Fatwa ID: 04110

Answered by: Shaykh Ahmed Bin Mohamed Umarji

Question:

Assalamu Alaikum,

Maulana sahib, Just a quick question –
 

Do you know the Hadith which says to the nearest meaning about certain things are clearly halal and certain things that are clearly haram and then things in between that are doubtful and it goes on to say that those that participate in the doubtful may end up in haram? Would giving up doubtful in that context be classed as doubtful or sunnah or Wajib or farz?

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Answer:

The Hadith referred to is “Narrated An-Nu'man bin Bashir: I heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) saying, 'Both legal and illegal things are evident but in between them there are doubtful (suspicious) things and most of the people have no knowledge about them. So, whoever saves himself from these suspicious things saves his religion and his honor. And whoever indulges in these suspicious things is like a shepherd who grazes (his animals) near the Hima (private pasture) of someone else and at any moment he is liable to get in it. (O people!) Beware! Every king has a Hima and the Hima of Allah on the earth is His illegal (forbidden) things. Beware! There is a piece of flesh in the body if it becomes good (reformed) the whole body becomes good but if it gets spoilt the whole body gets spoilt and that is the heart.”[1]

Allamah Maziri says that the doubtful/suspicious things (Mushtabihat) refer to matters which are classified as reprehensible (Makruh). Therefore, we are being cautioned about perpetrating reprehensible (Makruh)acts. They are not considered impermissible (Haraam), but they ultimately lead to impermissible (Haraam).[2]

Only Allah knows best

Written by Shaykh Ahmed bin Mohamed Umarji

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham