65/3.1. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 4547 — Beware Misusing Unclear Verses
"In it are Verses that are entirely clear." (3:7)
وَقَالَ مُجَاهِدٌ الْحَلاَلُ وَالْحَرَامُ {وَأُخَرُ مُتَشَابِهَاتٌ} يُصَدِّقُ بَعْضُهُ بَعْضًا، كَقَوْلِهِ تَعَالَى {وَمَا يُضِلُّ بِهِ إِلاَّ الْفَاسِقِينَ} وَكَقَوْلِهِ جَلَّ ذِكْرُهُ {وَيَجْعَلُ الرِّجْسَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ لاَ يَعْقِلُونَ} وَكَقَوْلِهِ {وَالَّذِينَ اهْتَدَوْا زَادَهُمْ هُدًى} {زَيْغٌ} شَكٌّ {ابْتِغَاءَ الْفِتْنَةِ} الْمُشْتَبِهَاتِ {وَالرَّاسِخُونَ} يَعْلَمُونَ {يَقُولُونَ آمَنَّا بِهِ } (3) Surat Ale-‘Imran (The Family of 'Imran) (3) سورة آلِ عِمْرَانَ
Hadith About Clear and Unclear Verses in the Quran
Sahih Bukhari : 4547
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 4547
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مَسْلَمَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ التُّسْتَرِيُّ، عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي مُلَيْكَةَ، عَنِ الْقَاسِمِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ قَالَتْ تَلاَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم هَذِهِ الآيَةَ {هُوَ الَّذِي أَنْزَلَ عَلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ مِنْهُ آيَاتٌ مُحْكَمَاتٌ هُنَّ أُمُّ الْكِتَابِ وَأُخَرُ مُتَشَابِهَاتٌ فَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ زَيْغٌ فَيَتَّبِعُونَ مَا تَشَابَهَ مِنْهُ ابْتِغَاءَ الْفِتْنَةِ وَابْتِغَاءَ تَأْوِيلِهِ} إِلَى قَوْلِهِ {أُولُو الأَلْبَابِ} قَالَتْ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " فَإِذَا رَأَيْتَ الَّذِينَ يَتَّبِعُونَ مَا تَشَابَهَ مِنْهُ، فَأُولَئِكَ الَّذِينَ سَمَّى اللَّهُ، فَاحْذَرُوهُمْ ".
A'isha Narrated from:
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) recited the Verse:--"It is He who has sent down to you the Book. In it are Verses that are entirely clear, they are the foundation of the Book, others not entirely clear. So as for those in whose hearts there is a deviation (from the Truth). follow thereof that is not entirely clear seeking affliction and searching for its hidden meanings; but no one knows its hidden meanings but Allah. And those who are firmly grounded in knowledge say: "We believe in it (i.e. in the Qur'an) the whole of it (i.e. its clear and unclear Verses) are from our Lord. And none receive admonition except men of understanding." (3.7)Then Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "If you see those who follow thereof that is not entirely clear, then they are those whom Allah has named [as having deviation (from the Truth)] 'So beware of them."
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 4547In-book reference : Book 65, Hadith 70USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 6, Book 60, Hadith 70
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 4547
This Hadith about clear and unclear verses gives a strong warning. Aisha رضي الله عنها narrates that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم recited the verse from Surah Aal Imran about clear verses being the foundation of the Book and other verses not entirely clear. The verse mentions people with deviation in their hearts who follow what is unclear, seeking affliction and hidden meanings. After reciting it, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said that if we see people following what is unclear in that way, they are the ones Allah has named, so beware of them. The main lesson is not to use unclear verses to create confusion. A sound approach to the Quran begins with faith, humility, and caution.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Quran contains clear verses and verses not entirely clear.
- Following unclear verses to seek trouble is warned against.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم told believers to beware of such people.
- People grounded in knowledge say they believe in the whole Book.
