Authored by: Imran Ayub Lahori
The distinction between halal (lawful) and haram (unlawful) is clear in Islam. However, there are certain matters that fall into the grey area of doubt, which are neither clearly halal nor haram to many people. Avoiding such doubtful issues, especially in business dealings, is essential for one’s spiritual safety and salvation.
❶ It is narrated from Hazrat Nu'man bin Bashir (رضي الله عنه) that the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said:
“Indeed the halal is clear and the haram is clear, and between them are doubtful matters which many people do not know about:
فمن اتقى الشبهــات فـقـد استبرأ لدينـه وعرضه ومن وقع فى الشبهات وقع فى الحرام”
“So whoever avoids the doubtful matters has protected his religion and his honor. And whoever indulges in doubtful matters falls into the haram.”
[Bukhari: 52, Book of Faith: Chapter on the Virtue of Safeguarding One’s Religion]
❷ The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said:
"دع ما يريبك إلى ما لا يريبك"
“Leave that which causes you doubt for that which does not cause you doubt.”
[Bukhari (Mu’allaq), before Hadith: 2052, Book of Trade: Chapter on Interpretation of Doubtful Matters]
❸ The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) once saw a date on the road and said:
"لولا أن تكون صدقة لأكلتها"
“If I were not afraid that it might be from charity, I would have eaten it.”
[Bukhari: 2055, Book of Trade: Chapter on Abstaining from Doubtful Matters]
❹ It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Tha’labah Al-Khushani (رضي الله عنه) that he asked the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) to inform him about halal and haram, and he said:
"البر ما سكنت اليه النفس واطمأن إليه القلب، والإثم ما لم تسكن إليه النفس، ولم يطمئن إليه القلب، وإن أفتاك المفتون"
“Righteousness is that which your soul finds rest and your heart feels content with, and sin is that which causes discomfort in your soul and hesitation in your heart—even if the muftis give you a fatwa.”
[Sahih: Sahih al-Targhib: 1735, Book of Trade: Chapter on Encouragement to Avoid Doubtful Matters; Ahmad: 4/194]
❺ It is narrated from Hazrat Nawwas bin Sam’an (رضي الله عنه) that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said:
"البر حسن الخلق، والإثم ما حاك في صدرك، وكرهت أن يطلع عليه الناس"
“Righteousness is good character, and sin is that which causes unease in your heart and you dislike that people come to know of it.”
[Muslim: 2553]
❻ It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Umamah (رضي الله عنه) that:
A man asked the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم), “What is sin?”
He replied:
"إذا حاك في نفسك شيئ فدعه"
“If something pricks your conscience, then leave it.”
He asked, “And what is faith?”
He replied:
"إذا ساءتك سيئتك، وسرتك حسنتك، فأنت مؤمن"
“When your bad deed distresses you and your good deed pleases you, then you are a believer.”
[Sahih: Sahih al-Targhib: 1739, Book of Trade: Chapter on Encouragement to Avoid Doubtful Matters; Ahmad: 5/251]
Summary:
Islamic teachings emphasize extreme caution in matters that are doubtful. The avoidance of such issues, especially in trade and business, ensures the safety of one’s religion, reputation, and the purity of one’s earnings. It is a sign of true faith and God-consciousness to refrain from actions that stir the heart with doubt—even if they appear permissible on the surface.
✿ Avoiding Doubtful Matters in Business
The distinction between halal (lawful) and haram (unlawful) is clear in Islam. However, there are certain matters that fall into the grey area of doubt, which are neither clearly halal nor haram to many people. Avoiding such doubtful issues, especially in business dealings, is essential for one’s spiritual safety and salvation.
➤ Evidences from Hadith:
❶ It is narrated from Hazrat Nu'man bin Bashir (رضي الله عنه) that the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said:
“Indeed the halal is clear and the haram is clear, and between them are doubtful matters which many people do not know about:
فمن اتقى الشبهــات فـقـد استبرأ لدينـه وعرضه ومن وقع فى الشبهات وقع فى الحرام”
“So whoever avoids the doubtful matters has protected his religion and his honor. And whoever indulges in doubtful matters falls into the haram.”
[Bukhari: 52, Book of Faith: Chapter on the Virtue of Safeguarding One’s Religion]
❷ The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said:
"دع ما يريبك إلى ما لا يريبك"
“Leave that which causes you doubt for that which does not cause you doubt.”
[Bukhari (Mu’allaq), before Hadith: 2052, Book of Trade: Chapter on Interpretation of Doubtful Matters]
❸ The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) once saw a date on the road and said:
"لولا أن تكون صدقة لأكلتها"
“If I were not afraid that it might be from charity, I would have eaten it.”
[Bukhari: 2055, Book of Trade: Chapter on Abstaining from Doubtful Matters]
❹ It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Tha’labah Al-Khushani (رضي الله عنه) that he asked the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) to inform him about halal and haram, and he said:
"البر ما سكنت اليه النفس واطمأن إليه القلب، والإثم ما لم تسكن إليه النفس، ولم يطمئن إليه القلب، وإن أفتاك المفتون"
“Righteousness is that which your soul finds rest and your heart feels content with, and sin is that which causes discomfort in your soul and hesitation in your heart—even if the muftis give you a fatwa.”
[Sahih: Sahih al-Targhib: 1735, Book of Trade: Chapter on Encouragement to Avoid Doubtful Matters; Ahmad: 4/194]
❺ It is narrated from Hazrat Nawwas bin Sam’an (رضي الله عنه) that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said:
"البر حسن الخلق، والإثم ما حاك في صدرك، وكرهت أن يطلع عليه الناس"
“Righteousness is good character, and sin is that which causes unease in your heart and you dislike that people come to know of it.”
[Muslim: 2553]
❻ It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Umamah (رضي الله عنه) that:
A man asked the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم), “What is sin?”
He replied:
"إذا حاك في نفسك شيئ فدعه"
“If something pricks your conscience, then leave it.”
He asked, “And what is faith?”
He replied:
"إذا ساءتك سيئتك، وسرتك حسنتك، فأنت مؤمن"
“When your bad deed distresses you and your good deed pleases you, then you are a believer.”
[Sahih: Sahih al-Targhib: 1739, Book of Trade: Chapter on Encouragement to Avoid Doubtful Matters; Ahmad: 5/251]
Summary:
Islamic teachings emphasize extreme caution in matters that are doubtful. The avoidance of such issues, especially in trade and business, ensures the safety of one’s religion, reputation, and the purity of one’s earnings. It is a sign of true faith and God-consciousness to refrain from actions that stir the heart with doubt—even if they appear permissible on the surface.
