Speaking in religion without knowledge?

[Alsunna Teacher]

Speaking without knowledge is a dangerous matter. Allah said in Surat al-Isra', Ayah 36:

which means:
[Do not act or give judgments in the Religion without knowledge. On the Day of Judgment one's ears, eyes, and heart will be asked about their deeds.]

The Prophet, sallallahu ^alayhi wa sallam, also advised in this matter. Both at-Tirmidhiyy (in his book Al-Jami^) and the hafidh, Ibn Muhammad Ibn Abu Bakr al-Qurashiyy (in his book, As-Samt, which means "The Silence") narrated from Prophet Muhammad that he said:

 



These words of the Prophet mean: <<Say something good or else keep silent.>> This advice is important to follow because giving judgments in the Religion without knowledge is among the ways which lead a person to be a loser in the Hereafter. Indeed, this matter is among the top reasons leading people to enter Hellfire. The one who says something is "halal" (permissible) or "haram" (forbidden) in the Religion without relying on a valid religious permission to do so is sinful and deserves the severe torture in Hellfire

The pious, knowledgeable people said it is a very good act for the person to say: "I do not know," when it is applicable to do so. If one does not know the religious judgment on a particular case, he should not venture his own opinion on it. Once, when Imam ^Aliyy was asked about something which he did not know, he said, "I do not know." Then he added, "How soothing it is for me to say 'I do not know' when I do not know." Imam ^Aliyy meant that he felt comfortable not to answer a religious question when he did not know the answer to it. We should take heed and follow the words of Imam ^Aliyy in this matter. He was one of the most honored Companions of the Prophet--known for his high level of knowledge and comprehension in the Religion.

Once, when Prophet Muhammad, sallallahu ^alayhi wa sallam, was asked what the best and the worst places were, he answered:

His words mean: "I do not know. I will ask Jibril." When the Prophet asked Jibril, Jibril also said, "I do not know." After a period of time, Jibril returned to Prophet Muhammad with the answer which Allah revealed to him: "The worst places are the markets and the best places are the mosques." This is a sahih hadith related by Imam Muslim and others.

The Prophet, sallallahu ^alayhi wa sallam, taught us a very important lesson by his response. It is not shameful for one to reply, "I do not know" when it is applicable, but it is shameful to speak about religious matters without knowledge. Only Allah knows everything. For the Muslim to be safe on the Day of Judgment, he should speak only about what he knows. If one needs an answer to a Religious question, he should ask one more knowledgeable than himself or a trustworthy Muslim who can ask another pious, knowledgeable Muslim.

This is the way the knowledge of the Religion is taught, and this is the way the knowledge is preserved.

[Alsunna Teacher]

Giving an answer to an Islamic inquiry without knowledge is Prohibited.

It is unlawful to give an answer to an Islamic inquiry without knowledge, even if the answer given was correct. This is so according to the hadith of the prophet, salla-l-lahu ^alayhi wa sallam, who said:

من قال في القرآن برأيه فقد أخطأ ولو أصاب

"If one speaks about al-Qur'an by his mere opinion, then he is sinful, even if he said the truth" (at-Tirmithiyy).

Another hadith also says:
من أفتى بغير علم لعنته ملائكة السماء والأرض

Meaning: "The one who gives judgment without knowledge is cursed by the angels of the sky and earth" (Ibn ^Asakir).


So for those who want the acceptance from Allah, and to have their worship and obedience to Allah accepted, one is obligated to acquire the Islamic knowledge form the proper channels, from trustworthy God-fearing people who took the knowledge from trustworthy God-fearing people and so on.. this that knowledge goes back to the Prophet peace be upon him.

Imam al-Ghazaliy said: "Worship (^Ibadah) is not valid until one learns about the worshiped (Al-Ma^bood) i.e. Allah".


We ask Allah to protect our tongues from speaking without knowledge, and guide us on the teachings of Prophet Muhammad, and to admit us to Paradise without torture, amen.

[Sayfullah]

The Personal Obligatory Knowledge of the Religion is the amount that one has to learn among the Knowledge of Belief, rules of purification (taharah), the prayer (salah), fasting, and judgments pertaining to dealings for the one who engages in  transactions. Also among other issues one has to know about the sins of the heart, the organs, the tongue and the like. As well the one whom az-Zakah is obligatory has to know about the obvious judgments pertaining to az-Zakah and likewise those of  Pilgrimage (Hajj ) for the one who is able to perform it.

The prophet, salla-l-lahu ^alayhi wa sallam, said:
طلب العلم فريضة على كل مسلم

Which means:
"Seeking the Personal  Obligatory Knowledge is incumbent upon every Muslim" (narrated by al-Bayhaqiyy).


The accountable person  (Mukallaf ) is the one who is pubescent , sane and  has received the message of  Islam. The male becomes pubescent  when one of two things occurs: seeing the maniyy or reaching 15 lunar years of age. The female becomes pubescent  when one of three things occurs: seeing the maniyy, menstrual bleeding or reaching 15 lunar years of age. Hence, the one who dies before becoming pubescent is not accountable. Also, the one whose insanity continues without interruption from the time before one is pubescent, until after that, and then dies as an insane is, hence not accountable.   Moreover, if one did not hear the basis of  the message that is, the rectification that no one is God except Allah and Muhammad is the messenger of Allah, is then not accountable. Allah said in Surat al Isra' verse 15

{و ما كنا معذبين حتى نبعث رسولاً}

which means:  Allah shall not  punish in the hereafter unless he reveals a messenger.

The prophet, salla-l-lahu ^alayhi wa sallam, said:

رفع القلم عن ثلاثٍ عن النائم حتى يستيقظ، و عن الصبى حتى يحتلم، و عن المجنون حتى يعقل 

it means: The Pen has been lifted from writing the deeds of three: The one who is asleep until one wakes up, the child until he becomes pubescent and the crazy person until he becomes sane (narrated by Ahmad).

That accountable must perform the obligations and avoid the prohibitions. The God-fearing slave is the one who has performed the obligations and avoided the prohibitions. If one dies in this state, he will be admitted to Paradise without torture.

The highest and best obligation as decreed by Allah is: The Belief in Allah and his messenger. The prophet, salla-l-lahu ^alayhi wa sallam, said:

أفضل الأعمال إيمان بالله و رسوله

This means: The best of deeds is to believe correctly in Allah and his messenger (narrated by al-Bukhariyy).  Having the correct Belief  is a condition for the acceptability of the good deeds. Hence, the one who does not believe in Allah and his messenger will never have any reward in the Hereafter. Allah said in Surat Ibrahim verse 18 which means: The deeds of those who blasphemed is like dust which was scattered by wind in a stormy day .