9/5. Chapter:
Jami at-Tirmidhi 814 — Is Hajj Every Year?
What Has Been Related About How Many Times Hajj Is Obligatory
Hadith About Whether Hajj Is Every Year
Jami at-Tirmidhi : 814
Jami at-TirmidhiHadith Number 814
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو سَعِيدٍ الأَشَجُّ، حَدَّثَنَا مَنْصُورُ بْنُ وَرْدَانَ، عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ عَبْدِ الأَعْلَى، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي الْبَخْتَرِيِّ، عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ، قَالَ لَمَّا نَزَلَتْ ( وَلِلَّهِ عَلَى النَّاسِ حِجُّ الْبَيْتِ مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ إِلَيْهِ سَبِيلاً ) قَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَفِي كُلِّ عَامٍ فَسَكَتَ . فَقَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَفِي كُلِّ عَامٍ قَالَ " لاَ وَلَوْ قُلْتُ نَعَمْ لَوَجَبَتْ " . فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ : (يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لاَ تَسْأَلُوا عَنْ أَشْيَاءَ إِنْ تُبْدَ لَكُمْ تَسُؤْكُمْ ) . قَالَ وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ وَأَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى حَدِيثُ عَلِيٍّ حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ غَرِيبٌ مِنْ هَذَا الْوَجْهِ . وَاسْمُ أَبِي الْبَخْتَرِيِّ سَعِيدُ بْنُ أَبِي عِمْرَانَ وَهُوَ سَعِيدُ بْنُ فَيْرُوزَ .
Ali bin Abi Talib narrated: "When Allah Revealed: And Hajj To The House Is A Duty That Mankind Owes To Allah, For Whomever Is Able To Bear The Journey. They Said: 'O Messenger Of Allah! Is That Every Year?' He Remained Silent. So They Said: 'O Messenger Of Allah! Is That Every Year?' He Said: 'No. If I Had Said Yes, Then It Would Have Been Made Obligatory.' So Allah Revealed: O You Who Believe! Do Not Ask About Things Which, If Made Plain To You, May Cause You Trouble.
[1] Āl ‘Imrān 3:97.[2] Al-Mā'idah 5:101.[3] That is, this version, with this chain, while the basis of it is recorded by Al-Bukhārī, Muslim , and others, from Abū Hurairah and others.Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 814In-book reference : Book 9, Hadith 6English translation : Vol. 2, Book 4, Hadith 814
Summary of Jami at-Tirmidhi Hadith 814
This Hadith about whether Hajj is every year records a question asked after the verse about Hajj being a duty was revealed. Ali bin Abi Talib narrated that people asked the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم if Hajj was required every year. He remained silent, and when they repeated the question, he said no. He added that if he had said yes, it would have been made obligatory. The narration then mentions the verse warning believers not to ask about things which, if made clear to them, may cause them trouble. The message is about careful questioning and mercy in not making worship harder than what Allah and His Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم stated.
What we learn from this hadith
- Hajj was not made obligatory every year in this narration.
- Repeated questions can lead to hardship if they bring extra obligations.
- The Prophet’s صلى الله عليه وسلم silence and answer both taught caution.
