I heard Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon himn) as having said this (and Nu'man) pointed towards his ears with his fingers): What is lawful is evident and what is unlawful is evident, and in between them are the things doubtful which many people do not know. So he who guards against doubtful things keeps his religion and honour blameless, and he who indulges in doubtful things indulges in fact in unlawful things, just as a shepherd who pastures his animals round a preserve will soon pasture them in it. Beware, every king has a preserve, and the things God his declaced unlawful are His preserves. Beware, in the body there is a piece of flesh; if it is sound, the whole body is sound and if it is corrupt the whole body is corrupt, and hearken it is the heart.
Narrated by Nu'man b. Bashir (Allah be pleased with him) reported:
Context
This hadith emphasizes the clarity of lawful and unlawful matters in Islam, as stated by the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). He points out that between what is clearly halal (lawful) and haram (unlawful) are ambiguous matters that many people may not recognize. The Prophet warns that avoiding these doubtful matters helps protect one's faith and honor.
Modern Application
In contemporary life, this principle can guide individuals in making ethical decisions, especially in situations where the right choice isn't clear. By being cautious and avoiding dubious situations, people can maintain their integrity and uphold their values in various aspects of life.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Ethical Conduct and Ethics of Interaction because it addresses the importance of distinguishing between clear and ambiguous matters, promoting integrity in personal and social interactions.
And know that among you is the Messenger of Allah. If he were to obey you in much of the matter, you would be in difficulty, but Allah has endeared to you the faith and has made it pleasing in your hearts and has made hateful to you disbelief, defiance and disobedience. Those are the [rightly] guided.
That [has been commanded], and whoever honors the sacred ordinances of Allah - it is best for him in the sight of his Lord. And permitted to you are the grazing livestock, except what is recited to you. So avoid the uncleanliness of idols and avoid false statement,
And among them are those who abuse the Prophet and say, "He is an ear." Say, "[It is] an ear of goodness for you that believes in Allah and believes the believers and [is] a mercy to those who believe among you." And those who abuse the Messenger of Allah - for them is a painful punishment.
Allah wants to make clear to you [the lawful from the unlawful] and guide you to the [good] practices of those before you and to accept your repentance. And Allah is Knowing and Wise.
This hadith is #3965 from Sahih Muslim, in the Book of The Book of Musaqah. It is graded Sahih and narrated by Nu'man b. Bashir (Allah be pleased with him) reported:.
