al-Husayn, my father narrated to me, from his father, from ‘Abd Allah ibn ‘Abbas regarding His saying: "O you who have believed, do not ask about things which, if they are shown to you, will distress you. And if you ask about them while the Qur’an is being revealed, they will be shown to you." He prohibited them from asking about the likes of what the Christians asked regarding the table (al-Ma’idah), and thus they became disbelievers in it. So Allah prohibited them from that and said: "Do not ask about things which, if they are shown to you, will distress you." If the Qur’an was revealed concerning them with strictness, that would distress you. Rather, wait, for when the Qur’an is revealed, you will not ask about anything but that you will find its explanation.

His saying, the Exalted: "Allah has pardoned that; and Allah is Forgiving, Forbearing."

[6882] Ahmad ibn ‘Uthman ibn Hakim informed me in writing: Ahmad ibn Mufaddal narrated to us, Asbat narrated to us from al-Suddi regarding His saying: "Do not ask about things which, if they are shown to you, will distress you. And if you ask about them while the Qur’an is being revealed, they will be shown to you. Allah has pardoned that; and Allah is Forgiving, Forbearing." He said: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) became angry one day, so he stood up and delivered a sermon, saying: "Ask me, for you will not ask me about anything except that I will inform you of it." A man from the Quraysh, from the tribe of Banu Sahm, called ‘Abd Allah ibn Hudhafah—who used to have his lineage questioned—stood up to him and said: "O Messenger of Allah, who is my father?" He said: "Your father is so-and-so," and he attributed him to his father. ‘Umar stood up to him and kissed his feet and said: "O Messenger of Allah, we are satisfied with Allah as a Lord, with Islam as a religion, with you as a Prophet, and with the Qur’an as a guide. So pardon us, may Allah pardon you!" He did not cease until he was pleased. On that day, it was said: "The child belongs to the marriage bed, and for the fornicator is the stone." And it was revealed: "A people before you had asked such questions."

His saying, the Exalted: "A people before you had asked such questions."

[6883] And through the same chain from al-Suddi regarding His saying: "A people before you had asked such questions," he says: A people before you had asked for the signs; that was when it was said to him: Change al-Safa for us into gold.

His saying, the Exalted: "Then they became disbelievers in them."

[6884] Muhammad ibn Sa‘d al-‘Awfi informed me in writing, my father narrated to me, my uncle al-Husayn narrated to me, my father narrated to me from his father from Ibn ‘Abbas regarding: "A people before you had asked such questions, then they became disbelievers in them." He prohibited them from asking about the likes of what the Christians asked from the table (al-Ma’idah), and they became disbelievers in it. So Allah prohibited them from that.