بـسـم الله والحـمـد لله والـصلاة والـسـلام عــلى رسـول الله، وبـعـد
Kitaab al-`Ilm.
Chapter: The one who hears a thing and inquires until it is understood
Narrated Ibn Abu Mulaika: Whenever 'Aishah (the wife of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم) heard anything which she did not understand, she used to ask again till she understood it completely. `Aishah said: "Once the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said, "Whoever will be called to account (about his deeds on the Day of Resurrection) will surely be punished." I said, "Doesn't Allaah say: "He surely will receive an easy reckoning." [Surah al-Inshiqaaq (84):8] The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم replied, "This means only the presentation of the accounts but whoever will be argued about his account, will certainly be ruined."
[Sahih al-Bukhaaree Vol 1, Kitaab Al-Ilm, Hadeeth 103, and Kitaab al-Tafseer, Hadeeth 4939, and Kitaab al-Riqaaq, Hadeeth 6536. Sahih Muslim, Kitaab al-Jannah and its description, Hadeeth 2876]
And in another narration, it is:
Narrated `Aishah: Allaah's Apostle صلى الله عليه وسلم said, "(On the Day of Resurrection) anyone whose account will be taken will be ruined (i.e. go to Hell)." I said, "O Allaah's Apostle! Allaah make me be sacrificed for you. Doesn't Allaah say: "Then as for him who will be given his record in his right hand, he surely will receive an easy reckoning."? [Surah al-Inshiqaaq (84):8] He صلى الله عليه وسلم replied, "That is only the presentation of the accounts; but he whose record is questioned, will be ruined."
[Sahih al-Bukaaree, Kitaab Tafseer, Hadeeth 4939]
Points of benefit from this Hadeeth:
First: The importance of asking questions for seeking knowledge and for removing doubts.
Second: Patience on the part of the one being questioned for the questioner’s doubts and objections.
Third: To have discussions about the Day of Judgment as a reminder.
Fourth: Permissibility of having a debate with the sincere purpose of seeking knowledge.
Firstly: the importance of asking questions for seeking knowledge and for removing doubts.
In this Hadeeth, there is evidence to the importance of asking questions for the purpose of gaining knowledge and for the clarification of the doubts and for the proper understanding of the issue. We find that when the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Whoever will be called to account will surely be punished”, that we find `Aishah saying: - and it was from her habits that “whenever she heard anything which she did not understand, she used to ask again till she understood it completely” - “Doesn't Allaah say: "He surely will receive an easy reckoning."” The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم did not shun her for asking such a question. Rather, he replied saying: "This means only the presentation of the accounts but whoever will be argued about his account, will certainly be ruined." and all that which affirms it.
That’s why Imaam al-Bukhaaree رحمه الله named the chapter for this Hadeeth as “Chapter: “The One Who Hears Something And Doesn’t Understand, Should Ask Till He Understands””.
That’s why some of the scholars said: “In this Hadeeth there is evidence for the one who hears something but does not understand to seek further clarification until he understands it. And if it was not from Islaam (to ask questions) the Prophet would not have allowed it.”
Al-Haafidh Ibn Hajr said: “Asking such questions to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم do not fall under the category of prohibited questioning which was mentioned by Allaah تعالى: “O you who believe! Ask not about things which, if made plain to you, may cause you trouble.” [Surah al-Maaidah (5): 101]
Rather, the condemnation is upon the one who inquires obstinately as Allaah says: “So, as for those in whose hearts there is a deviation (from the truth) they follow that which is not entirely clear thereof, seeking Al-Fitnah (polytheism and trials), and seeking for its hidden meanings.” [Surah aal-`Imraan (3): 7] [Fath al-Baaree]
Therefore, it is good for the scholars to encourage the people to ask beneficial questions and to inquire about the things which they don’t comprehend so that the doubts are cleared. This in turn will have a positive effect in their Imaan, when their doubts and misunderstandings are removed.
Second: Patience on the part of the one being questioned for the questioner’s doubts and objections.
In this Hadeeth, there is a great lesson for the Du`aat (callers) to bear the questions and the objections of the people patiently in order to attain a greater cause; that which has been explained in the previous point.
The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم did not get tired or offended by the questioning of `Aishah. Rather, he was patient for the purpose of spreading the words of Allaah. The same patience was shown by the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم when Jibreel عليه السلام was asking him the questions so that they could teach the people.
Some of the scholars have said: “In this Hadeeth, there is evidence that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم was patient and did not get tired and offended by the questions.” [Kawaakib al-Daraaree of al-Karmaanee, Fath al-Baaree of Ibn Hajr]
Thirdly: the issue of having discussions about the Day of Judgment as a reminder.
From the topics with which the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم used to interact with his companions and which he wanted to inform the Ummah was about the Hereafter. In this Hadeeth, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Whoever will be called to account will surely be punished”.
Therefore, it is necessary that the caller should always rotate topics between the worldly issues (like fiqh, tafseer, etc.) and the reminders of the Hereafter which helps in increasing the Imaan, moving the souls, motivating towards righteousness and preparing for this day and of what is coming of the Judgment.
Fourth and finally: the permissibility of having a debate with the sincere purpose of seeking knowledge.
In the saying if the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم: “Whoever will be called to account will surely be punished”. And then the saying of `Aishah: "O Allaah's Apostle! Allaah make me be sacrificed for you. Doesn't Allaah say: "Then as for him who will be given his record in his right hand, he surely will receive an easy reckoning."?” and the reply of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم saying: "That is only the presentation of the accounts; but he whose record is questioned, will be ruined." It is evident that it is allowed to have a debate/discussion in which the knowledge is shared with proofs from the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of His messenger. This Hadeeth is also evidence that the Sunnah (the Ahaadeeth) are the explanation of the Book of Allaah.
[Fiqh al-Da`wah]
Dr. Khaled Abdul Rahmaan al-Quraishee
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