43/37. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 2359e — Asking Questions with Reverence
Respecting Him And Not Asking Him Unnecessary Questions
Hadith About Asking Questions with Respect
Sahih Muslim : 2359e
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 2359e
حَدَّثَنَا يُوسُفُ بْنُ حَمَّادٍ الْمَعْنِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الأَعْلَى، عَنْ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، أَنَّ النَّاسَ، سَأَلُوا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم حَتَّى أَحْفَوْهُ بِالْمَسْأَلَةِ فَخَرَجَ ذَاتَ يَوْمٍ فَصَعِدَ الْمِنْبَرَ فَقَالَ " سَلُونِي لاَ تَسْأَلُونِي عَنْ شَىْءٍ إِلاَّ بَيَّنْتُهُ لَكُمْ " . فَلَمَّا سَمِعَ ذَلِكَ الْقَوْمُ أَرَمُّوا وَرَهِبُوا أَنْ يَكُونَ بَيْنَ يَدَىْ أَمْرٍ قَدْ حَضَرَ . قَالَ أَنَسٌ فَجَعَلْتُ أَلْتَفِتُ يَمِينًا وَشِمَالاً فَإِذَا كُلُّ رَجُلٍ لاَفٌّ رَأْسَهُ فِي ثَوْبِهِ يَبْكِي فَأَنْشَأَ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْمَسْجِدِ كَانَ يُلاَحَى فَيُدْعَى لِغَيْرِ أَبِيهِ فَقَالَ يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ مَنْ أَبِي قَالَ " أَبُوكَ حُذَافَةُ " . ثُمَّ أَنْشَأَ عُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ رضى الله عنه فَقَالَ رَضِينَا بِاللَّهِ رَبًّا وَبِالإِسْلاَمِ دِينًا وَبِمُحَمَّدٍ رَسُولاً عَائِذًا بِاللَّهِ مِنْ سُوءِ الْفِتَنِ . فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " لَمْ أَرَ كَالْيَوْمِ قَطُّ فِي الْخَيْرِ وَالشَّرِّ إِنِّي صُوِّرَتْ لِيَ الْجَنَّةُ وَالنَّارُ فَرَأَيْتُهُمَا دُونَ هَذَا الْحَائِطِ " .
Anas bin Malik Narrated from:
The people asked Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) until he was hard pressed. He went out one day and he occupied the pulpit and said: Ask me and I shall leave no question of yours unanswered for you, and when the people heard about it they were overawed, as if (something tragic) was going to happen.Anas said: I began to look towards the right and the left and (found) that every person was weeping wrapping his head with the cloth. Then a person in the mosque broke the ice and they used to dispute with him by attributing his fatherhood to another man than his own father. He said: Allah's Apostle, who is my father? He said: Your father is Hudhafa.Then 'Umar b. Khattab (Allah be pleased with him) dared say something and said: We are well pleased with Allah as our Lord, with Islam as our code of life and with Muhammad as our Messenger, seeking refuge with Allah from the evil of Turmoil. Thereupon Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: Never did I see the good and evil as today. Paradise and Hell were given a visible shape before me (in this worldly life) and I saw both of them near this well.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2359eIn-book reference : Book 43, Hadith 181USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 30, Hadith 5827
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 2359e
This Hadith shows a serious moment when people kept asking the Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) until he was placed under pressure. He then stood on the pulpit and invited them to ask anything, promising to answer. The people became fearful and began to weep, showing that they understood the weight of the moment. One man asked about his father, and the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) answered him directly. Then Umar ibn al-Khattab expressed contentment with Allah as Lord, Islam as religion, and Muhammad as Messenger, while seeking refuge from bad trials. The main lesson of this hadith about asking questions is that questions should be asked with respect, care, and awareness. It also reminds believers that Paradise and Hell are real matters, not distant ideas.
What we learn from this hadith
- Questions about religion should be asked with respect and seriousness.
- Umar’s words show the value of being pleased with Allah, Islam, and the Messenger.
- Seeking refuge from turmoil is a wise response when people fear confusion.
- The Hadith reminds believers to keep Paradise and Hell in mind.
