid bin Ziyadfrom'Asim al-Ahwal

Hadith text · Matn

‏ لَنْ يَبْرَحَ النَّاسُ يَتَسَاءَلُونَ حَتَّى يَقُولُوا هَذَا اللَّهُ خَالِقُ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ فَمَنْ خَلَقَ اللَّهَ ‏

‏‏.‏

English translation

Narrated Anas bin Malik:

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "People will not stop asking questions till they say, 'This is Allah, the Creator of everything, then who created Allah?' "

Original Arabic chain wording

حَدَّثَنَا الْحَسَنُ بْنُ صَبَّاحٍ، حَدَّثَنَا شَبَابَةُ، حَدَّثَنَا وَرْقَاءُ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، سَمِعْتُ أَنَسَ بْنَ مَالِكٍ، يَقُولُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏

Sahih al-Bukhari, 7297sahih

Chain of narration · Isnād

Each narrator name opens their biography and classical source evidence.

5 transmitters

Narrated by S'aid bin Tlyd al-R'yny al-Msryfrom'Abdullah bin Wahbfrom'Abdur Rahman bin SharihfromMuhammad bin 'Abdur Rahmanfrom'Urwa ibn al-Zubayr

Hadith text · Matn

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عُبَيْدِ بْنِ مَيْمُونٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عِيسَى بْنُ يُونُسَ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنْ عَلْقَمَةَ، عَنِ ابْنِ مَسْعُودٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ كُنْتُ مَعَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي حَرْثٍ بِالْمَدِينَةِ، وَهْوَ يَتَوَكَّأُ عَلَى عَسِيبٍ، فَمَرَّ بِنَفَرٍ مِنَ الْيَهُودِ فَقَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ سَلُوهُ عَنِ الرُّوحِ‏.‏ وَقَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ لاَ تَسْأَلُوهُ لاَ يُسْمِعْكُمْ مَا تَكْرَهُونَ‏.‏ فَقَامُوا إِلَيْهِ فَقَالُوا يَا أَبَا الْقَاسِمِ حَدِّثْنَا عَنِ الرُّوحِ‏.‏ فَقَامَ سَاعَةً يَنْظُرُ فَعَرَفْتُ أَنَّهُ يُوحَى إِلَيْهِ، فَتَأَخَّرْتُ عَنْهُ حَتَّى صَعِدَ الْوَحْىُ، ثُمَّ قَالَ ‏{‏وَيَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الرُّوحِ قُلِ الرُّوحُ مِنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّي‏}‏‏.‏

English translation

Narrated Ibn Masud:

I was with the Prophet (ﷺ) at one of the farms of Medina while he was leaning on a date palm leaf-stalk. He passed by a group of Jews and some of them said to the other, Ask him (the Prophet) about the spirit. Some others said, "Do not ask him, lest he should tell you what you dislike" But they went up to him and said, "O Abal Qasim! Inform us bout the spirit." The Prophet (ﷺ) stood up for a while, waiting. I realized that he was being Divinely Inspired, so I kept away from him till the inspiration was over. Then the Prophet (ﷺ) said, "(O Muhammad) they ask you regarding the spirit, Say: The spirit its knowledge is with my Lord (i.e., nobody has its knowledge except Allah)" (17:85) (This is a miracle of the Qur'an that all the scientists up till now do not know about the spirit, i.e, how life comes to a body and how it goes away at its death) (See Hadith No. 245, Vol. 6)