47/4. Chapter:
Jami at-Tirmidhi 2993 — Beware of Misusing Unclear Verses
Regarding Surat Al 'Imran
Hadith About Following Unclear Verses and Seeking Fitnah
Jami at-Tirmidhi : 2993
Jami at-TirmidhiHadith Number 2993
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو دَاوُدَ الطَّيَالِسِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَامِرٍ، وَهُوَ الْخَزَّازُ وَيَزِيدُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ كِلاَهُمَا عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي مُلَيْكَةَ، قَالَ يَزِيدُ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي مُلَيْكَةَ، عَنِ الْقَاسِمِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، وَلَمْ يَذْكُرْ أَبُو عَامِرٍ الْقَاسِمَ قَالَتْ سَأَلْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَنْ قَوْلِهِ : ( فَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ زَيْعٌ فَيَتَّبِعُونَ مَا تَشَابَهَ مِنْهُ ابْتِغَاءَ الْفِتْنَةِ وَابْتِغَاءَ تَأْوِيلِهِ ) قَالَ " فَإِذَا رَأَيْتِيهِمْ فَاعْرِفِيهِمْ " . وَقَالَ يَزِيدُ فَإِذَا رَأَيْتُمُوهُمْ فَاعْرِفُوهُمْ . قَالَهَا مَرَّتَيْنِ أَوْ ثَلاَثًا . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ .
A'isha Narrated from:
I Asked The Messenger Of Allah (ﷺ) About Allah'S Saying:So, As For Those In Whose Hearts There Is A Deviation, They Follow That Which Is Not Entirely Clear Thereof, Seeking Al-Fitnah And Seeking Its Ta'Wil (3:7).He Said: 'When You See Them, Be Aware Of Them.'" Yazid (One Of The Narrators In The Chain) Said: "When You See Them, Be Aware Of Them' - She Said It Two Or Three Times."
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2993In-book reference : Book 47, Hadith 45English translation : Vol. 5, Book 44, Hadith 2993
Summary of Jami at-Tirmidhi Hadith 2993
This hadith about unclear verses comes from Aishah's question about the verse that mentions people whose hearts have deviation. The verse says they follow what is not entirely clear, seeking fitnah and seeking its ta'wil. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم told her, "When you see them, be aware of them." In one wording, this warning was repeated two or three times. The meaning should stay close to the text. The hadith is not a license to accuse people carelessly. It is a warning about a pattern: following unclear parts in a way that seeks fitnah. The simple lesson is to recognize this danger and be careful around those who use unclear matters to stir confusion.
What we learn from this hadith
- The hadith warns against following unclear verses in search of fitnah.
- A person should be careful of those described by this pattern.
- The warning was emphasized by repetition in the narration.
- The focus is on misuse of unclear texts, not on sincere learning.
