Some of the interpreters of the collection of the Forty Hadiths try to find or pinpoint some matters that are doubtful in general. Sometimes they mention matters or controversial issues where the related evidences from the Qur’an and Sunnah are contradictory and there is no apparent way to resolve the conflict. They mention general matters where opinions of scholars may also be conflicting. Some permissible matters might lead a person to do what is proscribed or lead him to fail to do what is obligatory. For example, the issue of not sleeping early and staying up late. According to the view of some scholars, it is makrooh(undesirable) to stay up late for no valid reason, just chatting or doing nothing or just wasting time. Even though in general it is permissible, this might lead to other consequences where it might cause the delaying or failing to do the wajib( what is obligatory) or it might lead us into doing muharram. The scholars also say that there are matters which were inferred or concluded based on some particular hadiths where the authenticity of the hadith is questionable. They say this can also be regarded as doubtful matters.
The main key to the issue which the Prophet, sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam, gave us, again, is the heart. If we care about our heart, we will become more sensible. If the heart is sound, strong, full of iman (faith), we will become more responsible, and we will care more about that which we do and that which we do not do. This becomes the measure to those matters that are doubtful.
Even though some interpreters gave some principles by which we can differentiate those doubtful matters, it can still be argued about or questioned. But if the heart is good, strong and full of iman, the person will be able to differentiate between the doubtful matters and other clear evident matters, where he would also be able to refrain from the doubtful matters. Sometimes people may know something is haram and not just doubtful, but yet they still get involved in it due to the weak status of their hearts.
So here again we would like to stress that the main key to dealing with the problem of doubtful matters is the heart. If we all care about the heart, make sure it is in a good status, then inshaAllah we will be able to be rescued by the help of Allah. We will be guided by Allah, since the heart will be full of light. When we say the heart is full of light or guided by light, there are things that we can do that enable us to identify and avoid doubtful matters: Al-Muhasabah – self accountability Al-Muraqabah – self reckoning
Dzikrullah – the remembrance of Allah. Imam Nawawi himself compiled another book, the Book of Azkar (remembrance), where he recorded the hadith about azkar. It is mentioned by the Prophet, sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam, that remembering Allah will the heart purified. However, we have to do it regularly and on a persistent basis. We should always try to do the azkar after prayers.
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