Hadith 11
hasanAvoiding the Doubtful
دع ما يريبك
عَنْ أَبِي مُحَمَّدٍ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ سِبْطِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه و سلم وَرَيْحَانَتِهِ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا، قَالَ: حَفِظْت مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه و سلم دَعْ مَا يُرِيبُك إلَى مَا لَا يُرِيبُك. رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيُّ، وَقَالَ التِّرْمِذِيُّ: حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ
Translation
On the authority of Abu Muhammad al-Hasan ibn Ali ibn Abee Talib (may Allah be pleased with him), the grandson of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), and the one much loved by him, who said: I memorised from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him): “Leave that which makes you doubt for that which does not make you doubt.” [At-Tirmidhi] [An-Nasai] At-Tirmidhi said that it was a good and sound (hasan saheeh) hadeeth
Narrated by
al-Hasan ibn Ali
الحسن بن علي رضي الله عنهما
Explanation
This concise hadith provides a clear methodology for dealing with uncertain matters. When in doubt about something, leave it for what is clearly permissible.
Key Lessons
- 1Simple principle for complex decisions
- 2Certainty brings peace of mind
- 3Doubt should lead to caution
- 4Choosing certainty protects religion