Wisdom when replying to questions
18-11-2007 | IslamWeb
Question:
In Sahih Muslim Book 001, Number 0248: Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said to me: they (the people) till constantly ask you, Abu Huraira, (about different things pertaining to religion) the they would say: Well, there is Allah, but after all who created Allah? He (Abu Huraira) narrated: Once we were in the mosque that some of the Bedouins came there and said: Well, there is Allah, but who created Allah? He (the narrator) said: I took hold of the pebbles in my fist and flung at them and remarked: Stand up, stand up (go away) my friend (the Holy Prophet) told the truth. There is no doubt that the Holy Prophet told the truth. But would it not be good to answer with hikmah the question “who created Allah” so that the questioner would understand & be convinced rather than giving the harsh treatment as narrated in the hadith above. I am sure there are many convincing, logical arguments & ways to answer this question. The understanding obtained would surely help to strengthen the questioner’s faith. Q16:125 “Invite to the Way of your Lord with hikmah & fair preaching & argue with them in a way that is better….” Would not the action of the sahabah potray a dogmatic view of Islam?
Answer:
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
There is no doubt that the principle in Da'wah (calling people to Allaah) and teaching Islam to others is to be gentle and kind. However, in some circumstances one may drift from this principle, and Abu Hurayrah 
is one of the best companions of the Prophet and one of the most knowledgeable scholars amongst them.
He was undoubtedly a wise person, and wisdom is to put something in its proper place. Hence, it is not wise to act with softness in a circumstance which requires some harshness, and it is not wise to act with harshness in a circumstance which requires some kindness and gentleness. The scholar acts differently with the questioners according to their different circumstances and the kind of questions they ask.
Indeed, some questioners ask questions argumentively to make things difficult for the scholars, while others ask only to mock the person asked, both of which are forbidden, as Allaah Says (what means): {O you who have believed, do not ask about things which, if they are shown to you, will distress you.}[Quran 5:101]
The scholars 
stated that the fact that Allaah is not created is something which does not require evidence, as His Existence is an absolute fact and asking about it is useless.
Therefore, a scholar may need to deter the questioner in order to draw his attention that he should not ask such questions. Consequently, the questioner accepts such deterrence because of knowing the status of the scholar on one hand, and knowing that this scholar is keen to achieve his benefit [questioner's benefit] on the other hand.