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In the Islamic context, asking questions was one of the ways Allah (SWT) transmitted knowledge to the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and those asking these questions from him (SAW). And thus, we will find regularly in the Holy Quran the word “Qul” meaning respond or answer.
During the lifetime of the Prophet (SAW), on numerous occasions, the Sahaba asked him (SAW) about real and material matters while also asking him (SAW) about matters that are beyond the knowledge of what a human being can see, witness, and hear. Both types of questions are significant to the lifecycle of a believer.
There are three important points in the lifecycle of a believer and many scholars say that our lives continually revolve around these points. The first point is al-ilm or knowledge, as it is the knowledge that invigorates, prospers, increases, benefits, and assists us in life. For a Muslim, there are two levels of knowledge, one is the tangible and physical knowledge that we can see, witness, and hear while the other level of knowledge comprises the revelations received by our Nabi (SAW) from Allah (SWT).
The more we know, the more we can identify where we need to improve, and subsequently leads us to the next point in the lifecycle of Tauba. Tauba doesn’t just mean forgiveness or fixing something that we did wrong but it also means something that inspires us to become closer to Allah (SWT). The Prophet (SAW) didn’t make tauba a hundred times a day because he made a hundred mistakes rather tauba was a plea for help to Allah (SWT) for self-improvement. And therefore, ilm leads us back to Allah (SWT) asking for more knowledge.
We might know things about Allah (SWT) but at the same time, we don’t know Allah (SWT). It is tauba that helps us become more knowing of Allah (SWT) which leads us to the third point of the lifecycle which is al-mujahida or struggle. Now we know where we need to improve but improvement can only come through hard work and struggle, as Allah (SWT) only guides those who are willing to strive and endeavor.
There are many duas or supplications that we want Allah (SWT) to fulfill without us making any effort and so Allah might fulfill them in a different way and time that improves us as believers by becoming closer to Allah (SWT). However, Allah (SWT) answers one dua when we ask sincerely which is the first dua in the Quran, “Guide us along the Straight Path,” (Surah al-Fatiha Ayat 6). This is the dua we ultimately need to make, seeking Allah’s (SWT) guidance in all matters.
On the importance of asking questions, we are sometimes afraid to ask serious questions about faith but thankfully, the prophets have asked some of these questions as told to us by Allah (SWT) in the Quran. Asking questions is a blessing for us as Allah (SWT) doesn’t want even the slightest question that we might have inside us to fester and lead to increasing doubt about Allah (SWT) and faith.
Asking questions can be lifesaving as illustrated in the following hadith narrated in Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah, ad-Daraqutni, and Ibn as-Sakin. A group of the Sahaba was on a journey together and one of them fell from his horse resulting in a fractured skull and so the rest of the Sahaba medically treated him and closed his skull with a turban.
When the injured Sahabi woke up after a couple of days and when the time came for salah, he asked the other Sahaba if he could perform tayammum instead of ghusl as he was afraid to apply water to his head wound. However, the Sahaba replied, ‘No, not if you have water,’ and so he performed ghusl and died.
When these Sahaba reached home, they informed our Nabi (SAW) about this tragedy. The Prophet (SAW) replied, ‘They killed him, Allah will kill them. Do you not ask if you do not know? The rescue of the ignorant person is the question. He could have performed tayammum and dropped water on his wound or wrapped it with something and wipe over the wrapping, and wash the rest of his body.” Essentially, our Nabi (SAW) is teaching us that the cure for ignorance is to ask questions.
We must realize that questions drive knowledge that builds yaqeen or ‘certainty.’ In contrast, stifling questions can result in asking them to the wrong people resulting in the reply of the Prophet (SAW) as mentioned in the above hadith, “Do you not ask if you do not know? The rescue of the ignorant person is the question.” Therefore, if we are ignorant about a certain matter or subject then we should approach the appropriate people of knowledge/experts and ask questions.
However, unanswered questions about religion can lead to a decline in faith. There are three solutions to tackle this grave problem, one is to take seriously the learning of Islam and that learning Islam is our duty alone to be more familiar with the word of Allah (SWT) and the Sunnah of our Nabi (SAW). The second solution is to find those people who can mentor us in our faith and help grow our faith.
This doesn’t mean learning from only a shaikh or sheikha but anyone who has a good and correct understanding of even one verse of the Quran or one hadith. Thirdly, ask Allah (SWT) for guidance as mentioned in Surah al-Fatiha, “Guide us along the Straight Path.” We should ask Allah (SWT) not just to guide us along the straight path solely but everyone like our family, friends, neighbors, and society.
