The Prophet (saws) said:

“Do not ask me unnecessarily about the details of the things which I do not mention to you. Verily, the people before you were doomed because they were used to putting many questions to their Prophets and had differences about their Prophets. Refrain from what I forbid you and do what I command you to the best of your ability and capacity”.[1]

The people tried asking the Prophet (saws) many questions in every issue. They should instead learn from the experiences of the Children of Israel, who persisted in asking, thus Allah (swt) became severe on them in terms of the prohibitions and requirements. For example, when they were told to slaughter a cow:

 قَالُوا ادْعُ لَنَا رَبَّكَ يُبَيِّن لَّنَا مَا هِيَ ۚ قَالَ إِنَّهُ يَقُولُ إِنَّهَا بَقَرَةٌ لَّا فَارِضٌ وَلَا بِكْرٌ عَوَانٌ بَيْنَ ذَٰلِكَ ۖ فَافْعَلُوا مَا تُؤْمَرُونَ (68) قَالُوا ادْعُ لَنَا رَبَّكَ يُبَيِّن لَّنَا مَا لَوْنُهَا ۚ قَالَ إِنَّهُ يَقُولُ إِنَّهَا بَقَرَةٌ صَفْرَاءُ فَاقِعٌ لَّوْنُهَا تَسُرُّ النَّاظِرِينَ (69) قَالُوا ادْعُ لَنَا رَبَّكَ يُبَيِّن لَّنَا مَا هِيَ إِنَّ الْبَقَرَ تَشَابَهَ عَلَيْنَا وَإِنَّا إِن شَاءَ اللَّهُ لَمُهْتَدُونَ

(They said, “Call upon your Lord to clarify for us what type ˹of cow˺ it should be!” He replied, “Allah says, ‘The cow should neither be old nor young but in between. So do as you are commanded!’” (68) They said, “Call upon your Lord to specify for us its colour.” He replied, “Allah says, ‘It should be a bright yellow cow—pleasant to see.’” (69) Again they said, “Call upon your Lord so that He may make clear to us which cow, for all cows look the same to us. Then, Allah willing, we will be guided ˹to the right one˺.” (70)) (Al-Baqara: 69-70)

They persisted in asking, thus things became difficult for them.

(  وَاللَّهُ غَفُورٌ حَلِيمٌ … ) (…and Allah is Forgiving and Forbearing): The endings of verses have meanings connected to the parts preceding it. Here, Allah (swt) says that He is Forgiving and forgives those who have asked many questions. For example, some people made the Prophet (saws) uncomfortable with their questions, such as: “Who is my mother? Who is my father?” Allah (swt) is Forgiving and will forgive them. He (swt) too is Forbearing, which means that He is loving and merciful towards His Servants. However, human beings must not be deluded by Allah’s Forbearance and feel that they will surely be safe from His Punishment. They must instead continue working hard to be of those who are granted the forgiveness and forbearance of Allah, Mighty and Majestic is He.

[1] Sahih al-Bukhari: Book of Holding Fast to the Qur’an and Sunnah, Chapter of Following the Sunan of the Prophet, Hadith No. 6858.