MUHAMMAD’S TEACHINGS TO MANKIND
“ ‘Alī Ibn-Abī-Ṭālib said, "When [the Qur'ānic verse], 'And [due] to Allah from the people is a pilgrimage (1) to the House - for whoever is able to find thereto a way, ' (3 [Āla 'Imrān]: 97) was revealed, the Companions asked, 'Messenger of God, is that every year?' He remained silent. So they asked again, 'Messenger of God, is that every year?' He replied, 'No. Had I said yes, it would have become (a yearly) obligation.' (2) Then God revealed, 'O you who have believed, do not ask about things which, if they are shown to you, will distress you,' (5 [al-Mā'idah]: 101)." Footnotes (1): (Ḥajj) The pilgrimage to Makkah during the first half of the month of Thul-Ḥijjah, which is the fifth pillar of Islam. (2): The ḥadīth shows that pilgrimage is obligatory only once in a lifetime. ”
