Shariah Ruling

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) explains a general rule in matters and that they fall under three categories in the Shariah: clearly lawful matters, clearly unlawful matters, and doubtful matters with the rulings on whether they are illegal or lawful being unclear and unknown to many people. So, whoever abandons those suspicious matters keeps his religion safe by avoiding falling into the unlawful and keeps his honor safe from people's criticism of him for engaging in such doubtful things. Whoever does not avoid doubtful matters risks falling into the unlawful or being maligned by people. The Messenger (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) provided a parable to demonstrate the condition of a person who engages in doubtful matters, saying that he is like a shepherd who grazes his cattle close to a piece of land protected by its owner; so, his cattle are likely to pasture in this protected land, given its proximity. Likewise, he who engages in a suspicious matter draws near to the unlawful and is likely to fall into it. Then, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) informed that there is a piece of flesh in the body, namely the heart, and when it is sound, the whole body is sound, and if it is corrupt, the entire body becomes corrupt.

1. The Hadīth urges us to avoid suspicious matters with unclear rulings.

صحيح البخاري (1/ 20) (52). صحيح مسلم (3/ 1219) (1599). التحفة الربانية في شرح الأربعين حديثا النووية (ص18). شرح الأربعين النووية، لابن عثيمين (ص105). فتح القوي المتين في شرح الأربعين وتتمة الخمسين، للعباد (ص41). فتح الباري لابن حجر (4/ 291). شرح النووي على مسلم (11/ 28).

Ibn ‘Umar informs us about two Fiqhi rulings related to the lawfulness of eating some things: the first is the lawfulness of eating dead locusts and fish, and the second is the lawfulness of eating two types of blood, which are the liver and the spleen. These two rulings are exceptions to the prohibition of eating dead animals and blood.

1. توضيح الأحكام للشيخ البسام، ط5، مكتبة الأسدي، مكة المكرمة، 1423ه. 2. سُبل السلام، للصنعاني، دار الحديث. 3. تسهيل الإلمام، للشيخ صالح الفوزان، بعناية: عبدالسلام السليمان، ط1، 1427ه. 4. شرح الشيخ ابن عثيمين للبلوغ، تحقيق صبحي رمضان وآخر، ط1، المكتبة الإسلامية، مصر، 1427ه. 5. منحة العلَّام للشيخ عبد الله بن صالح الفوزان، ط1، دار ابن الجوزي، الدمام، 1427ه.

Shurayh ibn Hāni' is one of the companions of ‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with him). He went to ‘Ali seeking a ruling on the period of time wherein it is allowed to wipe over the leather socks. This inquiry came after our Mother ‘Ā'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) had advised him to address his question to ‘Ali, who was an expert in the Sunnah of wiping (over the leather socks). Shurayh said: "We asked him about wiping", i.e. about the duration of its validity. "Wiping" means passing a wet hand over the organ and the leather sock, which is a foot covering made from leather that covers the heels and the ankles. A sock is anything that covers the feet and the ankles. It can be made from hair or wool, and can be thick or thin, and is worn in the cold. 'Ali ibn Abi Tālib (may Allah be pleased with him) told them that the duration for wiping is three days with their nights for the traveler, and one day and night for the one who is not traveling. This evidence supports the opinion held by the majority of scholars that the duration in which wiping remains valid is three days for the traveler and one day and night for the non-traveler. The traveler is granted a longer duration because he is more entitled to the concession than the non-traveler due to the hardship involved in traveling.

صحيح مسلم، مسلم بن الحجاج القشيري النيسابوري، تحقيق محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي، دار إحياء التراث العربي، بيروت، الطبعة: 1423 هـ. توضيح الأحكام مِن بلوغ المرام، عبد الله بن عبد الرحمن البسام، مكتبة الأسدي، مكة المكرّمة، الطبعة: الخامِسَة 1423هـ، 2003م.

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) reports that Allah loves that people should take the dispensations He made lawful, such as lightening the rulings and acts of worship and making them easier for the performers, due to some excuse, like shortening and combining the prayers during travel - as He loves that His obligations and duties be discharged. This is because Allah's command in terms of dispensations and obligations is the same.

1. The Hadīth shows Allah's mercy towards His servants and that He loves His lawful dispensations to be taken.
2. It highlights the perfection of this Shariah and how it removes undue restrictions from the Muslims.

صحيح ابن حبان (2/ 69) (354)، فيض القدير (2/292)، نيل الأوطار (3/244).

The Mother of the Believers ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) informs that the Prophet (ﷺ), when commanding people to perform deeds, would instruct them to do only what was easy for them and not burdensome—out of concern that they might be unable to maintain it consistently. He himself acted upon what he commanded of moderation and ease. However, they requested to be tasked with more difficult acts, believing that they needed to exert greater effort in worship to attain higher ranks and perhaps reach a status close to his. They would say: Our situation is not like yours, O Messenger of Allah, for Allah has forgiven all your past and future sins. He would then become angry—so much so that the anger could be seen on his face—and he would say: I am the most God-fearing and the most knowledgeable among you about Allah. So, do as I command you.

1. Ibn Hajar said: He only commanded them with what was easy for them so that they would do it consistently, as he said in another Hadīth: "The most beloved deeds to Allah are those done consistently."
2. A righteous man should not abandon striving in good deeds, relying merely on his righteousness.
3. It is permissible for a person to speak about his own virtue when there is a need to do so, provided he is safe from pride and arrogance.
4. The best approach in worship is moderation and consistency—not exaggeration that leads to abandonment.
5. Ibn Hajar said: When a servant reaches the highest level in worship and its fruits, that should make him even more persistent in maintaining it, in order to preserve the blessing and increase it through gratitude.
6. It is permissible to show anger when a religious command is violated, and to reproach a knowledgeable or intelligent person who fails to understand the intended meaning—in order to urge him to be more attentive.
7. The Prophet (ﷺ) showed gentleness toward his Ummah, demonstrating that the religion is one of ease and that the Shariah is upright and tolerant.
8. The strong desire of the Companions for worship and their eagerness to increase in goodness.
9. Adhering to the limits set by the Legislator—whether in strict obligations or permitted concessions—and believing that choosing the easier option, when it aligns with the Shariah, is better than taking the harder path that goes against it.

صحيح البخاري (1/ 13) (20). شرح صحيح البخاري لابن بطال (73/1). عمدة القاري شرح صحيح البخاري (1/ 166).