All praise be to Allah for preserving the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ as He preserved the Qur'an. We don't have to travel to find these Hadiths, it's all compiled in one book for us.
When the disbelievers drew cartoons of the Prophet ﷺ, Muslims, in order to support him protested. They claimed to support the Prophet ﷺ but went against his teachings by protesting; and in these protests women weren't dressed properly, there was free mixing, etc. Following the Sunnah and loving the Prophet ﷺ has now become limited to a claim.
You find that people Islamasize everything (e.g. "Islamic Nasheeds"), and when you look into these matters you find that most of them contain things contrary to the teachings of Islam.
"اسلمت الأشياء" just to make it permissible. Check:- Did the Prophet ﷺ and his companions do it?
Follow the Sunnah as if the Prophet ﷺ is standing right in front of you and you're following him.
Muslim mentioned the story behind this Hadith in his book:
Abu Hurairah reported, The Messenger of Allah ﷺ delivered a Khutbah and said: "O people! Hajj (pilgrimage to the House of Allah) has been made incumbent upon you, so perform Hajj.'' A man inquired: "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ, is it prescribed every year?'' He ﷺ remained silent till the man repeated it thrice. Then he ﷺ said: "Had I replied in the affirmative, it would have surely become obligatory, and you would not have been able to fulfill it.''Afterwards he ﷺ said: "Do not ask me so long as I do not impose anything upon you, because those who were before you were destroyed on account of their frequent questioning and their disagreement with their Prophets. So when I order you to do something, do it as far as you can; and when I forbid you from doing anything, eschew it.'' [Muslim]
إنما - The only cause of destruction of the people before us were two things:
1) سؤالهم
2) اختلافهم على أنبيائهم
The Story of the Cow in سورة البقرة is a clear example of this:
سورة البقرة compromises of the entire religion; all the articles of Islam and Eeman are mentioned in it. And the name of the سورة is البقرة. What is the connection between the two?
Through the title, Allah draws our attention to the Story of the Cow in order for us to take Bani Israeel as an example. Slaughtering any cow would have been sufficient for them, but they made it difficult for themselves, so Allah made it difficult on them. Don't be like them, be a Muslim. The one who asks many unnecessary questions doesn't want to submit nor hold fast to the Qur'an and Sunnah.
There are questions which are completely forbidden to be asked, and there are questions we should not ask excessively (as discussed in the next chapter).
E.g. You tell your child to get you a glass of water. He asks you questions like How much water should I put? Which cup do you want? Do you want it hot or cold? Are you sure the hot water tap is working? I think the water is finished? Not because he actually wants to know the answer to these questions, but because he's too lazy to get up.
This is what you call أسئلة تعنّت, and it is these kind of questions which are forbidden in the religion.
The question and manners of the person seeking guidance differs from the one who doesn't seek guidance.
Notice that when the Prophet ﷺ said "فإذا نهيتكم عن شيئ" he said, "فاجتنبوه"
And when he said "وإذا أمرتكم بشيئ" he said, "فأتوا منه ما استطعتم"
This teaches us that we need to avoid the prohibitions completely, even if it's minor.
E.g. Drinking wine is forbidden. There are people nowadays who ask if we can drink it in small amounts, or drink it as long as we don't get intoxicated.
It also teaches us to carry out the commandments as much as we are able to.
الميسور لا يسقط بالمعسور
E.g. It is difficult for you to put your head on the ground, but you can still sit on the ground and put your hands, knees, and toes on it.
Prostration should be on the 7 limbs. If it's difficult to put your forehead on the ground, but you're able to put other limbs, then you should so as much as you can.
E.g. If a blind man committed Zina, he isn't exempted from repentance.
Allah has given us intellect, not for the purpose of judging the text, but understanding it.
Of the conditions of لا اله الا الله are acceptance + submission.
Asking unnecessary questions indicates that the person has a lack of يقين, submission, and acceptance.
In the past, when we had little knowledge, whenever someone came to us with a command or prohibition we would discuss it and argue and ask excessive questions. This indicates our lack of knowledge and certainty, which led to our lack of acceptance.
As our knowledge and faith increased, when they came to us with قال الله and قال الرسول we immediately accepted it without arguing.
Don't wonder at those who argue with you when you present religious rulings to them. You have to understand that lack of knowledge, faith, and certainty causes lack of acceptance; as in the case of the people of the بقرة.
Relation between this Hadith with the previous Hadith: In the Hadith of Asmaa, the موقن accepted the teachings, submitted and followed. In this Hadith, Bukhari wants to show us the opposite to the state of the موقن. The person who asks a lot of questions does not want to follow or accept.
In the Hadith of Asmaa:
1) Knowledge -> "Muhammed ﷺ came to us with clear evidences"
2) Certainty -> "We knew you believed with certainty"
3) Acceptance -> "And we responded "
Putting your mind ahead of the text indicates your reluctance to submit.
E.g. You tell her hijab is obligatory. She says: Where is the Hadith? What is the evidence? Are you sure that's what the verse means? Why is it Haraam? What is the wisdom? Why don't you tell men to cover themselves too?
Whenever any authentic and clear evidence comes -> Accept and prevent yourself from asking many unnecessary questions.
The youth dispute with the Qur'an and Sunnah, using their deficient minds to judge the Qur'an and Sunnah, because of the way we brought them up. We raised them teaching them to rely solely on their logic and minds, instead of telling them to refer to something higher - The Qur'an and Sunnah.
We have to bring up our children teaching them to refer to the evidence from the Qur'an and Sunnah if they are in doubt about a matter.
E.g Who is Allah? الصمد.
Who created Allah? Allah is الاول و ليس قبله شئ
Don't invent answers. Clear any doubts with the Qur'an and Sunnah.
And the statement of Allah in (5:101):
The مقتدي doesn't ask many questions, doesn't trouble himself with things that do not increase his faith or concern him, and doesn't ask unnecessary questions which will cause him trouble in his affairs.
In this chapter, Bukhari guides us and puts restrictions on our questions.
There are matters which oppose الاقتداء; one of which is questioning. Generally, the follower doesn't ask. This, however, doesn't mean that all questions are prohibited.
The Forbidden Types of Questions
Islam comprises of أخبار and أحكام:
أخبار (News, Information)
E.g. The ancient people with the Prophets.
Examples of Good Questions
-> If this news came to you in the Sunnah, and you ask about its authenticity.
-> Asking if your understanding confirms with the understanding of the companions. This is a good question.
-> Asking the meanings of words, the wisdom behind the verse ending with العزيز الحكيم, etc.
Examples of Prohibited Questions:
-> One should not ask the كيفيات about the unseen.
E.g. When Allah mentions His attributes, such as His rising over the throne, we believe and don't ask how.
E.g. In hell there is a tree called Zaqqum. You shouldn't ask how a tree can grow in hell.
E.g. Allah mentions He comes down to the nearest heaven at night. People say, "The third portion of the night differs according to time zone. Does this mean Allah is in the nearest heaven all the time?"
This thought might come to your mind, and it's from the Shaytan.
Firstly, know that your mind is deficient, and cannot encompass or comprehend the perfect attributes of Allah.
Secondly, our earthly laws aren't applicable when we go to space. Then how about the heavens? And how about Allah عز وجل?
Thirdly, Allah says in (42:11):
Fourthly, We don't need to know how. This knowledge doesn't benefit us.
E.g. This is something ingrained in our فطرة. Whenever we buy a gadget or an instrument our concern first and foremost is how we can utilize and benefit from it, not necessarily its make-up and how it works. This is how Allah created us.
When Allah says He comes down to the nearest heaven you should ask, "What should I do at this time? What is the benefit that comes to me?" Not how. When you ask how you end up contradicting your own فطرة.
Fifthly, Allah didn't mention the descriptions of His attributes because we cannot bear it. It's beyond our ability and scope to comprehend its detail.
Sixthly, Allah made this hidden as a test. Will we believe, accept, and submit? Or will we question, argue, show stubbornness, and doubt?
People who ask the how of these matters raise their voices over the voice of the Prophet. Allah commands us in (49:2):
Accept and submit; Allah created us not needing to know these things. And Allah will not overburden us with something that is beyond our capabilities.
-> Asking unnecessary questions about the غيبيات
Allah and the Prophet ﷺ mentioned about many unseen matters, like the Dajjal. Because people don't accept this they misinterpret the Hadiths of the Prophet and say he is not a creation who will come being one eyed, but what you see of technology and modernity is Dajjal (although there are authentic Hadiths which prove his existence). Holding fast to the Qur'an and Sunnah entails believing without doubt.
احكام (Rulings)
E.g. People question what Allah enjoined 3 Rak'ahs for Maghrib, 2 for Fajr, etc.
They question why women have to cover themselves and men don't, why we have to make Tawaf 7 times and not more or less, etc.
These are all questions of stubbornness. Don't forget the example in the Story of the Cow.
It is forbidden to ask these questions.
Whenever any ruling comes to us our attitude should be سمعنا و أطعنا. Arguing and doubting is a characteristic of the disbelievers. Allah said in (40:4):
Don't let their forces in the Dunya deceive you, their ultimate end is the Hellfire.
-> Don't ask questions where you doubt the credibility of the Qur'an and Sunnah.
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