From my Notebook: 30 Hadith Nawawi- about limits or ‘hadd’
This is a digitized version of my Hadith notebook, compiled while studying Shaykh Abu Zaid Zameer’s YouTube series on Al-Arbaeen An-Nawawi. Converting my handwritten notes into this format makes them easier to study and share. May Allah سبحانه وتعالى accept this as Sadaqah Jariyah and reward all seekers of knowledge. You may share this link or download the attached images. The relevant lecture video is linked below for easy access.
This hadith is Hasan. Some scholars have also said that this hadith is daif including sheikh Al-Albani this is because the a rawi or the narrator in this chain is Mudali i.e a person not reliable in context of hadith narration. It is proven that they met but not proven that hadith was heard from him. But many scholars have said that the same is proven, Ibn Maen heard it that is why Imam Nawwawi and many others say that this hadith is hasan. Even if this hadith is daif: but the idea that has been mentioned in this is Sahih. In Another Hasan hadith mentioned by Abu Darda; that the Prophet ﷺ said: “What is lawful is that which Allah has permitted in His Book and what is unlawful is what is forbidden in his Book. What He remained silent about is what is pardoned.’’ then our Prophet ﷺ continued to recite the ayah “Your Lord does not forget” (Surah Maryam 64). This Hadith defines what is mentioned in 30th Hadith.
- Allah has made a few things Fard (obligatory) so do not waste them.
- Allah has set some limits so do not cross them.
- Allah (Glory be so Him) has made some things haram so, do not go near them.
- Some matters have been pardoned by your Lord, so do not delve into their minute details.
What is Fard? Fard refers to what is strictly obligatory. Performing it earns reward, but abandoning it results in sin. It is not permissible to leave what is Fard. A question arises here about the difference between Fard and Wajib, the correct view is that both Fard and Wajih are one. They are similar and hold the same importance.
Allah سبحانه وتعالى says in the quran “Say, “Obey Allah and obey the Messenger. But if you turn away, then he is only responsible for his duty and you are responsible for yours. And if you obey him, you will be ˹rightly˺ guided. The Messenger’s duty is only to deliver ˹the message˺ clearly.”” An-Nur 54
Also “Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “Obey Allah and His Messenger.” If they still turn away, then truly Allah does not like the disbelievers.” Al- Imran verse 32
So, Allah سبحانه وتعالى made no distinction between the two orders as the orders as the order our Beloved gave is actually the order of Allah only. So both disobeying Allah and also disobeying the Messenger, leads to Kufr. They are the same in degree as both are from Allah. If you do not obey the Prophet ﷺ then that is Kufr too, Because the words are from our Beloved, but the command behind those words comes from Allah سبحانه وتعالى. “Whoever obeys the Messenger has truly obeyed Allah. But whoever turns away, then ˹know that˺ We have not sent you ˹O Prophet˺ as a keeper over them.” Surah Nisa 80
Zakat al-Fitr is wajib on a Muslim before the Eid prayer, and we know this ruling not through the Quran but trough the Hadith in which the Prophet ﷺ commanded the Muslims to give it before they go out for the Eid prayer.(Bukhari 1503)
What does “so do not neglect / waste time” mean, to waste a Fard?
- To abandon them (not praying salah, ramadan fast etc)
- Does the Fard acts but does not follow it’s due rules e.g a person prays Salah but does not make wadu or skips a few steps of Salah or fasts but breaks the fast 1 hour early..
- Does the fard act follows the rules as well but does it only externally; to impress or please people hence, his intentions are not pure towards those Fardd acts / or a person shows off his Fard deeds by saying “I fast in ramadan”, “I don’t backbite” ete…
“Limits are set do not overstep them” if you cross the limits you can reach a harmful place. Whenever you overstep a limit set by Allah سبحانه وتعالى , you will end up doing something Haram for sure. So, limits are a safety.
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Three things that are included as limits as said by the Uluma:
- Crossing the limit is haram.
- Different sins have punishments so, limit also means the Sharia punishment.
- Allah سبحانه وتعالى has decided something & that is the limit for us that we are not to cross.
Limit is what separates something, a differentiation.
Ibnul Aseer (RA) said in his book, An Nihaya Fi Garebil Hadith walasr:
What does “hadd” or limit mean, it means something denied, something that distinguishes between two things and that it’s called a limit, what keeps to things separate. So, limits set in the Shariah differentiate between halal and Haram. Included in these are also those limits which we should not even go near to. Limits and prohibitions are two different things shown in the following Hadith
“Allah strikes a parable of the straight path. On either side of the path are walls with open doors over which are hanging curtains. Upon the gate of the path is a caller, saying, ‘O people! Enter the straight path altogether and do not divert to the side!’ A caller is placed above the path and when anyone intends to open those doors in the slightest, he says, ‘Woe to you! Do not open it or else you will enter it!’ The path is Islam, the curtains are the limits of Allah, and the open doors are the prohibitions of Allah. The caller at the head of the path is the Book of Allah, and the caller above the path is an admonition from Allah in the heart of every Muslim.”
Ibn Rajab narrates: Allah سبحانه وتعالى has told us about the limits these are those things that we can do but once we cross them, we become sinful. Allah سبحانه وتعالى says: these are the limits and whoever crosses Allah’s limits has done Zulm on one’s life; this means if you do something in any other way than the way Allah سبحانه وتعالى has ordained. (This is is related to the rulings regarding divorce) Limits are like curtains over doors, once we cross those curtains we enter te fold of haram. These curtains should not be crossed for our own safety.
‘Punishments’ or ‘limits’ about these means, not going through with them or editing them how one wants them; not following the orders of Allah سبحانه وتعالى.
It was narrated from Ibn `Umar that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:“Carrying out one of the legal punishments prescribed by Allah (SWT) is better than if it were to rain for forty nights in the land of Allah (SWT), Glorified is He.” Sunan Ibn Majah 2537
Fulfil the limit set by Allah سبحانه وتعالى and do not edit them according to your own convenience or wishes. Do not be lenient to your close relative nor increase the punishment because someone is your enemy. All of this is not allowed.
“It is not for a believing man or woman — when Allah and His Messenger decree a matter — to have any other choice in that matter.1 Indeed, whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger has clearly gone ˹far˺ astray.” Al-Ahzab 33:36
Allah سبحانه وتعالى gave us a a ruling in the Quran or the Prophet ﷺ told us about a ruling, then a Muslim is not allowed to seek judgement from anyone else nor follow their own desires. Allah سبحانه وتعالى has made only a few things Haram as compare to a lot of that are halal so, it’s best for us to stay away from haram. Enjoy the halal, but humans are weird as they focus and are only attracted to the little haram. 70,000 types of fruit juice is allowed, but humans go only towards alcohol.
It was narrated from Thawban that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: “I certainly know people of my nation who will come on the Day of Resurrection with good deeds like the mountains of Tihamah, but Allah will make them like scattered dust.” Thawban said: “O Messenger of Allah, describe them to us and tell us more, so that we will not become of them unknowingly.” He said: “They are your brothers and from your race, worshipping at night as you do, but they will be people who, when they are alone, transgress the sacred limits of Allah.” Sunan Ibn Majah 4245
Fourth thing: something are left unsaid so do not go into the details of those things. Do not make things haram for you when are not labelled as Haram. Things about which nothing is said are halal UNTIL a ruling arises hinting it as haram ( it should be noted that this only applies to things other than worship. It includes general things like food, clothing, et cetera, not worship.) ~agar mana ki dalil nahi ha tou jaiz hai~ As said earlier, this fourth statement of this Hadith does not apply to the acts of worship. In case of worship, it is the opposite, we need to have a definitive ruling or statements that says what is to be done and only that is to be done in regards of worship. On the other hand, as discussed, for general things all is allowed, unless specifically mentioned that something is Haram. Driving a car is allowed, and so is wearing denim clothes unless specified like silk, which is forbidden for men.
In Arabic language ‘to forget’ also means to neglect, not just forget. Allah سبحانه وتعالى does not forget, but He can neglect someone after giving him knowledge.Do not look in details about those things about which nothing has been mentioned.
“So taste ˹the punishment˺ for neglecting the meeting of this Day of yours. We ˹too˺ will certainly neglect you. And taste the torment of eternity for what you used to do!” Quran 32:14
“O believers! Do not ask about any matter which, if made clear to you, may disturb you. But if you inquire about what is being revealed in the Quran, it will be made clear to you. Allah has forgiven what was done ˹in the past˺. And Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Forbearing.” 5:101 Surah Maidah
Do not ask about fake scenarios that you make up in your head. A man went to Imam Malik and said “in the Quran in Surah Taha. Allah سبحانه وتعالى said He is on the Arsh, how did Allah سبحانه وتعالى reach there? Imam Malik got angry, like he had never been before, and all the people around were waiting for him to answer. He replied, ‘we cannot comprehend this from our finite minds, something that is infinite, and it’s obligatory to accept it and to go into details of this Bidah, and according to me, you are deviated from the straight path’ and he was asked to leave.
Lastly, for example leopard is not mentioned anywhere BUT its clear characteristics are mentioned; animals that hunt violently with their sharp clause, so leopard not mentioned but its characteristics were mentioned so it is haram to eat.
