nawawiDay.arabicText
nawawiDay.englishTranslation
— an-Nu‘mān ibn Bashīr (RA) (Bukhari & Muslim)
nawawiDay.commentary
The pious leave that which has any doubt to safeguard against falling into haram. Includes the powerful image: the heart is the king — if it is sound, the whole body is sound.
nawawiDay.extendedExplanation
This hadith establishes three categories of rulings: 1. Clearly ḥalāl — known by everyone, no doubt. 2. Clearly ḥarām — known by everyone, no doubt. 3. Mushtabihāt — doubtful matters, where the ruling is unclear or evidence appears conflicting; ‘many people do not know’ them, but specialists may.
The Prophet ﷺ likened the doubtful matters to a shepherd grazing near a forbidden pasture: he is at risk of his sheep stepping into it. Then he gave the universal principle: ‘Indeed, 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. Indeed, it is the heart.’
Ibn Rajab explained: the doubtful matters are a buffer zone. The wara‘ (scrupulousness) of the Salaf was such that ‘Umar would say: ‘We used to leave nine-tenths of the ḥalāl out of fear of falling into the ḥarām.’
nawawiDay.fromScholars
"Whoever does not know the ruling of a doubtful matter — let him refer it to the people of knowledge. Whoever finds in his heart hesitation about something — let him leave it."
"This hadith is one of the four pillars of Islam — the others being intentions, ‘whoever introduces…’, and ‘the religion is sincere counsel.’"
nawawiDay.fiqhRulings
- •Wara‘ — leaving the doubtful for the certain — is a station above mere taqwā.
- •If a scholar gives you a fatwā that lifts your doubt, you may proceed; but if your heart still hesitates, leaving it is safer.
- •The heart's soundness is the foundation of the body's soundness — including the soundness of one's worship and earnings.
- •The doubtful matters change with time and place — what was unknown to one generation may be clarified for another.
nawawiDay.quranCrossRefs
nawawiDay.keyVocab
clear, evident
doubtful, ambiguous matters
guarded, sought to be clear of
a small piece of flesh — referring to the heart
nawawiDay.todaysReflection
What 'doubtful matter' have you been entertaining? Leave it for the sake of Allah today.
nawawiDay.keyBenefits
- 1The heart governs the limbs.
- 2Wara‘ (scrupulousness) protects against falling into haram.
nawawiDay.warnings
- ⚠‘It's not technically ḥarām’ is often a sign you are in the danger zone — wara‘ is to leave it.
- ⚠Doubts in matters of ‘aqīdah are not from this hadith — they are removed by knowledge, not by avoidance.
nawawiDay.relatedHadiths
nawawiDay.memorisation