Riyad as-Salihin · Chapter 301
باب النهي عن التكلف وهو فعل وقول ما لا مصلحة فيه بمشقة
This short chapter warns against takalluf, the habit of straining after things that carry no real benefit, whether in speech, religion, or daily life. The Arabic title points to forced effort and pretension: speaking about what you do not know, manufacturing complications, or putting on a show of depth you do not actually have. Islam came to make worship clear and life manageable, not to reward people for inventing burdens.
Notice how both narrations tie this back to honesty. The cure for pretending to know is simply admitting you do not know, and the Prophet himself was told to declare that he asked no payment and was no pretender. Watch how humility about the limits of your knowledge is treated here as a form of knowledge in its own right.
Hadith 1655
'Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said:
وعن ابن عمر رضي الله عنهما قال : "نهينا عن التكلف" . ((رواه البخاري)).
We have been forbidden to go into excess. [Al-Bukhari].
In plain words
A short reminder that the believers were warned against going to excess: straining after what carries no real benefit, in religion or daily life.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1655 In-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 145
Hadith 1656
Masruq (May Allah be pleased with him) said:
وعن مسروق قال : دخلنا على عبدالله بن مسعود رضي الله عنه فقال : يا أيها الناس من علم شيئا فليقل به، ومن لم يعلم، فليقل :الله أعلم، فإن من العلم أن يقول الرجل لما لا يعلم: الله أعلم . قال الله تعالى لنبيه صلى الله عليه وسلم :{قل ما أسألكم عليه من أجر وما أنا من المتكلفين} . ((رواه البخاري)).
We visited 'Abdullah bin Mas'ud (May Allah be pleased with him) and he said to us: O people! He who has the knowledge of any matter may convey it to the others. And he who has no knowledge, thereof, should say: "Allahu a'lam (Allah knows better)." It is a part and parcel of knowledge that a man who has no knowledge of a matter should say: "Allah knows better." Allah said to His Prophet (ﷺ): "Say (O Muhammad (ﷺ)): 'No wage do I ask of you for this (the Qur'an), nor am I one of the Mutakallifun (those who pretend and fabricate things which do not exist)."' (:) [Al-Bukhari].
In plain words
Ibn Mas'ud teaches that whoever knows something may share it, and whoever does not should simply say 'Allah knows better.' Admitting the limits of your knowledge is itself part of knowledge.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1656 In-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 146