154 — Abū Muhammad al-Hasan ibn Allūyah al-Qattān narrated to us, saying: Āsim ibn Alī narrated to us, saying: al-Layth ibn Saʿd narrated to us, from Yazīd ibn Abī Habīb, from Bukayr ibn Abd Allah ibn al-Ashajj, who said: Umar ibn al-Khattāb—may Allah be pleased with him—said, “Some people will dispute with you by means of the ambiguous passages of the Quran. Counter them with the Sunnah, for those versed in the Sunnah know the Book of Allah Most High best.”

Muhammad ibn al-Husayn—may Allah have mercy on him—said: The same was true after Umar of Alī ibn Abī Tālib—may Allah be pleased with them both. Whenever someone asked him about something that did not concern him, he would reprimand him and direct him to what was more fitting for him. ⦗486⦘

It is reported that Alī ibn Abī Tālib—may Allah honor his countenance—once said, “Ask me.” Ibn al-Kawwā then stood and asked, “What is the dark mark on the moon?”

Alī replied, “May Allah fight you! Ask in order to gain understanding, not out of obstinacy. Why did you not ask about something that would benefit you in your worldly life or your Hereafter?” He then said, “That is the effacement of night.”

I say: Scholars past and present disliked intractable questions and rejected them. They instructed people to ask about matters that concerned them, fearing the contentious disputation and argument that had been forbidden. ⦗487⦘ The Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—forbade idle talk and excessive questioning, and he forbade trick questions. The Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—said, “The Muslim who bears the gravest sin against the Muslims is one who asks about something that was not forbidden, whereupon it is forbidden because of his questioning.”

All of this was out of fear of contentious disputation and argument. Therefore, fear Allah, O people of the Quran, O people of hadith, and O people of jurisprudence. Abandon contentious disputation, argument, and quarrelling over religion, and follow the path of those of your imams who preceded you. ⦗488⦘ Your course will then be set aright, and you will remain upon the clear path, if Allah Most High wills. Enough has already been set forth concerning the abandonment of contentious disputation and argument for anyone who understands. Allah grants success to whomever He loves.