It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said:
"The Messenger of Allah addressed the people and said: 'Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, has enjoined upon you Hajj.' A man said: 'Every year?' He remained silent until he had repeated it three times. Then he said: 'If I said yes, it would be obligatory, and if it were obligatory you would not be able to do it. Leave me alone so long as I have left you alone. Those who came before you were destroyed because they asked too many questions and differed with their prophets. If I command you to do something then follow it as much as you can, and if I forbid you to do something then avoid it."'
أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الْمُبَارَكِ الْمُخَرِّمِيُّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو هِشَامٍ، - وَاسْمُهُ الْمُغِيرَةُ بْنُ سَلَمَةَ - قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا الرَّبِيعُ بْنُ مُسْلِمٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ زِيَادٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ خَطَبَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم النَّاسَ فَقَالَ " إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ قَدْ فَرَضَ عَلَيْكُمُ الْحَجَّ " . فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ فِي كُلِّ عَامٍ فَسَكَتَ عَنْهُ حَتَّى أَعَادَهُ ثَلاَثًا فَقَالَ " لَوْ قُلْتُ نَعَمْ لَوَجَبَتْ وَلَوْ وَجَبَتْ مَا قُمْتُمْ بِهَا ذَرُونِي مَا تَرَكْتُكُمْ فَإِنَّمَا هَلَكَ مَنْ كَانَ قَبْلَكُمْ بِكَثْرَةِ سُؤَالِهِمْ وَاخْتِلاَفِهِمْ عَلَى أَنْبِيَائِهِمْ فَإِذَا أَمَرْتُكُمْ بِالشَّىْءِ فَخُذُوا بِهِ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُمْ وَإِذَا نَهَيْتُكُمْ عَنْ شَىْءٍ فَاجْتَنِبُوهُ " .
