In a gathering, someone presented to Hazrat Imām Mālik رحمه الله a questionnaire consisting of forty questions. He answered four questions and for each of the remaining thirty six, he said: “I do not know.” This was the effect of the fear of Allah Ta‘ala جل جلاله.
Even Sayyiduna Rasoolullah صلى الله عليه وسلم had said to some questions that he was unaware and that he would ask Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله. Once someone asked Sayyiduna Rasoolullah صلى الله عليه وسلم; “What is the worst place and what is the best place?”
When Hazrat Jibraeel عليه السلام came, our Nabi صلى الله عليه وسلم posed the question to him. He too expressed that he was unaware. He thus went and asked Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله. After receiving the answer, Hazrat Jibraeel عليه السلام came and said; “Since the question was posed by you (i.e. Sayyiduna Rasoolullah صلى الله عليه وسلم), Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله granted me today such Qurb (Proximity) which I had not experienced before. Today, by virtue of your barakah there remained only seventy thousand veils between Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله and me. All other veils were lifted. Allah Ta‘ala said: ‘The best place is the Musjid, and the vilest place is the market.'”
Today there is the disease of answering even without having made research. Every question is answered whereas every answer is not appropriate for every questioner. The Ulama should endeavour to answer according to the level of understanding of the questioner. Some questions are futile, and some are inappropriate. If a person insists for an answer, inform him that you do not know.
(SOURCE: MALFOOZAAT OF HAZRAT MOULANA ASHRAF ALI THAANWI SAHIB رحمه الله, PART 6)