Asking useless questions
Fatwa No: 316018

Question

Is it true that Allaah gave Idrees, may Allaah exalt his mention, food from Paradise? And Why?

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

Dear brother, you have asked so many questions about strange matters that do not lead to any belief or action and whose purpose is just to know about something that is of no benefit. Such matters should not be given more consideration than what they deserve, and a person should not exaggerate in investigating and asking about them. What you are doing proves that you are going to extremes and exaggeration, and you may be included in those who ask too many questions, a matter that was forbidden in the hadeeth. Abu Hurayrah narrated that the Prophet said, “Allaah disliked for you idle talk and asking too many questions (about matters that yield no benefit).” [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]

Ibn Hajar said, “This hadeeth is provided as evidence about the prohibition of asking too many questions (without any benefit, while exaggerating in asking).

Besides, Al-Baghawi said in Sharh As-Sunnah:

Questions are of two kinds:

1- What is for learning (studying) the necessary matters of religion; this is permissible; rather, this is ordained, as Allaah says (what means): {So ask the people of the message if you do not know.} [Quran 16:43] The questions of the Companions came in this context, about the spoils of war and about the inheritance of a person who neither has ascendants nor descendants as heirs, and other questions.

2- Questions in the context of exaggeration and overburdening oneself without any benefit; this is what is meant in the hadeeth – and Allaah knows best – this is supported by the deterrence and rebuke that is mentioned in the hadeeth; in addition to the fact that the Salaf (righteous predecessors) dispraised it. For instance, Imaam Ahmad reported that Mu’aawiyah narrated that the Prophet forbade asking captious questions (intended to confuse or entangle in argument). Al-Awzaa'i said, 'If Allaah wishes to deprive someone from the blessing of knowledge, he makes him engage in unsound arguments; and indeed I have seen that such people are the least knowledgeable.'”

Therefore, we advise you to stop asking such questions and give the opportunity to other questioners who need to ask questions about their beliefs, acts of worship, and transactions.

Allaah knows best.

Related Fatwa