"Do Not Ask About Things That If Disclosed Would Distress You" — Questions From Curiosity
asbab
Level: basic
madani-events
as-097
لَا تَسۡـَٔلُواْ عَنۡ أَشۡيَآءَ إِن تُبۡدَ لَكُمۡ تَسُؤۡكُمۡ
— المائدة 101
Verse: "O you who believe, do not ask about things which, if they were disclosed to you, would distress you." (5:101)
Occasion (Sahih — Agreed Upon): Al-Bukhari (7089) and Muslim (1337) narrated from Anas: The Prophet gave a sermon unlike any other, then said: "If you knew what I know, you would laugh little and weep much." A man stood and asked: "Who is my father, O Messenger of Allah?" He replied: "Your father is so-and-so." Another asked: "Where am I?" He said: "In the Fire." This verse was then revealed prohibiting such questions.
Reliability: Sahih (Agreed Upon)
Lesson: Not every question benefits its asker — a question that leads to distress or unbearable knowledge is unwise. The law permits questions that enable action, not those that merely satisfy curiosity.
Source: Sahih Al-Bukhari (7089); Sahih Muslim (1337) — Anas — Agreed Upon; Lubab Al-Nuqul
Question: What incident led to the revelation of the verse prohibiting harmful questions?
Answer: A man asked the Prophet about his true father and was answered; another asked about his fate and was told he was in the Fire. The verse was revealed prohibiting this kind of question.