[Machine] "Oh Abu Al-Mundhir, what do you say about this and that?" He said, "Oh my son, was it you who asked me about this?" He said, "No." He said, "Then postpone it until we find a solution and treat ourselves so we can inform you."  

يَا أَبَا الْمُنْذِرِ مَا تَقُولُ فِي كَذَا وَكَذَا؟ قَالَ «يَا بُنَيَّ أَكَانَ الَّذِي سَأَلْتَنِي عَنْهُ؟» قَالَ لَا قَالَ «أَمَّا لَا» «فَأَجِّلْنِي حَتَّى يَكُونَ فَنُعَالِجَ أَنْفُسَنَا حَتَّى نُخْبِرَكَ»  

[Machine] "Do you really mean what you say, oh my uncle, like this and like that?" He said, "Oh son of my brother, was this the case?" He said, "No." He said, "Then forgive us until it becomes."  

فَتًى مَا تَقُولُ يَا عَمَّاهُ كَذَا وَكَذَا؟ قَالَ يَا ابْنَ أَخِي أَكَانَ هَذَا؟ قَالَ لَا قَالَ «فَأَعْفِنَا حَتَّى يَكُونَ»  

[Machine] "Regarding something for which only the answer to the question asked has been given."  

عَنْ شَيْءٍ لَمْ يُجِبْ فِيهِ إِلَّا جَوَابَ الَّذِي سُئِلَ عَنْهُ»  

[Machine] It means: "He used to not give a fatwa (religious ruling) regarding matters related to the private area in which there is disagreement."  

أَنَّهُ كَانَ «لَا يُفْتِي فِي الْفَرْجِ بِشَيْءٍ فِيهِ اخْتِلَافٌ»  

[Machine] He said, "O people, do not hasten the affliction before its descent, causing you to suffer here and there. If you do not hasten the affliction before its descent, Muslims will continuously have someone among them who, when asked a question, answers correctly." And when he was asked to be successful, he was granted success.  

أَنَّهُ قَالَ يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ «لَا تَعْجَلُوا بِالْبَلَاءِ قَبْلَ نُزُولِهِ فَيُذْهَبُ بِكُمْ هَاهُنَا وَهَاهُنَا فَإِنَّكُمْ إِنْ لَمْ تَعْجَلُوا بِالْبَلَاءِ قَبْلَ نُزُولِهِ لَمْ يَنْفَكَّ الْمُسْلِمُونَ أَنْ يَكُونَ فِيهِمْ مَنْ إِذَا سُئِلَ سُدِّدَ» وَإِذَا قَالَ وُفِّقَ  

[Machine] About the first of them, thirty poor people every day.  

عَنِ الْأَوَّلِ مِنْهُمَا ثَلَاثِينَ مِسْكِينًا لِكُلِّ يَوْمٍ مِسْكِينٌ  

[Machine] "I used to sit with Ibn Umar one day in Makkah and with Ibn Abbas another day. Whatever Ibn Umar would say in response to a question, I do not have knowledge of more than what he would give his verdict on."  

كُنْتُ أَجْلِسُ بِمَكَّةَ إِلَى ابْنِ عُمَرَ يَوْمًا وَإِلَى ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ يَوْمًا فَمَا يَقُولُ ابْنُ عُمَرَ فِيمَا يُسْأَلُ لَا عِلْمَ لِي أَكْثَرُ مِمَّا يُفْتِي بِهِ  

[Machine] "Abdullah said, 'Learn, for surely none of you knows when knowledge will be sought from him.'"  

عَبْدُ اللَّهِ «تَعَلَّمُوا فَإِنَّ أَحَدَكُمْ لَا يَدْرِي مَتَى يُخْتلَفُ إِلَيْهِ»  

[Machine] The Prophet ﷺ said, "The bravest among you in battle is the bravest among you in facing the Fire."  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ «أَجْرَؤُكُمْ عَلَى الْفُتْيَا أَجْرَؤُكُمْ عَلَى النَّارِ»  

[Machine] "Whoever introduces a new opinion that is not in accordance with the Book of Allah and does not have the guidance of the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, then he has not perceived what he is from when he meets Allah, the Almighty and Majestic."  

مَنْ أَحْدَثَ رَأْيًا لَيْسَ فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ وَلَمْ تَمْضِ بِهِ سُنَّةٌ مَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ لَمْ يَدْرِ عَلَى مَا هُوَ مِنْهُ إِذَا لَقِيَ اللَّهَ ﷻ  

[Machine] From him, from the Prophet ﷺ : "Whoever is given a fatwa (religious ruling) by someone who is not firm (knowledgeable/qualified), then indeed his sin is upon the one who gave him the fatwa."  

عنه عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ «مَنْ أُفْتِيَ بِفُتْيَا مَنْ غَيْرِ ثَبْتٍ فَإِنَّمَا إِثْمُهُ عَلَى مِنْ أَفْتَاهُ»  

[Machine] "Her sin is upon him."  

عنهَا فَإِثْمُهَا عَلَيْهِ»  

[Machine] Abu Bakr, when faced with an opponent, would look into the book of Allah. If he found in it something that would settle the matter between them, he would judge by it. And if it was not mentioned in the book, but he knew about it from the messenger of Allah ﷺ , he would judge by his knowledge. If it made him tired, he would come out and ask the Muslims, saying, "So and so has come to me with such and such matter. Did you know that the messenger of Allah ﷺ judged in it by a certain judgment?" Perhaps a group of people would gather to him, all of them mentioning a judgment from the messenger of Allah ﷺ regarding it. And Abu Bakr would say, "Praise be to Allah who has placed among us someone who preserves the teachings of our prophet ﷺ ." And if he found in it a sunnah from the messenger of Allah ﷺ , he would gather the heads of the people and their best ones, and consult them. When their opinions came together on a matter, he would judge by it.  

كَانَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ إِذَا وَرَدَ عَلَيْهِ الْخَصْمُ نَظَرَ فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ فَإِنْ وَجَدَ فِيهِ مَا يَقْضِي بَيْنَهُمْ قَضَى بِهِ وَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ فِي الْكِتَابِ وَعَلِمَ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فِي ذَلِكَ الْأَمْرِ سُنَّةً قَضَى بِهِ فَإِنْ أَعْيَاهُ خَرَجَ فَسَأَلَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَقَالَ «أَتَانِي كَذَا وَكَذَا فَهَلْ عَلِمْتُمْ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَضَى فِي ذَلِكَ بِقَضَاءٍ؟» فَرُبَّمَا اجْتَمَعَ إِلَيْهِ النَّفَرُ كُلُّهُمْ يَذْكُرُ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فِيهِ قَضَاءً فَيَقُولُ أَبُو بَكْرٍ «الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي جَعَلَ فِينَا مَنْ يَحْفَظُ عَلَى نَبِيِّنَا» ﷺ فَإِنْ أَعْيَاهُ أَنْ يَجِدَ فِيهِ سُنَّةً مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ جَمَعَ رُءُوسَ النَّاسِ وَخِيَارَهُمْ فَاسْتَشَارَهُمْ فَإِذَا اجْتَمَعَ رَأْيُهُمْ عَلَى أَمْرٍ قَضَى بِهِ  

[Machine] "Do you have any information about the Prophet ﷺ ? He said, 'No.' He asked, 'What about Abu Bakr?' He said, 'No.' He asked, 'What about Umar?' He said, 'No.' He asked, 'What about Uthman?' He said, 'No.' Umar said, 'I don't see her fasting, so I left and found Tawus and Ata' ibn Abi Rabah, and I asked them. Tawus said, 'She only fasts if she decides to do it herself.' Ata' also said, 'That is my opinion.'  

أَعَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ؟ قَالَ لَا قَالَ فَعَنْ أَبِي بَكْرٍ؟ قَالَ لَا؟ قَالَ فَعَنْ عُمَرَ؟ قَالَ لَا قَالَ فَعَنْ عُثْمَانَ؟ قَالَ لَا قَالَ عُمَرُ مَا أَرَى عَلَيْهَا صِيَامًا فَخَرَجْتُ فَوَجَدْتُ طَاوُسًا وَعَطَاءَ بْنَ أَبِي رَبَاحٍ فَسَأَلْتُهُمَا فَقَالَ طَاوُسٌ كَانَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ «لَا يَرَى عَلَيْهَا صِيَامًا إِلَّا أَنْ تَجْعَلَهُ عَلَى نَفْسِهَا» قَالَ وَقَالَ عَطَاءٌ ذَلِكَ رَأْيِي  

[Machine] When Abu Salamah arrived in Basrah, both Hassan and I went to visit him. He said to Hassan, "Are you Hassan? No one in Basrah is dearer to me for a meeting than you. This is because I heard that you give fatwas based on your opinion, but do not give fatwas based on your opinion unless it is a Sunnah from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ or a revealed book."  

لَمَّا قَدِمَ أَبُو سَلَمَةَ الْبَصْرَةَ أَتَيْتُهُ أَنَا وَالْحَسَنُ فَقَالَ لِلْحَسَنِ أَنْتَ الْحَسَنُ؟ «مَا كَانَ أَحَدٌ بِالْبَصْرَةِ أَحَبَّ إِلَيَّ لِقَاءً مِنْكَ وَذَلِكَ أَنَّهُ بَلَغَنِي أَنَّكَ تُفْتِي بِرَأْيِكَ فَلَا تُفْتِ بِرَأْيِكَ إِلَّا أَنْ تَكُونَ سُنَّةٌ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَوْ كِتَابٌ مُنْزَلٌ»  

[Machine] He (said to him), "O Abu al-Sha'tha', indeed you are one of the knowledgeable people of Basra, so do not issue fatwas except with a clear Quranic verse or a established Sunnah, for if you do anything different from that, you will be ruined, and you will cause ruin."  

لَهُ «يَا أَبَا الشَّعْثَاءِ إِنَّكَ مِنْ فُقَهَاءِ الْبَصْرَةِ فَلَا تُفْتِ إِلَّا بِقُرْآنٍ نَاطِقٍ أَوْ سُنَّةٍ مَاضِيَةٍ فَإِنَّكَ إِنْ فَعَلْتَ غَيْرَ ذَلِكَ هَلَكْتَ وَأَهْلَكْتَ»  

"There was a time when we did not pass so many judgments, but now that time is over. Now Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, has decreed that we reach a time when, as you see, (we are asked to pass many judgments). Whoever among you is asked to pass a judgment after this day, let him pass judgment according to what is in the Book of Allah. If he is faced with a matter that is not mentioned in the Book of Allah, let him pass judgment according to the way His Prophet [SAW] passed judgment. If he is faced with a matter that is not mentioned in the Book of Allah, and concerning which His Prophet did not pass judgment, then let him pass judgment according to the way the righteous passed judgment. And let him not say 'I am afraid, I am afraid.' For that which is lawful is clear and that which is unlawful is clear, and between them are matters which are not as clear. Leave that which makes you doubt for that which does not make you doubt." (Using translation from Nasāʾī 5398)   

أَتَى عَلَيْنَا زَمَانٌ لَسْنَا نَقْضِي وَلَسْنَا هُنَالِكَ وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ قَدْ قَدَّرَ مِنَ الْأَمْرِ أَنْ قَدْ بَلَغْنَا مَا تَرَوْنَ «فَمَنْ عَرَضَ لَهُ قَضَاءٌ بَعْدَ الْيَوْمِ فَلْيَقْضِ فِيهِ بِمَا فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ ﷻ فَإِنْ جَاءَهُ مَا لَيْسَ فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ فَلْيَقْضِ بِمَا قَضَى بِهِ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَإِنْ جَاءَهُ مَا لَيْسَ فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ وَلَمْ يَقْضِ بِهِ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَلْيَقْضِ بِمَا قَضَى بِهِ الصَّالِحُونَ وَلَا يَقُلْ إِنِّي أَخَافُ وَإِنِّي أُرَى فَإِنَّ الْحَرَامَ بَيِّنٌ وَالْحَلَالَ بَيِّنٌ وَبَيْنَ ذَلِكَ أُمُورٌ مُشْتَبِهَةٌ فَدَعْ مَا يَرِيبُكَ إِلَى مَا لَا يَرِيبُكَ»  

[Machine] Regarding this matter, if it is mentioned in the Quran, then it is true. And if it is not mentioned in the Quran, but the Messenger of Allah ﷺ has mentioned it, then it is also true. And if it is not mentioned by the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, then it is conveyed from Abu Bakr and Umar. And if it is not mentioned by them, then it is his personal opinion.  

عَنِ الْأَمْرِ فَكَانَ فِي الْقُرْآنِ أَخْبَرَ بِهِ وَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ فِي الْقُرْآنِ وَكَانَ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَخْبَرَ بِهِ فَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ فَعَنْ أَبِي بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرَ فَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ قَالَ فِيهِ بِرَأْيِهِ»  

[Machine] Regarding him (the Prophet), if something comes to you that is not in the Book of Allah, then refer to the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and follow it. If something comes to you that is not in the Book of Allah and there is no Sunnah from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ regarding it, then look at what the people have agreed upon and follow it. However, if something comes to you that is not in the Book of Allah and there is no Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ about it, and no one before you has spoken about it, then choose whichever of the two options you wish: if you wish, you may exert your own effort and come to a conclusion, and proceed accordingly. If you wish, you may delay making a decision. And I do not see any delay in taking a decision except that it is better for you.  

عَنْهُ الرِّجَالُ فَإِنْ جَاءَكَ مَا لَيْسَ فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ فَانْظُرْ سُنَّةَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَاقْضِ بِهَا فَإِنْ جَاءَكَ مَا لَيْسَ فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ فِيهِ سُنَّةٌ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَانْظُرْ مَا اجْتَمَعَ عَلَيْهِ النَّاسُ فَخُذْ بِهِ فَإِنْ جَاءَكَ مَا لَيْسَ فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ فِي سُنَّةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَلَمْ يَتَكَلَّمْ فِيهِ أَحَدٌ قَبْلَكَ فَاخْتَرْ أَيَّ الْأَمْرَيْنِ شِئْتَ إِنْ شِئْتَ أَنْ تَجْتَهِدَ برأْيكَ ثُمَّ تَقَدَّمَ فَتَقَدَّمْ وَإِنْ شِئْتَ أَنْ تتأخَّرَ فَتَأَخَّرْ وَلَا أَرَى التَّأَخُّرَ إِلَّا خَيْرًا لَكَ  

[Machine] From some people of the people of Hims, from the companions of Mu'adh, from Mu'adh, the Prophet ﷺ, when he sent him to Yemen, asked: "What would you do if you were faced with a legal matter?" He said, "I would judge according to the Book of Allah." The Prophet ﷺ said, "And if it is not in the Book of Allah?" He said, "Then I would judge according to the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah." The Prophet ﷺ said, "And if it is not in the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah?" He said, "I would strive to come to a conclusion based on my own reasoning." The Prophet ﷺ said, "Then you have done your best and Allah will reward the Messenger of the Messenger of Allah for what pleases the Messenger of Allah."  

عَنْ نَاسٍ مِنْ أَهْلِ حِمْصٍ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ مُعَاذٍ عَنْ مُعَاذٍ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ لَمَّا بَعَثَهُ إِلَى الْيَمَنِ قَالَ أَرَأَيْتَ إِنْ عَرَضَ لَكَ قَضَاءٌ كَيْفَ تَقْضِي؟ قَالَ أَقْضِي بِكِتَابِ اللَّهِ قَالَ «فَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ؟» قَالَ فَبِسُنَّةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ فَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ فِي سُنَّةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ؟ قَالَ أَجْتَهِدُ رَأْيِي وَلَا آلُو قَالَ فَضَرَبَ صَدْرَهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ «الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي وَفَّقَ رَسُولَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ لِمَا يُرْضِي رَسُولَ اللَّهِ»  

[Machine] A time has come upon us, and we are not asked, nor are we there. Indeed, Allah has ordained that I have conveyed what you see. So, if you are asked about something, refer to the Book of Allah. If you do not find it in the Book of Allah, then refer to the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah. If you do not find it in the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah, then base your judgment on what the Muslims have unanimously agreed upon. If it is not found in what the Muslims have agreed upon, then exert your effort and do not say, "I am afraid and I fear." Indeed, that which is halal (permissible) is clear, and that which is haram (forbidden) is clear. Between the two are doubtful matters. Leave that which makes you doubt for that which does not make you doubt.  

قَدْ أَتَى عَلَيْنَا زَمَانٌ وَمَا نُسْأَلُ وَمَا نَحْنُ هُنَاكَ وَإِنَّ اللَّهِ قَدَّرَ أَنْ بَلَغْتُ مَا تَرَوْنَ فَإِذَا سُئِلْتُمْ عَنْ شَيْءٍ فَانْظُرُوا فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ فَإِنْ لَمْ تَجِدُوهُ فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ ﷻ فَفِي سُنَّةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ فَإِنْ لَمْ تَجِدُوهُ فِي سُنَّةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ فَمَا أَجْمَعَ عَلَيْهِ الْمُسْلِمُونَ فَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ فِيمَا أَجْمَعَ عَلَيْهِ الْمُسْلِمُونَ فَاجْتَهِدْ رَأْيَكَ وَلَا تَقُلْ إِنِّي أَخَافُ وَأَخْشَى فَإِنَّ الْحَلَالَ بَيِّنٌ وَالْحَرَامَ بَيِّنٌ وَبَيْنَ ذَلِكَ أُمُورٌ مُشْتَبِهَةٌ فَدَعْ مَا يَرِيبُكَ إِلَى مَا لَا يَرِيبُكَ  

"I heard Ibrahim (narrate) from 'Alqamah and Al-Aswad from 'Abdullah," and he narrated something similar. (Using translation from Nasāʾī 720)   

عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ نَحْوَهُ  

(Another chain) with similar meaning. (Using translation from Tirmidhī 3093)   

عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بِنَحْوِهِ  

[Machine] Abdullah said, "O people, surely you will speak and you will be spoken to. So when you see something new, adhere to the original command." Hafs said, "I used to receive narration from Habib, who received it from Abu Abdur Rahman, then doubt entered my heart."  

عَبْدُ اللَّهِ «أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّكُمْ سَتُحْدِثُونَ وَيُحْدَثُ لَكُمْ فَإِذَا رَأَيْتُمْ مُحْدَثَةً فَعَلَيْكُمْ بِالْأَمْرِ الْأَوَّلِ» قَالَ حَفْصٌ كُنْتُ أُسْنِدُ عَنْ حَبِيبٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ ثُمَّ دَخَلَنِي مِنْهُ شَكٌّ  

[Machine] Omar said to Ibn Mas'ud, "Did I not inform or was I not informed that you give fatwas even though you are not a ruler? Beware of who you appoint as a ruler."  

عُمَرُ لِابْنِ مَسْعُودٍ «أَلَمْ أُنْبَأْ أَوْ أُنْبِئْتُ أَنَّكَ تُفْتِي وَلَسْتَ بِأَمِيرٍ؟ وَلِّ حَارَّهَا مَنْ تَوَلَّى قَارَّهَا»  

[Machine] "The one who gives fatwas to people in all matters that are asked is insane."  

«إِنَّ الَّذِي يُفْتِي النَّاسَ فِي كُلِّ مَا يُسْتَفْتَى لَمَجْنُونٌ»  

[Machine] Only three types of people can issue religious judgements: an Imam (religious leader), a judge, or a person who knows abrogated verses of the Quran from the abrogating ones. The people asked Hudhayfah, "Who is he?" He replied, "Umar ibn Al-Khattab or someone foolish who pretends to be knowledgeable."  

إِنَّمَا يُفْتِي النَّاسَ ثَلَاثَةٌ رَجُلٌ إِمَامٌ أَوْ وَالٍ وَرَجُلٌ يَعْلَمُ نَاسِخَ الْقُرْآنِ مِنَ الْمَنْسُوخِ قَالُوا يَا حُذَيْفَةُ مِنْ ذَاكَ؟ قَالَ عُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ أَوْ أَحْمَقُ مُتَكَلِّفٌ  

[Machine] Hudhaifah, one of three people, is the one who issues fatwas (religious rulings) regarding the abrogated and abrogating verses of the Qur'an. They asked, "Who is that?" 'Umar ibn al-Khattab replied, "It is a knowledgeable person who understands the abrogated and abrogating verses," and he added, "And a ruler who finds no alternative or foolish person who pretends to be knowledgeable." Then Muhammad ﷺ said, "I am not one of these two, and I hope not to be the third."  

حُذَيْفَةُ إِنَّمَا يُفْتِي النَّاسَ أَحَدُ ثَلَاثَةٍ رَجُلٌ عَلِمَ نَاسِخَ الْقُرْآنِ مِنْ مَنْسُوخِهِ قَالُوا وَمَنْ ذَاكَ؟ قَالَ عُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ قَالَ «وَأَمِيرٌ لَا يَجِدُ بُدًّا أَوْ أَحْمَقُ مُتَكَلِّفٌ» ثُمَّ قَالَ مُحَمَّدٌ فَلَسْتُ بِوَاحِدٍ مِنْ هَذَيْنِ وَأَرْجُو أَنْ لَا أَكُونَ الثَّالِثَ  

[Machine] "Whoever among you possesses knowledge, let them spread it, and whoever does not possess knowledge, let them say, 'I do not know, Allah knows best.' Indeed, when a learned person is asked about something they do not know, they will say, 'Allah knows best.' And Allah has said to his Messenger, 'Say, I do not ask you for any reward for this [Quran], nor am I a pretentious person.'" [Surah Al-An'am, 86]  

مَنْ عَلِمَ مِنْكُمْ عِلْمًا فَلْيَقُلْ بِهِ وَمَنْ لَمْ يَعْلَمْ فَلْيَقُلْ لِمَا لَا يَعْلَمُ اللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ فَإِنَّ الْعَالِمَ إِذَا سُئِلَ عَمَّا لَا يَعْلَمُ قَالَ اللَّهُ ﷻ أَعْلَمُ وَقَدْ قَالَ اللَّهُ لِرَسُولِهِ {قُلْ مَا أَسْأَلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ أَجْرٍ وَمَا أَنَا مِنَ الْمُتَكَلِّفِينَ} [ص 86]  

[Machine] "In his sermon, he said: 'Whoever has knowledge should teach it to the people and himself, and should not speak about something he has no knowledge of, so as not to pass by the religion and be among the pretentious.'"  

فِي خُطْبَتِهِ «مَنْ عَلِمَ عِلْمًا فَلْيُعَلِّمْهُ النَّاسَ وَإِيَّاهُ أَنْ يَقُولَ مَا لَا عِلْمَ لَهُ بِهِ فَيَمْرُقُ مِنَ الدِّينِ وَيَكُونَ مِنَ الْمُتَكَلِّفِينَ»  

[Machine] "May the blessings of Allah be upon him and may He cool their liver when I am asked about what I do not know and do not know what to say, Allah knows best."  

عَلِيٌّ رِضْوَانُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ وَا بَرْدَهَا عَلَى الْكَبِدِ إِذَا سُئِلْتُ عَمَّا لَا أَعْلَمُ أَنْ أَقُولَ اللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ  

It is a sign of having knowledge that, when you do not know something, you say: 'Allah knows better.' Allah said to his Prophet: 'Say: No wage do I ask of you for this (Qur'an), nor am I one of the pretenders (a person who pretends things which do not exist)' (38.86) When the Quraish troubled and stood against the Prophet ﷺ he said, "O Allah! Help me against them by afflicting them with seven years of famine like the seven years of Joseph." So they were stricken with a year of famine during which they ate bones and dead animals because of too much suffering, and one of them would see something like smoke between him and the sky because of hunger. Then they said: Our Lord! Remove the torment from us, really we are believers. (44.12) And then it was said to the Prophet (by Allah), "If we remove it from them. they will revert to their ways (of heathenism)." So the Prophet ﷺ invoked his Lord, who removed the punishment from them, but later they reverted (to heathenism), whereupon Allah punished them on the day of the Battle of Badr, and that is what Allah's Statement indicates: 'Then watch for the day that the sky will bring forth a kind of smoke plainly visible...we will indeed (then) exact retribution.' (44.10). (Using translation from Bukhārī 4822)  

أَنْ تَقُولَ لِمَا لَا تَعْلَمُ اللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ  

[Machine] "If you are asked about something you do not know, then flee." He said, "But how do we flee, O Commander of the Faithful?" He said, "You say Allah knows best."  

«إِذَا سُئِلْتُمْ عَمَّا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ فَاهْرُبُوا» قَالَ وَكَيْفَ الْهَرَبُ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ؟ قَالَ تَقُولُونَ اللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ  

[Machine] Ali placed it on the liver three times. They asked, "What does that mean, O Prince of the Believers?" He said, "It means that a person should not be asked about something they do not know, and they should say, 'Allah knows best.'"  

عَلِيٌّ وَا بَرْدَهَا عَلَى الْكَبِدِ ثَلَاثَ مَرَّاتٍ قَالُوا وَمَا ذَلِكَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ؟ قَالَ أَنْ يُسْأَلَ الرَّجُلُ عَمَّا لَا يَعْلَمُ فَيَقُولُ اللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ  

[Machine] "I have no knowledge of it. So, when the man turned away, Ibn Umar said, 'Yes, that's what Ibn Umar said when he was asked about something he didn't know. He would say, 'I have no knowledge of it.'"  

لَا عِلْمَ لِي بِهَا فَلَمَّا أَدْبَرَ الرَّجُلُ قَالَ ابْنُ عُمَرَ نِعْمَ مَا قَالَ ابْنُ عُمَرَ سُئِلَ عَمَّا لَا يَعْلَمُ فَقَالَ لَا عِلْمَ لِي بِهِ  

[Machine] "I do not know half of knowledge."  

«لَا أَدْرِي نِصْفُ الْعِلْمِ»  

[Machine] "No knowledge for me, then the man turned around after the man stopped and said, 'Yes, what Ibn Umar said is true. He asks about what he does not know,' and he said, 'No knowledge for me,' meaning Ibn Umar himself."  

لَا عِلْمَ لِي ثُمَّ الْتَفَتَ بَعْدَ أَنْ قَفَّى الرَّجُلُ فَقَالَ نِعْمَ مَا قَالَ ابْنُ عُمَرَ يسُألَ عَمَّا لَا يَعْلَمُ فَقَالَ لَا عِلْمَ لِي يَعْنِي ابْنُ عُمَرَ نَفْسَهُ  

[Machine] About something he says, "I don't know." If they respond to him, he says, "I swear to you by Allah, if I had knowledge of it."  

عَنْ شَيْءٍ يَقُولُ لَا أَدْرِي فَإِنْ رُدُّوا عَلَيْهِ قَالَ إِنْي حَلَفْتُ لَكَ بِاللَّهِ إِنْ كَانَ لِي بِهِ عِلْمٌ  

[Machine] I do not mind being asked about what I know or do not know, because when I am asked about what I know, I say what I know, and when I am asked about what I do not know, I say I do not know.  

مَا أُبَالِي سُئِلْتُ عَمَّا أَعْلَمُ أَوْ مَا لَا أَعْلَمُ لِأَنِّي إِذَا سُئِلْتُ عَمَّا أَعْلَمُ قُلْتُ مَا أَعْلَمُ وَإِذَا سُئِلْتُ عَمَّا لَا أَعْلَمُ قُلْتُ لَا أَعْلَمُ  

[Machine] I heard Ibrahim saying, "A cat is neither halal (permissible) nor haram (forbidden). He only used to say, 'They (the companions) used to dislike it while they used to prefer (keeping other animals).'"  

سَمِعْتُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ يَقُولُ قَطُّ حَلَالٌ وَلَا حَرَامٌ إِنَّمَا كَانَ يَقُولُ «كَانُوا يتكْرهونَ وَكَانُوا يَسْتَحِبُّونَ»  

[Machine] "Abdullah, how are you when you wear a temptation in which the great ones become disoriented and the small ones grow up and people take it as a tradition? And when it is changed, they say, 'The tradition has changed.' They say, 'And when will that be, O Abu Abdur Rahman?' He said, 'When your readers become numerous, your scholars become few, your leaders become many, and your trustworthy ones become few, and when the worldly life is sought through the actions of the Hereafter.'"  

عَبْدُ اللَّهِ كَيْفَ أَنْتُمْ إِذَا لَبِسَتْكُمْ فِتْنَةٌ يَهْرَمُ فِيهَا الْكَبِيرُ وَيَرْبُو فِيهَا الصَّغِيرُ وَيَتَّخِذُهَا النَّاسُ سُنَّةً فَإِذَا غُيِّرَتْ قَالُوا غُيِّرَتِ السُّنَّةُ قَالُوا وَمَتَى ذَلِكَ يَا أَبَا عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ؟ قَالَ «إِذَا كَثُرَتْ قُرَّاؤُكُمْ وَقَلَّتْ فُقَهَاؤُكُمْ وَكَثُرَتْ أُمَرَاؤُكُمْ وَقَلَّتْ أُمَنَاؤُكُمْ وَالْتُمِسَتِ الدُّنْيَا بِعَمَلِ الْآخِرَةِ»  

[Machine] "How are you when you are adorned with a temptation in which the elders grow feeble and the young ones flourish? When something is left from it, it is said, 'The sunnah has been abandoned.' They ask, 'When is that?' He said, 'When your scholars disappear, your ignorants increase, your reciters multiply, your jurists decrease, your leaders increase, your trustworthy individuals decrease, and worldly gains are sought through actions of the Hereafter and understanding of religion diminishes.'"  

كَيْفَ أَنْتُمْ إِذَا لَبِسَتْكُمْ فِتْنَةٌ يَهْرَمُ فِيهَا الْكَبِيرُ وَيَرْبُو فِيهَا الصَّغِيرُ إِذَا تُرِكَ مِنْهَا شَيْءٌ قِيلَ تُرِكَتِ السُّنَّةُ قَالُوا وَمَتَى ذَلِكَ؟ قَالَ «إِذَا ذَهَبَتْ عُلَمَاؤُكُمْ وَكَثُرَتْ جُهَلَاؤُكُمْ وَكَثُرَتْ قُرَّاؤُكُمْ وَقَلَّتْ فُقَهَاؤُكُمْ وَكَثُرَتْ أُمَرَاؤُكُمْ وَقَلَّتْ أُمَنَاؤُكُمْ وَالْتُمِسَتِ الدُّنْيَا بِعَمَلِ الْآخِرَةِ وَتُفُقِّهَ لِغَيْرِ الدِّينِ»  

[Machine] It is said, "Woe to those who indulge in matters other than worship and those who make the prohibited permissible by means of doubtful actions."  

يُقَالُ «وَيْلٌ لِلْمُتَفَقِّهِينَ لِغَيْرِ الْعِبَادَةِ وَالْمُسْتَحِلِّينَ الحرماتِ بِالشُّبُهَاتِ»  

[Machine] "Every year that comes to you is worse than the year before it. I do not mean by this that it brings more crops or a better leader, but your scholars, elites, and jurists will die, and you will not find their successors. Then a people will come who will judge matters according to their own opinions."  

«لَا يَأْتِي عَلَيْكُمْ عَامٌ إِلَّا وَهُوَ شَرٌّ مِنَ الَّذِي كَانَ قَبْلَهُ أَمَا إِنِّي لَسْتُ أَعْنِي عَامًا أَخْصَبَ مِنْ عَامٍ وَلَا أَمِيرًا خَيْرًا مِنْ أَمِيرٍ وَلَكِنْ عُلَمَاؤُكُمْ وَخِيَارُكُمْ وَفُقَهَاؤُكُمْ يَذْهَبُونَ ثُمَّ لَا تَجِدُونَ مِنْهُمْ خَلَفًا وَيَجِيءُ قَوْمٌ يَقِيسُونَ الْأُمُورَ بِرَأْيِهِمْ»  

[Machine] "The first one who judged Iblis (Satan) and that the sun and moon are not to be worshipped except by measurements."  

«أَوَّلُ مَنْ قَاسَ إِبْلِيسُ وَمَا عُبِدَتِ الشَّمْسُ وَالْقَمَرُ إِلَّا بِالْمَقَايِيسِ»  

[Machine] He recited this verse: "You created me from fire, and You created him from clay." [Al-A'raf 12]. He said, "Iblees (Satan) was arrogant, and he was the first of those who were arrogant."  

أَنَّهُ تَلَا هَذِهِ الْآيَةَ {خَلَقْتَنِي مِنْ نَارٍ وَخَلَقْتَهُ مِنْ طِينٍ} [الأعراف 12] قَالَ «قَاسَ إِبْلِيسُ وَهُوَ أَوَّلُ مَنْ قَاسَ»  

[Machine] "That I may measure, and my [two] feet may slip."  

أَنْ أَقِيسَ فَتَزِلَّ قَدَمِي»  

[Machine] By Allah, if you adhere to regulations, you will surely make the permissible forbidden and make the forbidden permissible.  

وَاللَّهِ «لَئِنْ أَخَذْتُمْ بِالْمَقَايِيسِ لَتُحَرِّمُنَّ الْحَلَالَ وَلَتُحِلُّنَّ الْحَرَامَ»  

[Machine] He used to say, "What I disliked most was when someone asked his companion, and he would respond, 'Have you seen?' while he did not compare."  

أَنَّهُ كَانَ يَقُولُ مَا أَبْغَضَ إِلَيَّ أَرَأَيْتَ أَرَأَيْتَ يَسْأَلُ الرَّجُلُ صَاحِبَهُ فَيَقُولُ أَرَأَيْتَ وَكَانَ لَا يُقَايِسُ  

[Machine] "Would you like me to sit with you, my friends?"  

أَنْ أُجَالِسَ أَصْحَابَ أَرَأَيْتَ»