Innal- Halala bayyinun wa innal- Harama bayyinun, wabaynahuma umurun mushtabihat la ya lamuhunna kathirun mina- Nas.

Answer Details

This text is part of the sixth Hadith in the collection of Imam an-Nawawi, narrated by an-Nu'man ibn Bashir (R.A.). The Prophet (S.A.W.) said: "The lawful (halal) is clear and the unlawful (haram) is clear, and between the two are doubtful matters which many people do not know. So whoever avoids the doubtful matters clears himself in regard to his religion and his honour, but whoever falls into the doubtful matters falls into the unlawful."

Explanation of the key phrases

• The lawful is clear: Allah has plainly stated what is permissible, such as lawful food, honest trade and lawful marriage. A believer needs no doubt about these.
• The unlawful is clear: Allah has equally made plain what is forbidden, such as intoxicants, usury (riba), adultery, theft and the eating of pork and carrion.
• The doubtful matters (mushtabihat): Between the two lie matters whose ruling is not obvious to the ordinary person, either because the evidence is unclear or because scholars differ over them. Many people do not know their true ruling.

Lessons and significance

1. A cautious Muslim keeps away from doubtful things to protect both his religion (din) and his reputation from blame.
2. The Prophet (S.A.W.) likened one who grazes near a forbidden pasture to a shepherd who may soon let his flock stray into it; so one who indulges in the doubtful is likely to slip into the clearly unlawful.
3. Every ruler and every heart has its protected sanctuary (hima); Allah's hima is the things He has forbidden.
4. The Hadith ends with the reminder that in the body there is a morsel of flesh, the heart, and that when it is sound the whole body is sound. Piety therefore begins with the purification of the heart.

The Hadith is a foundation of caution (wara') in Islamic law and teaches self-restraint, scrupulousness and the guarding of one's faith and honour.