1 The Virtues of Surah Al-Ma'idah; When It was Revealed Surah to ...

Imam Ahmad recorded that Ali said,
"When this Ayah was revealed,
وَلل َّهِ‏ عَلَى الن َّاسِ‏ حِج ُّ الْبَيْتِ‏ مَنِ‏ اسْتَطَعَ‏ إِلَيْهِ‏ سَبِيلاً‏
And Hajj to the House is a duty that mankind
owes to Allah, those who can bear the journey.
(3:97)
they asked, `O Allah's Messenger! Is it required
every year'
He did not answer them, and they asked again,
`Is it every year'
He still did not answer them, so they asked, `Is it
every year'
He said,
لَا،‏ وَلَوْ‏ قُلْ‏ ‏ُت:‏ نَعَمْ‏ لَوَجَبَتْ‏ وَلَوْ‏ وَجَبَتْ‏ لَمَا اسْتَطَعْتُم
No, and had I said `yes', it would have become
obligated, and had it become obligated, you
would not be able to bear it.
يَا أَي ُّهَا ال َّذِينَ‏ آمَنُواْ‏ لاَ‏ تَسْأَلُواْ‏ عَ‏ نْ‏ أَشْيَاء إِن down, Allah sent
(O you who believe! Ask not about تُبْدَ‏ لَكُمْ‏ تَسُؤْآُمْ‏
things which, if made plain to you, may cause you
trouble).''
At-Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah also recorded this
Hadith.
The apparent wording of this Ayah indicates that we are
forbidden to ask about things that if one has knowledge
of, he would be sorry he had asked. Consequently, it is
better to avoid such questions.
Allah's statement,
... وَإِن تَسْأَلُواْ‏ عَنْهَا حِينَ‏ یُنَز َّلُ‏ الْقُرْآنُ‏ تُبْدَ‏ لَكُمْ‏ ...
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