In Islam, seemingly doubtful issues (Arabic: مسائل مشتبهة or mutashābihāt) are matters that fall between clearly permissible (halal) and clearly forbidden (haram). These are not about unclear theology but practical, daily life issues where the ruling is not definitively known to the average person, and scholars may differ.
These issues are best explained in light of the well-known hadith, mentioned in Sahi al-Bukhārī, Book 2, Chapter 39 as hadith number 52 given herein under:
Hadith narrated by An-Nu'man bin Bashir:
I heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) saying, 'Both legal and illegal things are evident but in between them there are doubtful (suspicious) things and most of the people have no knowledge about them. So whoever saves himself from these suspicious things saves his religion and his honor. And whoever indulges in these suspicious things is like a shepherd who grazes (his animals) near the Hima (private pasture) of someone else and at any moment he is liable to get in it. (O people!) Beware! Every king has a Hima and the Hima of Allah on the earth is His illegal (forbidden) things. Beware! There is a piece of flesh in the body if it becomes good (reformed) the whole body becomes good but if it gets spoilt the whole body gets spoilt and that is the heart.
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو نُعَيْمٍ، حَدَّثَنَا زَكَرِيَّاءُ، عَنْ عَامِرٍ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ النُّعْمَانَ بْنَ بَشِيرٍ، يَقُولُ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ " الْحَلاَلُ بَيِّنٌ وَالْحَرَامُ بَيِّنٌ، وَبَيْنَهُمَا مُشَبَّهَاتٌ لاَ يَعْلَمُهَا كَثِيرٌ مِنَ النَّاسِ، فَمَنِ اتَّقَى الْمُشَبَّهَاتِ اسْتَبْرَأَ لِدِيِنِهِ وَعِرْضِهِ، وَمَنْ وَقَعَ فِي الشُّبُهَاتِ كَرَاعٍ يَرْعَى حَوْلَ الْحِمَى، يُوشِكُ أَنْ يُوَاقِعَهُ. أَلاَ وَإِنَّ لِكُلِّ مَلِكٍ حِمًى، أَلاَ إِنَّ حِمَى اللَّهِ فِي أَرْضِهِ مَحَارِمُهُ، أَلاَ وَإِنَّ فِي الْجَسَدِ مُضْغَةً إِذَا صَلَحَتْ صَلَحَ الْجَسَدُ كُلُّهُ، وَإِذَا فَسَدَتْ فَسَدَ الْجَسَدُ كُلُّهُ. أَلاَ وَهِيَ الْقَلْبُ ".
This hadith narrated by An-Nu’man ibn Bashir, also fund in Sahih Muslim (1599)—is one of the foundational hadiths of Islamic ethics and spirituality. It gives a powerful framework for navigating right and wrong, especially in the "gray areas" of life, and it emphasizes the central role of the heart (qalb) in one's faith and actions.
Explanation of the Hadith:
- "The halal is clear and the haram is clear..." Islam provides clear guidelines on many matters:
- Prayer, fasting, stealing, zina, riba — these are well-defined.
- But not all matters are black and white.
- Example: Eating pork is clearly haram; praying five times is clearly fard (obligatory).
- "...between them are doubtful matters which many people do not know." These are ambiguous or uncertain issues, due to:
- Lack of clear evidence
- New situations (e.g. modern finance, medical ethics)
- Differences in scholarly interpretation
- Most people do not know the proper ruling—only those with sound knowledge and understanding do.
- "Whoever avoids doubtful matters protects his religion and his honor." By avoiding the gray area, a Muslim:
- Keeps their religious obedience safe from falling into sin
- Protects their personal reputation (people don’t accuse them of wrongdoing)
- Example: Avoiding food if unsure whether it contains impermissible ingredients.
- "Whoever indulges in doubtful matters is like a shepherd grazing near the king’s sanctuary..." This metaphor compares indulging in doubtful matters to:
- A shepherd grazing close to private land (ḥimā), likely to wander into forbidden ground.
- Eventually, the person may fall into haram unintentionally or through carelessness.
- Moral: Staying close to danger increases the chance of sin.
- "Indeed, every king has a sanctuary..." Allah’s sanctuary on Earth is:
- What He has clearly forbidden (the haram).
- Just like a king defends his private lands, Allah commands us to stay away from His prohibitions.
- "There is a piece of flesh... it is the heart." This part links outer behavior with inner spiritual health. A pure heart leads to:
- Moral clarity
- Sound judgment
- Sincee action
- A corrupt heart will be attracted to ambiguity and sin, and will make excuses for misbehavior.
Deep Insights: This hadith ties together:
- Fiqh (legal clarity) — halal, haram, doubtful
- Tazkiyah (spiritual purification) — the heart
- Akhlaq (ethics) — avoiding suspicion and protecting honor
- It teaches that true religiosity isn’t just technical knowledge, but moral and spiritual awareness.
Key Characteristics of Doubtful (Shubhah) Matters:
- Not clearly halal or haram.
- Scholarly disagreement or lack of consensus.
- Involve complex contexts, such as intent, culture, or modern innovation.
- They may vary based on time, place, and person.
Examples of Doubtful Issues in Islam:
- Food and Ingredients
- Gelatin: Is it halal if derived from non-zabiha animals?
- Cheese with animal rennet: Halal or not?
- Food prepared by non-Muslims: Are their slaughter practices valid?
- Some scholars permit with conditions, others caution.
- Income Sources
- Working at a bank: Is it halal if not directly involved in riba?
- Investing in stock markets: Are mixed-portfolio funds (halal/haram) permissible?
- Cryptocurrency: Is it a legitimate currency or speculative gambling (maysir)?
- Doubt arises due to evolving business models and unclear definitions.
- Clothing and Modesty
- Tight clothing: Not revealing skin, but does it outline the body?
- Makeup in public: Is it beautification or just grooming?
- Cultural dress codes: Modest in one culture but provocative in another?
- Judgment often depends on local norms and intentions.
- Music and Entertainment
- Nasheeds with instruments: Are duff and digital drums allowed?
- Streaming services: Using platforms that host both halal and haram content.
- Acting in plays or Islamic films: Is it permissible if the message is moral?
- Scholars are divided; the content, intent, and context matter greatly.
- Modern Technologies
- AI-generated images or voices: Are they imitation or tools?
- Virtual reality or video games: Halal distraction or haram waste of time?
- NFTs and digital art: Is it a business or speculation?
- Ongoing discussion in contemporary fiqh circles.
- Social Interactions
- Shaking hands with the opposite gender: Cultural greeting vs. prohibited touch?
- Mixed gatherings: Professional vs. casual settings—what's the limit?
- Social media influencers: Can they promote products or religious content?
- Judged by setting, behavior, and risk of fitnah.
How to Deal with Doubtful Matters:
- Avoid them when possible — a path to protect your faith and honor (per the hadith).
- Consult scholars — especially those trained in usul al-fiqh (legal methodology).
- Follow your conscience — as the Prophet ﷺ said:
- “Righteousness is what brings peace to your heart, and sin is what causes doubt.”
- — Musnad Ahmad 17350, Sahih by Nawawi
- Don’t condemn others harshly in doubtful areas — leave room for ikhtilaf (valid disagreement).
How to Apply This Hadith Today:
- Eating food with unclear halal status - Ingredients not verified - Avoid until certain
- Investing in stocks - Business has mixed halal/haram income - Choose clearly halal options
- Interacting online - Content may involve inappropriate speech - Refrain or set limits
- Social trends - Fashion, music, media with unclear permissibility - Stick to what aligns with Islamic values
Conclusion: This hadith establishes an important ethical principle in Islam::
- Stick to what is clear
- Follow truth, which aligns with the heart’s peace and Allah’s guidance.
- Avoid doubt in matters of conduct and belief.
- Listen to your conscience when aligned with knowledge and the Sunnah.
- Guard our hearts, because all behavior stems from it
- “A sound heart leads to a sound life.”
- That is the ultimate message of this hadith.
This is a difficuilt hadith which should not be self intepreted for any self assessment may lead to incorrect conclusions. It is better to first act upon what is unambigous in Islam. Thereafter, if there is a doubt, let it be ddiscussed with a scholar who is master of his particular field of knowledge.
May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door.
وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ
(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”
That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.
May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.
Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.
Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.
Please refer to our reference page: Collection of Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ about Warning and Cautions for more Hadiths on the subject
For more hadiths on varying subjects, refer to our reference page: Sunnah and Hadith of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to know more about Hadiths and Sunnah of Prophet of Allah. You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.
Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references as given above. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors. If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.
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