O Believers, Do Not Ask About Things — Questions That Bring Hardship
asbab
Level: intermediate
madani-rulings
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لَا تَسۡـَٔلُواْ عَنۡ أَشۡيَآءَ إِن تُبۡدَ لَكُمۡ تَسُؤۡكُمۡ
— المائدة 101
Verse: "O you who believe, do not ask about things which, if they are shown to you, will distress you." (5:101)
Occasion (Sahih — Bukhari): A man asked: "O Messenger, who is my father?" He replied: "Your father is Hudhafa." Another asked about his father and was told a different name than the one known — revealing his different lineage. The verse was revealed prohibiting questions that may cause embarrassment or harm.
Wisdom: The religion eased not burdened — asking about excess details may narrow the halal circle and increase obligation.
Source: Sahih Al-Bukhari (4621); Al-Wahidi; Al-Qurtubi (6/359)
Question: Why did the Quran prohibit certain questions even though knowledge is a virtue?
Answer: Because some answers cause greater pain or harm than ignorance of them — praiseworthy knowledge is that which benefits, not what harms its seeker or burdens his religion.