[Machine] There was a matter that saddened me and I did not ask the Messenger of Allah ﷺ about it, nor did I hear anyone ask him about it. So, I waited for the opportunity and entered one day while he was performing ablution. I found him free and in a good state of mind, so I said, "O Messenger of Allah, may I ask you a question?" He said, "Yes, ask about what concerns you." I said, "O Messenger of Allah, what is faith?" He said, "Forbearance and patience." I said, "And which of the believers has the best faith?" He said, "The one with the best character." I said, "Which of the Muslims has the best Islam?" He said, "The one from whose tongue and hand the Muslims are safe." I said, "Which jihad is the best?" He lowered his head and remained silent for a while, until I feared that I had burdened him, and I wished that I had not asked him. The previous day I heard him say, "Verily, the greatest among the Muslims in sin is the one who asks about something that is not prohibited for him, and it becomes prohibited for him due to his questioning." So, I sought refuge with Allah from the anger of Allah and the anger of His Messenger. He then raised his head and said, "What did you say?" I said, "Which jihad is the best?" He said, "A word of justice spoken in front of an oppressive ruler."
كَانَتْ فِي نَفْسِي مَسْأَلَةٌ قَدْ أَحْزَنَتْنِي لَمْ أسْأَلْ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ عَنْهَا وَلَمْ أسْمَعْ أَحَدًا يَسْأَلُهُ عَنْهَا فَكُنْتُ أَتَحَيَّنُهُ فَدَخَلْتُ ذَاتَ يَوْمٍ وَهُوَ يَتَوَضَّأُ فَوَافَقْتُهُ عَلَى حَالَيْنِ كُنْتُ أَُحِبُّ أَنْ أُوَافِقَهُ عَلَيْهِمَا وَجَدْتُهُ فَارِغًا طَيِّبَ النَّفْسِ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ ائْذَنْ لِي فَأَسْأَلَكَ قَالَ «نَعَمْ سَلْ عَمَّا بَدَا لَكَ» قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ مَا الْإِيمَانُ؟ قَالَ «السَّماحُة وَالصَّبْرُ» قُلْتُ وَأَيُّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَفْضَلُهُمْ إِيمَانًا؟ قَالَ «أَحْسَنُهُمْ خُلُقًا» قُلْتُ فَأَيُّ الْمُسْلِمِينَ أَفْضَلُ إِسْلَامًا؟ قَالَ «مَنْ سَلِمَ الْمُسْلِمُونَ مِنْ يَدِهِ وَلِسَانِهِ» قُلْتُ فَأَيُّ الْجِهَادِ أَفْضَلُ؟ فَطَأْطَأَ رَأْسَهُ فَصَمَتَ طَوِيلًا حَتَّى خِفْتُ أَنْ أَكُونَ قَدْ شَقَقْتُ عَلَيْهِ وتَمَنَّيْتُ أَنْ لَمْ أَكُنْ سَأَلْتُهُ وَقَدْ سَمِعْتُهُ بِالْأَمْسِ يَقُولُ «إِنَّ أَعْظَمَ النَّاسِ فِي الْمُسْلِمِينَ جُرْمًا لَمَنْ سَأَلَ عَنْ شَيْءٍ لَمْ يُحَرَّمْ عَلَيْهِمْ فَحُرِّمَ مِنْ أَجْلِ مَسْأَلَتِهِ» فَقُلْتُ أَعُوذُ بِاللهِ مِنْ غَضِبِ اللهِ وَغَضِبِ رَسُولِهِ فَرَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ فَقَالَ «كَيْفَ قُلْتَ؟» قُلْتُ أَيُّ الْجِهَادِ أَفْضَلُ؟ قَالَ «كَلِمَةُ عَدْلٍ عِنْدَ إِمَامٍ جَائِرٍ»