كتاب الفضائل
43  
The Book of Virtues
(35)
Chapter: His Knowledge Of Allah And His Great Fear Of Him
(35)
باب عِلْمِهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِاللَّهِ تَعَالَى وَشِدَّةِ خَشْيَتِهِ ‏.‏
Sahih Muslim 2356 a

'A'isha reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) did an act, and held it to be valid. This news reached some persons amongst his Companions (and it was felt) that they did not approve of it and avoided (it). This reaction of theirs was conveyed to him. He stood to deliver an address; and said:

What has happened to the people to whom there was conveyed on my behalf a matter for which I granted permission and they disapproved it and avoided it? By Allah, I have the best knowledge of Allah amongst them, and I fear Him most amongst them.
حَدَّثَنَا زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ أَبِي الضُّحَى، عَنْ مَسْرُوقٍ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ صَنَعَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَمْرًا فَتَرَخَّصَ فِيهِ فَبَلَغَ ذَلِكَ نَاسًا مِنْ أَصْحَابِهِ فَكَأَنَّهُمْ كَرِهُوهُ وَتَنَزَّهُوا عَنْهُ فَبَلَغَهُ ذَلِكَ فَقَامَ خَطِيبًا فَقَالَ ‏ "‏ مَا بَالُ رِجَالٍ بَلَغَهُمْ عَنِّي أَمْرٌ تَرَخَّصْتُ فِيهِ فَكَرِهُوهُ وَتَنَزَّهُوا عَنْهُ فَوَاللَّهِ لأَنَا أَعْلَمُهُمْ بِاللَّهِ وَأَشَدُّهُمْ لَهُ خَشْيَةً ‏"‏ ‏.‏
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2356a
In-book reference : Book 43, Hadith 167
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 30, Hadith 5814
  (deprecated numbering scheme)