The Book of Musaqah - Sahih Muslim 1599 d

I heard Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) as saying: The lawful is evident and the unlawful is evident, the rest of the hadith is the same as related by Zakariya.

Commentary on the Hadith

This profound hadith establishes a fundamental principle in Islamic jurisprudence. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) clarifies that matters of halal (lawful) and haram (unlawful) are generally clear and distinct in the Shariah.

The lawful is made evident through clear texts of Quran and Sunnah, while the unlawful is similarly demarcated. Between these two categories lie doubtful matters that require careful consideration and avoidance by the pious believer.

This teaching emphasizes that Islam is not a religion of ambiguity regarding legal rulings. The boundaries between permissible and forbidden are well-defined, protecting the believer from falling into sin unknowingly.

Scholarly Interpretation

Classical scholars explain that this hadith serves as a protective measure for one's religion and honor. When faced with doubtful matters, the wise course is to abstain rather than risk transgression.

Imam Nawawi comments that this principle safeguards the Muslim from slipping into the unlawful by maintaining a safe distance from its boundaries. This is the practice of those who are wary of their Lord and cautious about their ultimate return.

The reference to Zakariya indicates the completeness of the narration in other transmissions, where the full text elaborates on avoiding doubtful matters to protect one's religion and honor.