96/2. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 7288 — Avoid Excessive Questions
Following the Sunna of the Prophet (saws)
وَقَوْلِ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى: {وَاجْعَلْنَا لِلْمُتَّقِينَ إِمَامًا} قَالَ أَيِمَّةً نَقْتَدِي بِمَنْ قَبْلَنَا، وَيَقْتَدِي بِنَا مَنْ بَعْدَنَا. وَقَالَ ابْنُ عَوْنٍ ثَلاَثٌ أُحِبُّهُنَّ لِنَفْسِي وَلإِخْوَانِي هَذِهِ السُّنَّةُ أَنْ يَتَعَلَّمُوهَا وَيَسْأَلُوا عَنْهَا، وَالْقُرْآنُ أَنْ يَتَفَهَّمُوهُ وَيَسْأَلُوا عَنْهُ، وَيَدَعُوا النَّاسَ إِلاَّ مِنْ خَيْرٍ.
Hadith About Avoiding Excessive Questions and Acting Within Ability
Sahih Bukhari : 7288
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 7288
حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ، حَدَّثَنِي مَالِكٌ، عَنْ أَبِي الزِّنَادِ، عَنِ الأَعْرَجِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " دَعُونِي مَا تَرَكْتُكُمْ، إِنَّمَا هَلَكَ مَنْ كَانَ قَبْلَكُمْ بِسُؤَالِهِمْ وَاخْتِلاَفِهِمْ عَلَى أَنْبِيَائِهِمْ، فَإِذَا نَهَيْتُكُمْ عَنْ شَىْءٍ فَاجْتَنِبُوهُ، وَإِذَا أَمَرْتُكُمْ بِأَمْرٍ فَأْتُوا مِنْهُ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُمْ ".
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Leave me as I leave you, for the people who were before you were ruined because of their questions and their differences over their prophets. So, if I forbid you to do something, then keep away from it. And if I order you to do something, then do of it as much as you can."
[1] The Prophet ﷺ tells his Companions not to ask him about things which have not happened but are still hypothetical.Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 7288In-book reference : Book 96, Hadith 19USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 9, Book 92, Hadith 391
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 7288
This Hadith gives a clear rule for handling commands and prohibitions. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said, “Leave me as I leave you,” and explained that earlier people were ruined because of their questions and their differences over their prophets. He then said that when he forbids something, people should keep away from it, and when he orders something, they should do as much of it as they can. For people searching for a hadith about excessive questioning, this narration teaches balance. Avoid what is forbidden. Do what is commanded according to ability. The Hadith does not encourage ignoring knowledge. It warns against troubling questions and disputes that create harm, while keeping action simple and sincere.
What we learn from this hadith
- Forbidden matters should be avoided.
- Commanded acts should be done according to ability.
- Excessive questioning caused harm to earlier people.
- Disputing over prophets is mentioned as a cause of ruin.
