◈ Introduction: The Danger of Following Ambiguities
One of the covert pathways leading to shirk is following ambiguous matters (mutashābihāt). As reported from Sayyiduna Nu‘mān ibn Bashīr (رضي الله عنه), the Prophet ﷺ said:
❝The lawful is clear, and the unlawful is clear. Between them are matters that are doubtful, which many people do not know. Whoever avoids the doubtful matters saves his religion and honor...❞
This Hadith highlights that sins are like Allah’s forbidden pasture; just as animals grazing too close to a restricted pasture may eventually trespass into it, similarly, those who deal with doubtful matters are at risk of falling into the clearly forbidden—among which shirk is the gravest.
❀ Avoiding the Doubtful to Protect Faith
Avoiding doubtful matters is a protective barrier against falling into haram and shirk. Just as trespassing into a nobleman's private land can incur severe punishment, entering into Allah's prohibited limits through neglect or ignorance invites divine retribution. Abstinence from ambiguities ensures safety from innovations and major sins.
◈ Prophetic Example in Avoiding Doubt
Imam Bukhari, in the chapter “Avoiding Doubtful Matters”, narrates from Anas (رضي الله عنه):
❝The Prophet ﷺ passed by a fallen date and said: Had I not feared it to be from charity, I would have eaten it.❞
This example shows the level of caution the Prophet ﷺ exercised even in seemingly trivial matters.
◈ Wisdom from the Pious
Ḥassān ibn Abī Sinān stated:
❝I have not seen anything easier than piety. Leave that which makes you doubt for that which does not.❞
Imam Ghazālī remarked:
“The piety of the righteous is to avoid even those things that are not clearly forbidden, lest they lead to what is haram.”
◈ The Qur’an: Clear vs. Ambiguous Verses
The Qur’an contains both muḥkamāt (clear verses) and mutashābihāt (ambiguous verses). The clear verses relate to halal, haram, worship, and divine boundaries. Ambiguous verses include symbolic expressions, unseen matters, and multi-interpretable statements like:
❝وَكَلِمَتُهُ أَلْقَاهَا إِلَىٰ مَرْيَمَ وَرُوحٌ مِّنْهُ❞
"His Word which He conveyed to Mary, and a spirit from Him." (An-Nisā: 171)
Those with diseased hearts pursue these ambiguous verses to sow confusion, legitimize false beliefs, and promote innovations and shirk under the guise of Qur'anic evidence.
◈ The True Scholars' Approach
The people of sound knowledge affirm their belief in both the clear and ambiguous verses. They do not delve into speculative interpretations of the ambiguous; instead, they rely on clear verses, authentic Sunnah, and the Arabic language for proper understanding.
❝هُوَ الَّذِي أَنزَلَ عَلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ...❞
“He is the One who has revealed the Book to you. Some of its verses are clear—they are the foundation of the Book—while others are ambiguous...” (Āl-‘Imrān: 7)
✔ A Divine Principle to Prevent Misguidance
This verse establishes a decisive rule: those who follow ambiguities are prone to misguidance. The Prophet ﷺ further warned:
❝When you see those who follow ambiguous parts of the Qur'an, they are those whom Allah has named (as deviant); beware of them.❞
◈ Imitation of Jews and Christians
Those in the Muslim Ummah who insist on following ambiguous texts resemble the Jews and Christians who forsook clear divine commandments. They distorted their scriptures and misunderstood the miracles of the Prophets, thus falling into misguidance.
◈ Conclusion: A Call for Sincerity and Submission
The deliberate following of ambiguous verses for personal interpretation, without grounding in clear guidance and sound knowledge, is a dangerous path that can lead to shirk and deviation. Believers are urged to stay within the clarity of Qur’anic guidance and uphold the legacy of sincere submission:
❝رَبَّنَا لَا تُزِغْ قُلُوبَنَا بَعْدَ إِذْ هَدَيْتَنَا❞
"Our Lord, do not let our hearts deviate after You have guided us." Ameen.
One of the covert pathways leading to shirk is following ambiguous matters (mutashābihāt). As reported from Sayyiduna Nu‘mān ibn Bashīr (رضي الله عنه), the Prophet ﷺ said:
❝The lawful is clear, and the unlawful is clear. Between them are matters that are doubtful, which many people do not know. Whoever avoids the doubtful matters saves his religion and honor...❞
This Hadith highlights that sins are like Allah’s forbidden pasture; just as animals grazing too close to a restricted pasture may eventually trespass into it, similarly, those who deal with doubtful matters are at risk of falling into the clearly forbidden—among which shirk is the gravest.
❀ Avoiding the Doubtful to Protect Faith
Avoiding doubtful matters is a protective barrier against falling into haram and shirk. Just as trespassing into a nobleman's private land can incur severe punishment, entering into Allah's prohibited limits through neglect or ignorance invites divine retribution. Abstinence from ambiguities ensures safety from innovations and major sins.
◈ Prophetic Example in Avoiding Doubt
Imam Bukhari, in the chapter “Avoiding Doubtful Matters”, narrates from Anas (رضي الله عنه):
❝The Prophet ﷺ passed by a fallen date and said: Had I not feared it to be from charity, I would have eaten it.❞
This example shows the level of caution the Prophet ﷺ exercised even in seemingly trivial matters.
◈ Wisdom from the Pious
Ḥassān ibn Abī Sinān stated:
❝I have not seen anything easier than piety. Leave that which makes you doubt for that which does not.❞
Imam Ghazālī remarked:
“The piety of the righteous is to avoid even those things that are not clearly forbidden, lest they lead to what is haram.”
◈ The Qur’an: Clear vs. Ambiguous Verses
The Qur’an contains both muḥkamāt (clear verses) and mutashābihāt (ambiguous verses). The clear verses relate to halal, haram, worship, and divine boundaries. Ambiguous verses include symbolic expressions, unseen matters, and multi-interpretable statements like:
❝وَكَلِمَتُهُ أَلْقَاهَا إِلَىٰ مَرْيَمَ وَرُوحٌ مِّنْهُ❞
"His Word which He conveyed to Mary, and a spirit from Him." (An-Nisā: 171)
Those with diseased hearts pursue these ambiguous verses to sow confusion, legitimize false beliefs, and promote innovations and shirk under the guise of Qur'anic evidence.
◈ The True Scholars' Approach
The people of sound knowledge affirm their belief in both the clear and ambiguous verses. They do not delve into speculative interpretations of the ambiguous; instead, they rely on clear verses, authentic Sunnah, and the Arabic language for proper understanding.
❝هُوَ الَّذِي أَنزَلَ عَلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ...❞
“He is the One who has revealed the Book to you. Some of its verses are clear—they are the foundation of the Book—while others are ambiguous...” (Āl-‘Imrān: 7)
✔ A Divine Principle to Prevent Misguidance
This verse establishes a decisive rule: those who follow ambiguities are prone to misguidance. The Prophet ﷺ further warned:
❝When you see those who follow ambiguous parts of the Qur'an, they are those whom Allah has named (as deviant); beware of them.❞
◈ Imitation of Jews and Christians
Those in the Muslim Ummah who insist on following ambiguous texts resemble the Jews and Christians who forsook clear divine commandments. They distorted their scriptures and misunderstood the miracles of the Prophets, thus falling into misguidance.
◈ Conclusion: A Call for Sincerity and Submission
The deliberate following of ambiguous verses for personal interpretation, without grounding in clear guidance and sound knowledge, is a dangerous path that can lead to shirk and deviation. Believers are urged to stay within the clarity of Qur’anic guidance and uphold the legacy of sincere submission:
❝رَبَّنَا لَا تُزِغْ قُلُوبَنَا بَعْدَ إِذْ هَدَيْتَنَا❞
"Our Lord, do not let our hearts deviate after You have guided us." Ameen.
