Chapter IV: Lawful and Unlawful
Know, O dear readers, that whatever comes to you as food or present or whatever thing you wish to buy or to make gift, you should not raise questions in all cases or say this : I shall not accept it as lawful till enquire about it. On the other hand, don't give up enquiry in some matters. In some case, therefore, it is compulsory to enquire, in some cases unlawful , in some cases praise-worthy in some cases not commendable. So there is place of doubt, in cases of questions and enquiries. The place of doubt has got connection either —
(1) Connection with the owner of a things: It has got three states, (a) The first state comes when the owner is unknown, (b)
The second state comes when there is doubt about the owner, (c)
The third state is to know the condition of the owner by some sort of proof.
(a) First state: When you enter an unknown town or place, you meet with strangers and unknown persons and donot know their character and conduct and so you entertain doubt about them. Eusul-b-Asbat said : I used to give up doubt whenever it arose in my mind for the last 30 years. The rule is that if any of them gives you food or drink, you should enjoy it without doubt and you should not entertain evil conjecture about him as some conjectures are sins. If there is sufficient cause of doubt, it is
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unlawful to enjoy them. The Prophet Used to accept any invitation without enquiry. Once a tailor invited him and he accepted it. Once a Parsee invited the Prophet to which he asked him : I and Ayesha ? The Parsee said : You and not Ayesha. The Prophet did not accept the invitation but when he invited both, he accepted it. Hazrat Abu Bakr enquired about the earnings of a slave when a strong doubt arose in his mind. It is not good to ask ; Wherefrom his this thing been procured, as it gives pain to the mind of a Muslim. God says : Give up most conjectures. Some conjecture is sin. Don't spy and let not some of you backbite others. Once the Prophet ate the food of Barirah. He was informed that it was Zakat property. The Prophet said : It was Zakat property for her but for us, it is present . So baseless doubt should be given up.