حَدَّثَنَا مَنْصُورُ بْنُ وَرْدَانَ الْأَسَدِيُّ حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْأَعْلَى عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ أَبِي الْبَخْتَرِيِّ عَنْ عَلِيٍّ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ لَمَّا نَزَلَتْ هَذِهِ الْآيَةُ وَلِلَّهِ عَلَى النَّاسِ حِجُّ الْبَيْتِ مَنْ اسْتَطَاعَ إِلَيْهِ سَبِيلًا قَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَفِي كُلِّ عَامٍ فَسَكَتَ فَقَالُوا أَفِي كُلِّ عَامٍ فَسَكَتَ قَالَ ثُمَّ قَالُوا أَفِي كُلِّ عَامٍ فَقَالَ لَا وَلَوْ قُلْتُ نَعَمْ لَوَجَبَتْ فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَسْأَلُوا عَنْ أَشْيَاءَ إِنْ تُبْدَ لَكُمْ تَسُؤْكُمْ إِلَى آخِرِ الْآيَةِ
مسند امام احمد بن حنبل · Hadith 905
It was narrated that 'Ali (RA) said: When this verse "And Hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah) to the House (Ka'bah) is a duty that mankind owes to Allah, those who can afford the expenses (for one's conveyance, provision and residence)" [Al-' Imran 3:97] was revealed, they said: O Messenger of Allah, is it every year? He remained silent. Then they said: Is it every year? He remained silent. Then they said: Is it every year? He said: "No. If I said yes, it would be obligatory." Then Allah revealed the words: "O you who believe! Ask not about things which, if made plain to you, may cause you trouble" [al-Ma'idah 5:101] up to the end of the Ayah.
Translated by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan · Reviewed by Islamic University of Madinah · Published March 2020