. I '/ } (cont.)

But if you ask about them while the Quran is being revealed, they will be made plain to you. Allah has forgiven that, and Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Forbearing" (al-Maaidah 101). The prohibition or censure in these two texts concerns questions for which answers are not needed. They are in relation, for example, to hypothetical questions, questions just for fun and ridicule, and questions due to obstinacy. These kinds of questions are not allowed. They were put forth by the hypocrites, disbelievers and those whose hearts were diseased of the Prophet's time and are still prohibited today. 1 Al-Bugha and Mistu, p. 58-59. 2 Al-Baitaar, p. 73. l i Hadith #9: "What I have Forbidden You, Avoid ... " During the time of the Prophet (peace be upon him), in particular, it was not preferred to ask many questions about permissible and impermissible acts. This was because it may be due to somebody's excessive questioning that a particular act would become forbidden. The Prophet (peace be upon him) once stated, / . . 1· ' 11 I" · # / ' : I ,: /. ·. / jt ·. / t_:· '. / . . 1· ' 11 • / . . 1· ' 11 $ l:.:::.f 01 & i..> iेr '..f" d' if ? & ञ& r-- . . / .i.:JL 1:,_f •. : .'I& /'ii, : // c.r ऌ i.rJ "The Muslim with the greatest sin with respect to the other Muslims is the one who asked about something which was not forbidden but became forbidden due to his questioning." (Recorded by al-Bukhari and Muslim.) In fact, in general, those Muslims who made the hijrah to Madinah were not allowed to ask questions, as the Companion al-Nawaas ibn Samaan stated. (Recorded by Muslim.) If something was needed for them to know, Allah would reveal it in the Quran or the sunnah of the Prophet (peace be upon him). It was only the bedouins and outsiders who did not have daily access to the Prophet (peace be upon him) that were allowed to come and put forth questions to the Prophet (peace be upon him). Anas stated that they were not allowed to ask questions. Therefore, they would be very happy whenever an intelligent bedouin would come and ask questions and they would be able to listen in. (Recorded by Muslim.) Scholars point out that this fear of something becoming forbidden due to a person's questioning ended with the death of the Prophet (peace be upon him). It was only during his time, when the Quran was being revealed, that such a possibility existed. Hence, that possibility is no longer a reason for the disapproval for asking questions. However, there are still many valid reasons for which it is disapproved to ask too many questions. The Correct Approach Ibn Rajah points out that everything a Muslim needs is made clear in the Quran and sunnah. The clear exposition is there. Therefore, one does not have to worry about theoretical questions. Instead, what is of utmost importance, is to tum to the Quran and sunnah and to study them, to learn and understand what they say and then to apply them in one's life. This is the correct approach. The person should be most concerned about understanding and application. Different cases that one might be able to hypothesize in the future are of no concern because, in reality, they may never come up. The Muslim must tum to the Quran and sunnah. He must do his utmost to understand them properly. Then he should busy himself with believing in them, if the texts are a matter of faith, and applying them, if the texts are Commentary on the Forty Hadith of al-Nawawi related to action. If a text is an order, he should apply it to the best of his ability. If it is a prohibition, he must remain away from what is prohibited. This was the way of the Companions when it came to taking the knowledge from the Prophet (peace be upon him).1 In this hadith, the Prophet (peace be upon him) has shown that one · should be concerned with fulfilling the orders and staying away from the ; forbidden and not be concerned with asking questions. That is the relationship between the different parts of this hadith. Again, the Prophet (peace be upon · him) said, "What I have forbidden you, stay away from. What I have ordered ' you [to do], do as much of it as you can. Verily, the people before you were destroyed only because of their excessive questioning and their disagreeing with their Prophets." That is, do not worry about asking too many questions. One should just take what has been clearly given and act upon it. It is either an order to do something or a prohibition. In order to implement it, one need not ask too many questions about it. This was the way of the Companions. Umar would curse those who would ask about situations that had not occurred.