وَعَنْ عَلِيٍّ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ لَمَّا نَزَلَتْ هَذِهِ الْآيَةُ وَلِلَّهِ عَلَى النَّاسِ حِجُّ الْبَيْتِ مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ إِلَيْهِ سَبِيلًا [آل عمران: 97] قَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَفِي كُلِّ عَامٍ فَسَكَتَ فَقَالُوا أَفِي كُلِّ عَامٍ فَسَكَتَ فَقَالُوا أَفِي كُلِّ عَامٍ فَقَالَ لَا وَلَوْ قُلْتُ نَعَمْ لَوَجَبَتْ فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَسْأَلُوا عَنْ أَشْيَاءَ إِنْ تُبْدَ لَكُمْ تَسُؤْكُمْ [المائدة: 101] إِلَى آخِرِ الْآيَةِ
Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) says that when this verse was revealed: {وَلِلّٰہِ عَلَی النَّاسِ حِجُّ الْبَیْتِ مَنِ اسْتطَاعَ إِلَیْہِ سَبِیْلًا} (Surah Aal-e-Imran: 97), meaning: Whoever has the ability to reach the House of Allah, Hajj to the House of Allah is obligatory upon him. The companions submitted: O Messenger of Allah! Is Hajj obligatory every year? The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) remained silent. They asked again: Is it obligatory every year? The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) remained silent. They asked a third time: Is this act of worship obligatory every year? The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: No, and if I had said yes, then Hajj would have become obligatory upon you every year. Then Allah Almighty revealed this verse: {یَا أَیُّہَا الَّذِیْنَ آمَنُوْا لَا تَسْأَلُوْا عَنْ أَشْیَائَ إِنْ تُبْدَ لَکُمْ تَسُؤْکُمْ} (Surah Al-Ma'idah: 101), meaning: O you who believe! Do not ask about things which, if made plain to you, may cause you trouble.