"I heard the Messenger of Allah [SAW] say: 'That which is lawful is clear and that which is unlawful is clear, but between them there are matters which are doubtful.'" And sometimes he said: "But between them are matters that are not as clear. I will describe the likeness of that for you. Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, has a sanctuary and the sanctuary of Allah is that which He has forbidden. Whoever grazes around the sanctuary will soon transgress into the sanctuary. And whoever approaches a matter that is unclear, he will soon wind up in the sanctuary." And sometimes he said: "He will soon transgress, and indeed whoever mixes in doubt, he will soon cross into it."
The Book of Drinks - Sunan an-Nasa'i
Hadith Reference: Sunan an-Nasa'i 5710
Textual Analysis
This profound hadith establishes the fundamental principle of distinguishing between the clearly lawful (halal) and clearly unlawful (haram), while acknowledging the existence of ambiguous matters (shubuhat) that require careful discernment.
The Prophet ﷺ employs a powerful analogy of Allah's sanctuary to illustrate spiritual caution. Just as one who grazes animals near a protected area risks trespassing, so too does one who engages in doubtful matters risk falling into clear prohibition.
Scholarly Commentary
Imam Nawawi explains that this hadith forms a foundational principle of Islamic jurisprudence. The clear lawful matters are those explicitly permitted in Quran and Sunnah, while clear unlawful matters are those explicitly forbidden.
Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali elaborates that the doubtful matters require the believer to exercise precaution (ihtiyat). The wise Muslim avoids these gray areas to protect their religion and conscience from potential transgression.
The variation in wording between narrations emphasizes the same core meaning: gradual proximity to prohibition increases the likelihood of actual transgression, making spiritual boundaries essential.
Practical Application
This teaching directs Muslims to seek clarity in religious matters and avoid ambiguous situations that could lead to sin. It encourages consulting knowledgeable scholars when facing doubtful matters.
The principle applies particularly to business transactions, food consumption, and social interactions where clear guidelines must be followed while exercising caution in uncertain circumstances.