Question:
What is the meaning of the hadith “لَا ضَرَرَ وَلَا ضِرَارَ“?
Answer by:
Scholar: ‘Umar Athari ḥafiẓahullāh
✿ Text of the Hadith
“لَا ضَرَرَ وَلَا ضِرَارَ“
“There should be no harm, and no reciprocating harm.”
✿ Brief Meaning
✔ This hadith means:
– One is not allowed to cause harm to oneself, and
– One is not allowed to cause harm to others.
✔ It emphasizes the prohibition of initiating harm, as well as responding to harm with unjust harm.
✿ Key Explanation
❖ This hadith is among the fundamental maxims of Islamic jurisprudence, establishing that:
– All forms of unjust damage, injury, or loss—whether physical, financial, social, or emotional—are prohibited in Islam.
✔ It applies to all spheres of life: transactions, contracts, family matters, societal conduct, etc.
✿ Recommended Reference
For a detailed explanation of this hadith, refer to:
“جامع العلوم والحکم فی شرح خمسین حدیثاً“
by Ibn Rajab al-Ḥanbalī رحمه الله,
where this narration is elaborated upon with scholarly insight.
وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
