Nawawī’s Arbaýīn

A Collection of Forty Traditions of the Prophet ﷺ

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Avoiding The Doubtful - Hadith 6

عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ النُّعْمَانِ بْنِ بَشِيرٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا، قَالَ سَمِعْت رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه و سلم يَقُولُ إنَّ الْحَلَالَ بَيِّنٌ، وَإِنَّ الْحَرَامَ بَيِّنٌ، وَبَيْنَهُمَا أُمُورٌ مُشْتَبِهَاتٌ لَا يَعْلَمُهُنَّ كَثِيرٌ مِنْ النَّاسِ، فَمَنْ اتَّقَى الشُّبُهَاتِ فَقْد اسْتَبْرَأَ لِدِينِهِ وَعِرْضِهِ، وَمَنْ وَقَعَ فِي الشُّبُهَاتِ وَقَعَ فِي الْحَرَامِ، كَالرَّاعِي يَرْعَى حَوْلَ الْحِمَى يُوشِكُ أَنْ يَرْتَعَ فِيهِ، أَلَا وَإِنَّ لِكُلِّ مَلِكٍ حِمًى، أَلَا وَإِنَّ حِمَى اللَّهِ مَحَارِمُهُ، أَلَا وَإِنَّ فِي الْجَسَدِ مُضْغَةً إذَا صَلَحَتْ صَلَحَ الْجَسَدُ كُلُّهُ، وَإذَا فَسَدَتْ فَسَدَ الْجَسَدُ كُلُّهُ، أَلَا وَهِيَ الْقَلْبُ .رَوَاهُ الْبُخَارِيُّ، وَمُسْلِمٌ

Narrated by Abū Ábdullāh Númān ibn Bashīr radiyAllāhu Anhu and he said:

I have heard RasūlAllāh ﷺ say:

“Indeed, the lawful [ĥalāl] is clearly known and the forbidden [ĥarām] is also clearly known – and between these two, are things which are doubtful, about which many people are not aware.

Whosoever fears [Allāh] and thus abstains from doubtful things has strived to vindicate his religion and his honour, and he who falls into doubtful things will [eventually] fall into impermissible things, like a shepherd who grazes his flock close to the fence and the sheep would almost trespass upon forbidden property. [1]

Indeed, every king designates restricted areas [ĥimā] and the areas restricted by Allāh are things that He has forbidden [and sins].

Indeed, in the [human] body is an organ, which, when it is virtuous, keeps the entire body wholesome, and when it is diseased, causes the entire body to be defiled. Verily, it is the heart.”

Bukhārī and Muslim have reported this ĥadīth. [2]

Notes:

[1] In olden times, there would be designated areas that belonged to kings and nobles, where animals were not allowed to graze. A vigilant shepherd would keep his flock away from the fence, lest they trespass, and he be punished in consequence. Similarly, a Muslim who fears Allāh, keeps away from doubtful things for fear of falling into forbidden things and thereby invite Divine Wrath. [Summarised from Fat’ĥ al-Mubīn].

[2] Bukhārī 52; Muslim 1599.

References:

1. Nawawī’s Arbaýīn, Collection of Forty Traditions of the Prophet ﷺ, Hadith 5

[ English Translation ]

Mawlana Abu Hasan Ridawi,

Ridawi Press.