Note
Before our master, Ameerul Momineen (a.s.), his brother, the Holy Prophet
(s.a.w.a.), time and again declared: “Ask me whatever you like.” And his
statement: “Ask me, ask me”; and his words: “Ask me; you will not ask me
anything, except that I would inform you of it.”1
In history, I have not seen anyone, who places himself before most intricate
problems and difficult issues and numerous queries, and on gatherings of
knowledge, announces aloud and with courage says: “Ask me, whatever you
like.”
And after His Eminence, no one uttered this statement, except that he was
humiliated and caught in quagmire of disgrace and with his own hands removed
the veil; persons like:
1. Moosa bin Harun Hammal says:
It was reported to me that Qatada entered Kufa and organized a gathering for himself, in which he said: “Ask me about Sunnah of Prophet so that I may reply
to you.”
Some people said to Abu Hanifah: “Get up and ask a question.”
Abu Hanifah rose up and asked: “Abu Khattab, what do you say regarding
the person, who disappears from his family and his wife marries someone else
and after that he returns and tells her: You fornicatress, in spite of the fact that I
am alive, you got married? At this point the second husband arrives and asks:
What has happened?”
Qatada said: “I will not reply to such questions. Ask me about Quran.”
Abu Hanifah asked: “What do you say about the statement of Almighty Allah:
قَالَ الَّذِي عِنْدَهُ عِلْمٌ مِنَ الْكِتَبِ أَنَا آتِيكَ بِهِ
“One who had the knowledge of the Book said: I will bring it to you.”2
And what was the implication of that person?
Qatada said: “He was the cousin of Sulaiman bin Dawood, who knew the
great name of Allah (Isme Aazam).”
Abu Hanifah asked: “Was Sulaiman also knowing the great name of Allah
(Isme Aazam)?”
“No,” replied Qatada.
Abu Hanifah said: “God forbid, how is it possible that there should be
someone more knowledgeable than a prophet in his presence?”
Qatada said: “I will also not reply to queries related to Quranic exegesis.
Ask me about what the people differ in.”
Abu Hanifah asked: “Are you a believer?”
He replied: “I hope so.”
Abu Hanifah asked: “Then why didn’t you reply like Prophet Ibrahim (a.s.)
as Allah has mentioned in Holy Quran?
أَوَلَمْ تُؤْمِنْ – قَالَ بَلَى
“What! and do you not believe? He said: Yes.”3
Qatada said: “Take my hand and lift me up, as by Allah, I will never come
back to this place!”4
It is narrated about Qatada that: He arrived in Kufa and people gathered
around him and he said: “Ask me whatever you like.”
Abu Hanifah, who was a youth at that time was present in that gathering,
and he said: “Ask him about the ant of Prophet Sulaiman (a.s.), whether it was a
male or a female?”
People asked him and Qatada was unable to reply. But Abu Hanifah said: “It
was female.”
They asked: “What is the proof?”
He replied: “On the basis of statement Allah: ‘She said’; if it had been a
male, it would have been ‘he said’; like in case of ‘Hamama’ and ‘Shaha’, that in
spite of ‘ta’ of feminity being used in the masculine as well as feminine.”5
3. Ubaidullah bin Muhammad bin Harun says:
I heard Shafei saying in Mecca: “Ask me, whatever you want, so that I may
reply through Quran and Sunnah.” They asked: What is your opinion about the
person in Ihram, who kills a wasp? He replied:
وَمَا أَتْكُمُ الرَّسُولُ فَخُذُوهُ
“And whatever the Apostle gives you, accept it.”6