This week, we will review the sixth hadith of the forty hadith of An-nawawih. For the past review, see here


Hadith 6 states:

"Verily, Halal is clear and Haram is clear, and between them are doubtful matters about which many people do not know. Thus, he who avoids doubtful matters clears himself in regard to his religion and his honor, but he who falls into doubtful matters falls into that which is unlawful, like the shepherd who pastures around a sanctuary, all but grazing therein. Truly every king has a sanctuary, and truly Allah's sanctuary is His prohibitions. Truly in the body there is a morsel of flesh which, if it be whole, all the body is whole and which, if it be diseased, all of it is diseased. Truly it is the heart."


The main lesson from this hadith is the importance of avoiding doubtful matters in order to protect one's faith and honor. The hadith emphasizes that the line between Halal and Haram is clear, but there are some matters that are doubtful and can lead to confusion.

Therefore, one should strive to stay away from these doubtful matters to avoid falling into what is unlawful.

The example given in the hadith of a shepherd grazing around a sanctuary illustrates the danger of being too close to what is prohibited. The shepherd may not be grazing inside the sanctuary, but by grazing around it, he is still at risk of crossing the boundary and entering the prohibited area. Similarly, by engaging in doubtful matters, one is putting oneself at risk of crossing the boundary and falling into what is forbidden.

The hadith also emphasizes the importance of the heart, which is considered the center of a person's faith and spirituality. The state of one's heart is crucial to the state of their entire being, and therefore, one should take care to protect their heart from disease by avoiding doubtful matters.

In summary, the hadith teaches that avoiding doubtful matters is a crucial part of protecting one's faith and honor. By staying away from these matters, one can ensure that they are not inadvertently falling into what is unlawful, and can keep their heart pure and free from disease.