Sunan an-Nasa'i
Sunan an-Nasa'i 2587
أَخْبَرَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا اللَّيْثُ، عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ رَبِيعَةَ، عَنْ بَكْرِ بْنِ سَوَادَةَ، عَنْ مُسْلِمِ بْنِ مَخْشِيٍّ، عَنِ ابْنِ الْفِرَاسِيِّ، أَنَّ الْفِرَاسِيَّ، قَالَ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَسْأَلُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ " لاَ وَإِنْ كُنْتَ سَائِلاً لاَ بُدَّ فَاسْأَلِ الصَّالِحِينَ " .
Qutaybah reported: al-Layth narrated to us, from Jafar ibn Rabiah, from Bakr ibn Sawadah, from Muslim ibn Makhshi, from Ibn al-Firasi, that al-Firasi said to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ: May I ask, O Messenger of Allah? He said: No. But if you must ask, then ask the righteous.
Translation notes
The Prophet answer begins with a direct no and then gives a condition for someone who feels compelled to ask. No object of asking is added.