Sabab al-wurud (reasons and background of a prophetic narration) is very important to enable us to properly comprehend its meaning. This prophetic narration can be understood by knowing its background. It was related during an incident where the Prophet, sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam, is reported to have said: “Allah has commanded you to perform Hajj. So perform Hajj, O servants of Allah.” Then a man stood up and said: “O Prophet of Allah, do we have to do it every year?” Then the Prophet, sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam, said: “That whatever I forbid you to do, avoid it and whatever I command you to do, do it as much as you can.”
Lessons
The incident above was during the time of revelation. Asking too many questions about an obligation may result to complications and confusions. The Prophet, sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam, was not happy with the question raised by the man for it could have resulted in making the Hajj to be performed every year by each Muslim if the answer was yes to that question. –
However, asking questions in the proper way is encouraged as understood from the first hadith in this Forty Hadith collection. In fact, the Prophet, sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam, used questions and answers in educating his Companions. Questions that result to knowledge and goodness are encouraged. What is proscribed and discouraged are questions that will lead to confusion, doubt and chaos in the community, like asking questions about unnecessary details.
One important characteristic of Shariah, i.e. Islamic Law, is its flexibility and dawn to earth nature. One’s capacity is regarded and taken into consideration in fulfilling obligations.
When you learn, you lead others aright and save them from captivity. But you don’t just learn anything, you seek beneficial knowledge and wisdom from the right sources with the proper ethics. Look for the write up on ethics of seeking knowledge. And as usual, when you sleep over the bed of heedlessness in your youth, then be sure to tread on the path of regret during old age. Let me hasten to reiterate that seeking knowledge frees you from the captivity and prison of ignorance and darkness. So my good friends, brothers and sisters in Islam, seek beneficial knowledge and wisdom with the correct ethics, aiming to benefit society with the knowledge and hoping for reward from the Almighty Allah. Laziness is very attractive to ignorance, so wherever there is laziness in the quest for knowledge, be certain to find ignorance married happily to Mr. laziness, making a perfect couple with darkness as their residence. Corrections, criticisms and the like are welcome as usual. They keep me on my toes and on the look out for much information. Since information is key in this day and age.
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