Hadith No 6 of An-Nawawi’s Collection – JSS1 Islamic Studies Lesson Note (Third Term)

Hadith No. 6 of An-Nawawi’s Forty Hadith teaches that halal and haram are clear, that doubtful matters lie between them, and that the heart decides whether a person is sound.

• Halal: what Islam clearly permits.
• Haram: what Islam clearly forbids.
• Doubtful matters: things whose ruling is unclear to many people, which a Muslim should avoid.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. State who Imam An-Nawawi and Nu’man bin Bashir were.
2. Explain the three categories of matters in the Hadith: halal, haram and doubtful.
3. Explain the shepherd analogy and the meaning of Allah’s private pasture.
4. Describe the role of the heart in the Hadith.
5. Give examples of doubtful matters in today’s world.
6. List steps for dealing with doubtful matters in daily life.

Who was Imam An-Nawawi?

Imam Abu Zakariya Yahya ibn Sharaf An-Nawawi was a great Islamic scholar who lived from 1233 to 1277 CE (631 to 676 AH).

• Birthplace: Nawa, in Syria.
• Riyadh as-Saliheen: Gardens of the Righteous, a book of Hadith.
• Al-Minhaj: his commentary on Sahih Muslim.
• Al-Adhkar: the Book of Remembrances.
• Al-Arba’in An-Nawawiyyah: the Forty Hadith of An-Nawawi.

What is the Forty Hadith collection?

The Forty Hadith is a collection in which Imam An-Nawawi gathered important Hadith that cover the main teachings of Islam.

• Number: it is called “Forty”, but it contains 42 Hadith.
• Selection: he chose Hadith that are clear, authentic and basic to understanding Islam.
• Use: many scholars, students and ordinary Muslims memorise it.

What is the text of the sixth Hadith?

Arabic text

عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ النُّعْمَانِ بْنِ بَشِيرٍ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُمَا قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ: “إِنَّ الْحَلَالَ بَيِّنٌ، وَإِنَّ الْحَرَامَ بَيِّنٌ، وَبَيْنَهُمَا أُمُورٌ مُشْتَبِهَاتٌ لَا يَعْلَمُهُنَّ كَثِيرٌ مِنَ النَّاسِ، فَمَنِ اتَّقَى الشُّبُهَاتِ فَقَدِ اسْتَبْرَأَ لِدِينِهِ وَعِرْضِهِ، وَمَنْ وَقَعَ فِي الشُّبُهَاتِ وَقَعَ فِي الْحَرَامِ، كَالرَّاعِي يَرْعَى حَوْلَ الْحِمَى يُوشِكُ أَنْ يَرْتَعَ فِيهِ، أَلَا وَإِنَّ لِكُلِّ مَلِكٍ حِمًى، أَلَا وَإِنَّ حِمَى اللهِ مَحَارِمُهُ، أَلَا وَإِنَّ فِي الْجَسَدِ مُضْغَةً إِذَا صَلَحَتْ صَلَحَ الْجَسَدُ كُلُّهُ، وَإِذَا فَسَدَتْ فَسَدَ الْجَسَدُ كُلُّهُ، أَلَا وَهِيَ الْقَلْبُ”. رَوَاهُ الْبُخَارِيُّ وَمُسْلِمٌ

English translation

On the authority of Abu Abdullah an-Nu’man bin Bashir (may Allah be pleased with them both) who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) say:

“What is lawful is clear and what is unlawful is clear, but between them are doubtful matters about which many people do not know. So whoever avoids these doubtful matters safeguards his religion and his honour. But whoever falls into doubtful matters, falls into the unlawful, like a shepherd who grazes his flock too close to a private pasture and at any moment is liable to stray into it. Truly, every king has a private pasture, and truly Allah’s private pasture is what He has forbidden. Truly, in the body there is a morsel of flesh, if it is sound, the whole body is sound, and if it is corrupt, the whole body is corrupt. Truly, it is the heart.”

Reported by Bukhari and Muslim.

Who narrated the Hadith?

The Hadith was narrated by Nu’man bin Bashir, a young companion of the Prophet (peace be upon him).

• Birth: he was born in the early years after the Hijrah (migration to Madinah).
• Father: Bashir was one of the early Muslims.
• Age: he was about 8 years old when the Prophet passed away.
• Later life: he became a governor, including governor of Kufa.
• Death: he died around 65 AH (684 CE).

What does the Hadith mean?

The clear halal (permissible)

• Meaning: “What is lawful is clear” means many things are plainly allowed in Islam.
• Examples: pure food, honest trade, lawful marriage and good deeds.
• Source: the Quran and Sunnah state them clearly.
• Attitude: a Muslim enjoys them without doubt or worry.

The clear haram (forbidden)

• Meaning: “What is unlawful is clear” means many things are plainly forbidden.
• Examples: stealing, lying, adultery, alcohol and pork.
• Source: the Quran and Sunnah forbid them clearly.
• Attitude: a Muslim must avoid them completely.

The doubtful matters

• Meaning: things that are not clearly halal or clearly haram to most people.
• Ruling: many people do not know the ruling on them.
• Action: a Muslim leaves them or asks those who know.

What are the differences between halal, haram and doubtful matters?

The table compares the three categories named in the Hadith.

Why should a Muslim avoid doubtful matters?

• Faith: avoiding them protects one’s religion.
• Honour: it also protects one’s reputation and dignity.
• Piety: it is the path of caution and taqwa.

What is the danger of falling into doubtful matters?

• Warning: “Whoever falls into doubtful matters falls into the unlawful.”
• Gradual slide: doubtful matters may lead step by step to clear haram.
• Weak limits: boundaries become blurred and self-control weakens.
• Chain effect: one doubtful matter often leads to another.

What is the shepherd analogy?

The shepherd analogy compares a person who engages in doubtful matters to a shepherd who grazes his flock beside a private pasture.

• Shepherd: represents a Muslim.
• Flock: represents one’s actions and choices.
• Private pasture: represents the forbidden area (haram).
• Grazing close to it: represents engaging in doubtful matters.
• Straying in: shows how doubtful matters can lead to haram.

What is Allah’s private pasture?

Allah’s private pasture is what He has forbidden.

• Kings: they protect certain lands as their own and let no one enter.
• Allah: He has set certain things as forbidden limits.
• Respect: keeping these limits shows respect for Allah.
• Disobedience: crossing them is disobedience.

What is the role of the heart?

The heart is the “morsel of flesh” which, if sound, makes the whole body sound.

• Centre: the heart is the centre of faith, intention and decision.
• Sound heart: pure and guided, so the whole person is righteous.
• Corrupt heart: the whole person becomes corrupt.
• Guide: it directs our choices on halal, haram and doubtful matters.

What are examples of doubtful matters?

What are the types of doubtful matters?

There are five types of doubtful matters: mixed sources, unclear origins, grey areas in business, new issues and conflicting evidence.

1. Mixed sources: products that may contain both halal and haram ingredients.
2. Unclear origins: items whose source is unknown, such as meat from an unknown seller.
3. Grey areas in business: deals with some questionable elements.
4. New issues: modern matters not directly addressed in old texts.
5. Conflicting evidence: issues on which scholars differ because of different evidence.

What are practical examples?

• Food products: items whose ingredients are not clearly labelled.
• Income sources: money from a business that deals partly in haram activities.
• Entertainment: programmes or games that mix harmful content with acceptable content.
• Modern financial deals: new contracts or investments whose ruling is unclear.
• Social media: platforms that show both useful and harmful content.

How should a Muslim deal with doubtful matters?

Seek knowledge

• Learn: study the basic rules of halal and haram.
• Principles: know the principles that guide Islamic rulings.
• Ask: consult knowledgeable scholars when in doubt.
• Check: find out the facts before deciding.

Apply the principle of caution

• Safer option: choose it when in doubt.
• Avoid: stay away from questionable situations.
• Leave: prefer to drop the doubtful matter entirely.

Purify the heart

• Intentions: check them regularly.
• Dhikr: remember Allah often.
• Quran: read it and reflect on its meanings.
• Sin: avoid persistent sin, which hardens the heart.
• Company: keep the company of righteous people.

Follow reliable scholars

• Refer: go to qualified scholars known for knowledge and piety.
• Avoid easy opinions: do not follow unusual views only because they seem easier.
• Be consistent: keep to reliable scholarly guidance.
• Understand: learn the evidence behind the ruling.

What are the benefits of following this Hadith?

There are three kinds of benefits: spiritual, social and personal.

Spiritual benefits

• Taqwa: stronger God-consciousness.
• Protection: safety from sin and its effects.
• Peace: calm of mind and heart.
• Closeness: a stronger bond with Allah.
• Conscience: a sensitive conscience.

Social benefits

• Reputation: better trust from others.
• Friends: protection from harmful relationships.
• Example: a good influence on others.
• Society: a more honest community.

Personal benefits

• Decisions: clearer choices.
• Willpower: stronger power to resist temptation.
• Health: better health by avoiding harmful substances.
• Freedom: less worry over questionable choices.
• Discipline: an orderly way of life.

What examples from Islamic history show this Hadith in practice?

How did the early Muslims show caution?

1. Abu Bakr: he ate food brought by his servant, then learnt it came from the servant’s fortune-telling. He made himself vomit it out. (Reported in Bukhari.)
2. Hasan ibn Ali: as a child he put a date from the charity dates in his mouth. The Prophet told him to throw it out, because the Prophet’s family did not take charity. (Reported in Bukhari and Muslim.)

How did the Prophet (peace be upon him) show caution?

• The date: he found a date on his bed and said he would have eaten it if he did not fear it was from charity.
• Teaching on doubt: “Leave what makes you doubt for what does not make you doubt.”
• Advice to Wabisah: “Consult your heart. Righteousness is what brings tranquillity to the soul.”

How can students apply this Hadith today?

What modern challenges call for this principle?

• Food industry: complex ingredients and processing methods.
• Digital content: a mix of useful and harmful online material.
• Financial systems: complex banking and investment products.
• Entertainment: media with mixed messages and values.
• Workplace: ethical problems in modern business.

What are the steps for applying the Hadith?

1. Learn the basics: know the clear halal and haram matters first.
2. Set personal boundaries: make rules that keep you away from doubtful areas.
3. Ask before acting: when in doubt, pause and seek proper knowledge.
4. Choose alternatives: look for clearly halal options.
5. Check yourself regularly: ask whether your actions are improving or harming your heart.

Evaluation

1. Write Hadith No. 6 of An-Nawawi’s collection in your own words.
2. Who narrated this Hadith and what do you know about him?
3. Explain the three categories of matters mentioned in this Hadith.
4. What is the meaning of the shepherd analogy in the Hadith?
5. According to the Hadith, what is the role of the heart?

Assignment

List the five practical steps for applying this Hadith in daily life, and give one example of a doubtful matter to which you can apply them.