What is the meaning of the saying of Allah the Exalted: “O you who believe, do not ask about things; if they are made clear to you, they will harm you…”?
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The questioner : What is the meaning of the saying of Allah the Exalted: [Al-Ma'idah 5:101]?
The Shaykh : Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and his Companions, and upon those who follow them with excellence until the Day of Judgment:
I am pleased with a question like this, meaning a question about the meaning of the verses of Allah (Mighty and Majestic), because the Noble Qur'an was not revealed merely for the worship of reciting it, but rather for the worship of reciting it, for reflecting on its verses, for understanding its meanings, and for acting upon it. And listen to the saying of Allah (Mighty and Majestic):[Sad 38:29].
So I am pleased and delighted that Muslims take care of the Book of Allah (Mighty and Majestic) by memorizing it, understanding it, and acting upon it. We thank the brother questioner for this and similar questions. So we say in answer to him: Allah the Exalted said:[Al-Ma'idah 5:101]:
This verse was revealed addressing those who were in the era of Prophethood, which is the era of making things lawful and forbidden, obligatory and permissible. It is possible that a person in the era of Prophethood would ask about something that was not forbidden, and it would become forbidden because of his asking, or about something that was not obligatory, and it would become obligatory because of his asking. Therefore, Allah (Mighty and Majestic) said:[Al-Ma'idah 5:101-102].
Therefore, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sahih Muslim 1337b As for after the death of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), a person should ask about everything that is unclear to him, on the condition that this is not an excessive delving into the religion of Allah (Mighty and Majestic). If it is excessive delving and affectation, then it is prohibited, because excessive delving and affectation only increase a person's hardship.
So if a person wants to ask about the details of what has come regarding the Hereafter, such as the Reckoning and the punishment, and so on, and says: How is a person reckoned? Is he standing or sitting? And similar questions that are not praiseworthy?
Then here, he should not ask. But if it is a beneficial matter and he wants to benefit from it, then he should ask about it, and he is not prohibited from asking.
O you who have believed, do not ask about things which, if they are shown to you, will distress you
يا أيها الذين آمنوا لا تسألوا عن أشياء إن تبد لكم تسؤكمThe Shaykh : Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and his Companions, and upon those who follow them with excellence until the Day of Judgment:
I am pleased with a question like this, meaning a question about the meaning of the verses of Allah (Mighty and Majestic), because the Noble Qur'an was not revealed merely for the worship of reciting it, but rather for the worship of reciting it, for reflecting on its verses, for understanding its meanings, and for acting upon it. And listen to the saying of Allah (Mighty and Majestic):
[This is] a blessed Book which We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], that they might reflect upon its verses and that those of understanding would be reminded.
كتاب أنزلناه إليك مبارك ليدبوا آياته وليتذكر أولوا الألبابSo I am pleased and delighted that Muslims take care of the Book of Allah (Mighty and Majestic) by memorizing it, understanding it, and acting upon it. We thank the brother questioner for this and similar questions. So we say in answer to him: Allah the Exalted said:
O you who have believed, do not ask about things which, if they are shown to you, will distress you. But if you ask about them while the Qur'an is being revealed, they will be shown to you
يا أيها الذين آمنوا لا تسألوا عن أشياء إن تبدى لكم تسؤكم وإن تسألوا عنها حين ينزل القرآن تبدى لكمThis verse was revealed addressing those who were in the era of Prophethood, which is the era of making things lawful and forbidden, obligatory and permissible. It is possible that a person in the era of Prophethood would ask about something that was not forbidden, and it would become forbidden because of his asking, or about something that was not obligatory, and it would become obligatory because of his asking. Therefore, Allah (Mighty and Majestic) said:
(101) O you who have believed, do not ask about things which, if they are shown to you, will distress you. But if you ask about them while the Qur'an is being revealed, they will be shown to you. Allah has pardoned that which is past; and Allah is Forgiving and Forbearing. (102) A people asked such [questions] before you; then they became thereby disbelievers.
لا تسألوا عن أشياء إن تبدى لكم تسؤكم وإن تسألوا عنها حين ينزل القرآن تبدى لكم عفا الله عنها والله غفور حليم قد سألها قوم من قبلكم ثم أصبحوا بها كافرينTherefore, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Verily the people before you went to their doom because they had put too many questions to their Prophets and then disagreed with their teachings.
إنما أهلك الذين من قبلكم كثرة مسائلهم واختلافهم على أنبيائهمSo if a person wants to ask about the details of what has come regarding the Hereafter, such as the Reckoning and the punishment, and so on, and says: How is a person reckoned? Is he standing or sitting? And similar questions that are not praiseworthy?
Then here, he should not ask. But if it is a beneficial matter and he wants to benefit from it, then he should ask about it, and he is not prohibited from asking.