"...you counted it a little thing, while with Allah it was very great.'' (24:15)
"Verily, your Rubb is Ever Watchful (over them).'' (89:14)
An-Nu`man Ibn Bashir (رضي الله عنه) reported: Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said, "What is lawful is clear and what is unlawful is clear, but between them are certain doubtful things which many people do not know. So he who guards against doubtful things keeps his religion and his honour blameless. But he who falls into doubtful things falls into that which is unlawful, just as a shepherd who grazes his cattle in the vicinity of a pasture declared prohibited (by the king); he is likely to stray into the pasture. Mind you, every king has a protected pasture and Allah's involved limits is that which He has declared unlawful. Verily, there is a piece of flesh in the body, if it is healthy, the whole body is healthy, and if it is corrupt, the whole body is corrupt. Verily, it is the heart.''
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
There are such meeting-points between what is permissible and what is not permissible in the matter of religion of which the majority of people are ignorant. If man abstains from them, it means that he is keeping his duty to Allah. Yet, if he is involved in them without caring for what is allowable or unallowable, he may be supposed to have outstepped the Divine limits. Businessmen and traders are particularly warned here to avoid things of dubious nature and are urged to adopt only that pattern which is lawful. Another important point underlying this Hadith concerns the heart. Its purity or impurity directly affects the human conduct in a good or bad way. It is, therefore, absolutely necessary to cleanse the heart of all wiles and impurities, and this is not possible without sound Faith and consciousness of Allah.
Anas Ibn Malik (رضي الله عنه) reported: The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) found a dry date-fruit lying in the way and said, "Had it not been for fear of being from charity I would have eaten it.''
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
It is a lesson for a Muslim that he should stay away from a thing when he doubts its lawful aspect. The previous Hadith also confirms this view.
An-Nawwas Ibn Sam`aan (رضي الله عنه) reported: The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said, "Piety is good manner, and sin is that which creates doubt and you do not like people to know of it.''
[Muslim]
Islam lays much importance on courteous behaviour and also explains and stresses its different aspects. To meet people cheerfully, to avoid causing trouble to them, rather to try to make things convenient and comfortable to them, to do social service, to extend co-operation to others in good things and to be generous, and to like for others also that you like for yourself, are all forms of moral behaviour that are counted as virtues in Islam. All that is bad and vicious is considered by Islam as sinful. This Hadith describes two signs of a sin. First, man should feel scruples in committing it. Second, one does not like others being informed about it. The Hadith further tells us that human nature leads man to correct conclusions and keeps him away from evils, provided it has not been deformed by the environment and bad company.
Wabisah Ibn Ma`bad (رضي الله عنه) reported: I went to Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) and he asked me, "Have you come to inquire about piety?'' I replied in the affirmative. Then he said, "Ask your heart regarding it. Piety is that which contents the soul and comforts the heart, and sin is that which causes doubts and perturbs the heart, even if people pronounce it lawful and give you verdicts on such matters again and again.''
[Ahmad and Ad-Darmi]
Hasan Ibn`Ali (رضي الله عنه) reported: I have retained these words of Messenger of Allah
, "Leave what causes you doubt and turn to what does not cause you doubt.''
[At-Tirmidhi]
`Atiyyah Ibn `Urwah As-Sa`di (رضي الله عنه) reported: Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said, "No one will attain complete righteousness until he abandons (certain) unobjectionable (but doubtful) things so as to remain on his guard against something objectionable.''
[At-Tirmidhi]
