Explanation and Benefits of the Hadith: Lawful and Unlawful are Clear

By Eman Abdallah Kamel

Eman is a writer and engineer. She also studied at Zad Academy for Shariah Sciences (online course).

The hadith, “Lawful is clear, and what is unlawful is clear, and between them are unclear matters,” includes an important legal principle: avoid matters that lead to falling into what God Almighty has forbidden. In this article, you will learn about the explanation and benefits of the hadith.

The Prophet Mohammad (peace and blessings of Allah upon him) said:

Indeed, the lawful is clear, and the unlawful is clear, and between them are doubtful (unclear) matters that many people do not know about. Whoever leaves doubtful matters to preserve his religion and honor will be safe, and whoever falls into them will fall into the unlawful, just like the shepherd who grazes his animals around a prohibited pasture, thus likely to graze therein. Indeed, for every king is a protected area, and Allah’s protected area is what He made unlawful. Indeed, in the body, there is a piece of flesh that, if it is sound, makes the whole body sound, and if it is corrupt, makes the entire body corrupt; indeed, that is the heart.

Reported by An-Nu’mān ibn Bashīr (may Allah be pleased with him) (Authentic hadith) (Narrated by Bukhari & Muslim) (Sahih Muslim, 1599)

About the Narrator of the Hadith

The companion Al-Nu’man bin Al-Bashir was born in Medina after the Hijra (the migration of the Prophet Mohammad (peace and blessings upon him) and his followers from Mecca to Medina). He was the first child born to the Ansar after the migration. During his lifetime, he served as a judge in Damascus and died in the year 65 AH.

Overall Explanation

A general rule about matters is clarified by the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah upon him); this rule is separated into three categories in Islamic law (Shariah):

The lawful is clear.
The unlawful is clear.
Between them, there are unclear matters.

Many people are unsure whether unclear matters are lawful or illegal. So, whoever avoids those suspicious matters to protect his religion and honor will be safe. Whoever does not avoid doubtful matters soon will fall into the unlawful.

Then the Prophet (peace and blessings upon him) provided an example of a person who engages in doubtful matters, saying that he is like a shepherd who grazes his animals around a piece of land protected by its owner; so, his animals are likely to graze in this protected area due to its proximity.

Then, the Prophet (peace and blessings upon him) said there is a piece of flesh in the body, the heart. If it is sound, the whole body is sound; if it is corrupt, the whole body is corrupt.

What are the reasons for falling into suspicious matters?

lack of knowledge,
Lack of correct understanding,
Following personal opinions in interpreting the Holy Quran and the Noble Prophetic Sunnah. The correct approach in this matter is to refer to the consensus of scholars in interpretation.

Examples of Prohibitions

Usury
Intoxicants
Gambling
Adultery
Bribery

Allah Almighty says:

But Allah has permitted trade and forbidden Riba (usury).

Surah Al-Baqarah (The Cow) 2:275

Allah Almighty also said:

O believers! Intoxicants, gambling, Al-Ansab (sacrificing on stone alters), and Al-Azlam (divining arrows) are all of Satan’s evil handiwork. So, avoid them so that you may be successful.

Al Maidah (The Table) 5:90

Al-Ansab: During the Jahiliyyah period, sacrifices were offered near altar stones known as al-Ansab.

Al-Azlam: Arrows that they used in the lottery to make decisions.

Allah Almighty also says:

Do not go near adultery. It is indeed a shameful act and an evil way.

Al-Isra (The Night Journey) 17:32

The meaning of the above verse is “Do not come near unlawful sex and avoid all things that might lead to it because it is a major sin. This is an example of avoiding doubts that lead to committing forbidden acts.

Prophet Mohammad (peace and blessings of Allah upon him) said about marriage:

Whoever can afford marriage should marry because it helps him lower the gaze and guard one’s chastity. And whoever cannot afford it, let him fast, for it is more chaste for him.

(Authentic hadith) (Narrated by Bukhari & Muslim) (Sahih Bukhari, 1905)

To learn more about the above hadith, visit (hadith: those who can afford marriage should marry)

Bribery is also a major sin according to the next hadith.

The prophet Mohammad (peace and blessings upon him) cursed the one who bribes and who takes a bribe to influence a judgment. (Authentic hadith) (Narrated by At-Termedhy & Ahmad) (Sunan At-Termedhy, 1336)

To learn more about this hadith, visit hadeethenc.com/hadith/64689

Bribery is the price someone pays to obtain something not legally theirs.

Another example of a doubt is an employee not accepting customer gifts to avoid bribery.

What can you do about doubtful matters?

You must avoid anything that leads to falling into what God Almighty has forbidden.
If you do not know whether this matter is permissible or forbidden, consult scholars and ask them. Allah Almighty says:

Ask the people of knowledge if you do not know. An-Nahl (The Bee) 16:43

At the end of the hadith, the Prophet (peace and blessings upon him) emphasizes the soundness of the heart and its freedom from what corrupts it. Because the soundness of the heart is the soundness of the entire body, and its corruption is the corruption of the whole body. Allah Almighty said,

88. the Day when neither wealth nor children will be of any benefit,

89. except those who come to Allah with a pure heart.

Ash-Shuara (The Poets) 26:88, 89.

Benefits

One must avoid everything that may lead to what Allah Almighty has forbidden.
A person must avoid what offends his honor. In Sunnah, when Safiya, the Prophet’s wife, came to him in the mosque, and when she returned home, the Prophet (peace and blessings upon him) accompanied her. Two men from the Ansar passed by them. When they saw the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah upon him), they hurried their pace. The Prophet called them, saying, “Slow down. She is Safiyyah bint Huyai (my wife).” (Authentic hadith) (Narrated by Bukhari & Muslim). To learn more about this hadith, visit hadeethenc.com/hadith/4534
The man should be keen to purify his heart from deceit, hatred, envy, arrogance, and all the bad qualities that corrupt it.
Sincerity to God Almighty and devotion to worshipping Him alone. The supplication the Prophet Mohammad (peace and blessings upon him) used to say most frequently was to ask Allah Almighty for steadfastness in the religion, obedience to Him, and avoidance of misguidance. The companion, Anas Ibn Malik, reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah upon him) would often say, “O Turner of the hearts, make my heart firm upon Your religion.” (authentic hadith)—(narrated by At-Termedhy & Ahmad)—(Sunan At-Termedhy, 2140)

Sources

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