Hadith 11 & 12 — Leaving Doubt and Drama: The Path to Inner Peace
[Arabic,إِنَّ الْحَمْدَ لِلَّهِ، نَحْمَدُهُ وَنَسْتَعِينُهُ وَنَسْتَغْفِرُهُ، وَنَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنْ شُرُورِ أَنْفُسِنَا وَسَيِّئَاتِ أَعْمَالِنَا، مَنْ يَهْدِهِ اللَّهُ فَلَا مُضِلَّ لَهُ، وَمَنْ يُضْلِلْ فَلَا هَادِيَ لَهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ.]
Indeed, all praise is for Allah. We praise Him, seek His help, and His forgiveness. We seek refuge with Allah from the evil within ourselves and from the consequences of our wrong actions. Whomsoever Allah guides, none can misguide; whomsoever He leaves astray, none can guide. I bear witness there is no deity worthy of worship but Allah alone without partner, and Muhammad ﷺ is His servant and Messenger.
Part One: Leaving What Makes You Doubt — The Power of Certainty
Brothers,
Today we examine two hadiths that, when understood together, transform how we navigate this complex world. These two principles from Imam Nawawi's collection are like two wings of a bird; with both, you soar above the confusion and chaos that surrounds us.
The Foundation: Hadith 11
This hadith, recorded by both Imam al-Bukhari and Imam Muslim in their authentic collections, comes to us through a most beloved narrator:
[Hadith,Bukhari (2518) & Muslim (2518),"On the authority of Abu Muhammad al-Hasan ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with them both), the grandson of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and his beloved, who said: I memorized from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ: 'Leave that which makes you doubt for that which does not make you doubt.'"]
Brothers, pause and reflect. This hadith came from al-Hasan, the Prophet's own grandson, who sat in his lap, played in his home, and memorized his words as a child. When he says "I memorized," he's telling us this was so important that he committed it to memory word for word. This wasn't casual advice—this was a life principle the Prophet ﷺ wanted preserved through his own family.
In another narration, the Prophet ﷺ added: "Truth brings tranquility, and falsehood brings doubt." Your heart knows. It always knows.
This certainty that the Prophet ﷺ speaks about is exemplified in how Allah describes His own Book at the very beginning of Surat al-Baqarah:
[Quran,2:2-3,"This is the Book! There is no doubt about it—a guide for those mindful ˹of Allah˺, who believe in the unseen, establish prayer, and donate from what We have provided for them."]
The Reality of Doubt in Our Lives
Let me paint you a picture that every one of us has lived. You're offered a business opportunity—maybe someone approaches you with a way to make money. The numbers look good, the person seems trustworthy, but something feels off. Maybe the source of the profit isn't completely clear. Maybe it seems too good to be true. That feeling in your chest, that tightness, that unease—that's your fitrah, your natural disposition, warning you.
Or consider this: You're in a conversation and someone starts telling you about another brother's personal business. Part of you wants to know—human curiosity is real. But there's that voice inside saying, "This isn't right." That's the moment this hadith speaks to.
The Prophet ﷺ taught us to trust this inner compass, as recorded in Imam Ahmad's Musnad:
[Hadith,Ahmad in his Musnad (17923),"Wabisah ibn Ma'bad said: I came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and he said: 'You have come to ask about righteousness?' I said: 'Yes.' He said: 'Consult your heart. Righteousness is that about which the soul feels tranquil and the heart feels tranquil, and sin is what creates restlessness in the soul and moves to and fro in the breast, even though people give you their legal opinion.'"]
The Hidden Dangers of Doubtful Matters
Brothers, let me tell you what happens when we ignore doubt—I've seen it destroy men's lives. A brother takes money from a questionable source, telling himself, "It's probably fine." That money enters his home, mixes with his provision, and suddenly his children's food has doubt in it. His prayers feel empty. His du'as seem to hit a ceiling. Why? Because he chose doubt over certainty.
The Prophet ﷺ told us about a man who travels far, disheveled and dusty, raising his hands to the sky saying, "O Lord! O Lord!" But his food is haram, his drink is haram, his clothing is haram—how can his du'a be accepted?
This is why the great imam and scholar Abdullah ibn al-Mubarak, author of Kitab al-Zuhd, once said:
[Quote,Abdullah ibn al-Mubarak (Kitab al-Zuhd),"I would rather return one dirham from a doubtful source than give 100,000 dirhams in charity."]
This is the understanding of our righteous predecessors. They knew that one doubtful dirham could corrupt everything it touches.
The Three Categories
The Prophet ﷺ explained in another famous hadith, also recorded in the two most authentic collections, that all matters fall into three categories:
[Hadith,Bukhari (52) & Muslim (1599),"The halal is clear and the haram is clear, and between them are doubtful matters that many people do not know about. Whoever avoids the doubtful matters clears himself with regard to his religion and his honor."]
Think about it like this:
- The Clear Halal - Like water, bread, marrying a righteous woman, earning from honest work
- The Clear Haram - Like pork, alcohol, stealing, lying, zina
- The Grey Area - Where most of our tests lie
The Prophet ﷺ continued: "And whoever falls into doubtful matters falls into haram, like a shepherd who grazes his flock around a sanctuary—he will soon graze in it."
Picture this: You're a shepherd, and there's a king's private property with the best grass. The boundary isn't perfectly marked. You could graze right up to where you think the line is, but one wrong step and you're trespassing. The wise shepherd stays far from the boundary. The foolish one edges closer and closer until his sheep are eating the king's grass.
Allah makes clear to us in Surat al-An'am that He has already explained what is forbidden, so we have no excuse:
[Quran,6:119,"Why should you not eat of what Allah's Name has been mentioned over when He has already explained to you what He has forbidden to you—except when compelled by necessity? Many ˹deviants˺ certainly mislead others by their whims out of ignorance. Surely your Lord knows the transgressors best."]
Real-Life Application
Brothers, we face these decisions daily:
Someone offers you a business opportunity that seems too good to be true. The returns are high but the details are vague. That's doubt—leave it.
A friend wants you to invest in something but won't explain clearly how the money is made. That's doubt—leave it.
You're offered a job where the salary doesn't match the work, or where you suspect the company's practices. That's doubt—leave it.
Someone asks you to hold money or property without proper documentation or clear explanation. That's doubt—leave it.
The great Imam Sufyan al-Thawri, one of the greatest scholars of the second century, emphasized this caution:
[Quote,Sufyan al-Thawri (mentioned in Hilyat al-Awliya),"We used to leave 90% of halal for fear of falling into haram."]
This might seem extreme, but the Salaf understood something we've forgotten: spiritual protection requires building barriers between us and sin.
The Heart as Your Compass
Your heart is like a compass that points to truth, but only if you keep it clean. Every time you ignore that inner voice, you damage the compass. Eventually, it stops working altogether.
Allah warns us about this spiritual deterioration in Surat al-Mutaffifin:
[Quran,83:14,"Not at all! In fact, their hearts have been stained by all ˹the evil˺ they used to commit!"]
Each sin leaves a black dot on the heart. Keep sinning, keep choosing doubt over certainty, and eventually the whole heart turns black. Then you can't tell right from wrong anymore.
I've seen people who've compromised so many times, ignored their conscience so often, that they literally cannot feel the difference between halal and haram anymore. Their spiritual compass is broken. Don't let that be you.
The Power of Choosing Certainty
But here's the beautiful part—every time you choose certainty over doubt, your heart gets stronger. Your spiritual sight gets clearer. Your connection to Allah gets deeper.
A brother told me his story: He was offered a position that would have tripled his income, but the company had questionable practices. He spent nights in prayer, seeking guidance. That feeling of unease never left. He turned it down. His family thought he was crazy. Two months later, that company was raided, everyone involved was arrested. His istikharah and his choice of certainty saved him from destruction.
This is exactly what the Prophet ﷺ meant when he said, as recorded by Imam al-Tirmidhi:
[Hadith,Tirmidhi (2518),"Leave what makes you doubt for what does not make you doubt, for truth is peace of mind and falsehood is doubt."]
Building a Life on Certainty
When you commit to leaving doubtful matters, your entire life changes:
Your Money Becomes Blessed - A little halal is better than a lot of doubtful wealth. One brother told me he cut his income in half by leaving doubtful business, but his expenses somehow decreased even more. His children got healthier, his car stopped breaking down, his money just seemed to stretch further. That's barakah—blessing from Allah.
Your Prayers Gain Power - When you eat halal, wear halal, earn halal, your du'as have no barriers. The Prophet ﷺ mentioned a man whose du'a should be answered—he's traveling, disheveled, raising his hands to Allah. But it's not answered. Why? His food, drink, and clothing came from doubtful sources.
Your Family is Protected - Every doubtful dollar you bring home affects your family. Your children eat from it, grow from it, are nourished by it. Do you want their bodies built from doubt or certainty?
Peace Enters Your Heart - This is the greatest blessing. When you live with certainty, you sleep peacefully. No fear of getting caught, no guilt eating at you, no worry about consequences. Just peace.
Allah tells us the secret to this peace in Surat ar-Ra'd:
[Quran,13:28,"those who believe and whose hearts find comfort in the remembrance of Allah. Surely in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find comfort."]
The Test of Our Times
Today we face doubtful matters our predecessors never imagined. Online transactions where you can't verify the source. Investment opportunities that might involve interest hidden in complex terms. Entertainment that mixes truth with falsehood so cleverly you can't separate them.
The principle remains: When in doubt, leave it out.
That TV show everyone's watching but has inappropriate content? Doubt—leave it. That investment opportunity that seems too complicated to understand fully? Doubt—leave it. That relationship that started wrong but you're hoping will somehow become right? Doubt—leave it.
As the great scholar Ibn al-Qayyim wrote in his masterwork Madarij al-Salikin:
[Quote,Ibn al-Qayyim (Madarij al-Salikin),"The intelligent person is not the one who knows good from evil, but the one who knows the better of two goods and the worse of two evils."]
Sometimes the choice isn't between clear halal and haram, but between certainty and uncertainty. Always choose certainty.
Part Two: Leaving What Doesn't Concern You — The Art of Minding Your Own Business
Brothers,
Now we turn to the second wing of spiritual flight—Hadith 12, which perfects and completes what Hadith 11 began.
The Foundation: Hadith 12
Now we turn to the second hadith, recorded by Imam al-Tirmidhi in his Sunan:
[Hadith,Tirmidhi (2317),"On the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: 'Part of the perfection of one's Islam is his leaving that which does not concern him.'"]
Look at the wording carefully. The Prophet ﷺ didn't say this was just good advice or recommended behavior. He said it's part of perfecting your Islam. You cannot reach ihsan—excellence in worship—while you're neck-deep in everyone else's business.
The great tabi'i al-Hasan al-Basri, who met many companions, warned us:
[Quote,Al-Hasan al-Basri (recorded in Az-Zuhd by Imam Ahmad),"One of the signs that Allah has turned away from a servant is that He makes him busy with what doesn't concern him."]
This is terrifying when you think about it. When you see someone constantly involved in drama, gossip, other people's affairs—it might be a sign that Allah has turned away from them. They're so busy with useless matters that they have no time for their own soul.
Allah explicitly warns us against this behavior in Surat al-Hujurat:
[Quran,49:12,"O believers! Avoid many suspicions, ˹for˺ indeed, some suspicions are sinful. And do not spy, nor backbite one another. Would any of you like to eat the flesh of their dead brother? You would despise that! And fear Allah. Surely Allah is ˹the˺ Acceptor of Repentance, Most Merciful."]
The Disease That's Killing Our Community
Brothers, let me be real with you. I've seen what destroys brotherhood, what causes conflicts, what ruins families, what breaks communities—it's almost always involvement in what doesn't concern us.
Two people in your community are having an issue. Does it concern you? No. But you get involved, pick a side, spread your opinion, and suddenly you're in the middle of a conflict that has nothing to do with you.
Someone's personal struggle or past mistake gets exposed. Does it concern you? No. But you spread it, discuss it, judge them for it, and destroy a person's reputation for what? For entertainment? For feeling superior?
A rumor starts about changes at work, in the masjid, or in your neighborhood. Does it concern you directly? Can you change it? No. But you spread it, add to it, get worked up about it, waste hours discussing it, and accomplish nothing except creating fitna and anxiety.
What Really Doesn't Concern You
Let's get specific about what doesn't concern a believer:
Other People's Sins - Unless they're harming others or you're in a position to give sincere advice, their sins are between them and Allah. The Prophet ﷺ said: "All of my ummah will be forgiven except those who expose their sins."
Allah warns those who spread such matters in Surat an-Nur:
[Quran,24:19,"Indeed, those who love to see indecency spread among the believers will suffer a painful punishment in this life and the Hereafter. Allah knows and you do not know."]
Others' Personal Affairs - Why someone got divorced, how much money they have, what their family issues are—none of this concerns you unless they seek your help.
Speculation and Rumors - "Did you hear what might happen?" "I think this person did that." "Someone told me that someone said..." This is the food of Shaytan, and it poisons communities.
Arguments That Don't Affect Your Deen or Dunya - Two people arguing about sports, politics, or any matter that doesn't impact your faith or life? Stay out of it.
The Prophet ﷺ gave us this amazing incentive, as recorded by Imam Abu Dawud:
[Hadith,Abu Dawud (4800),"The Prophet ﷺ said: 'Whoever gives up arguing when he is wrong will have a house built for him on the edge of Paradise. Whoever gives up arguing when he is right will have a house built for him in the middle of Paradise.'"]
The Hidden Costs of Not Minding Your Business
When you get involved in what doesn't concern you, you pay a price you don't even realize:
You Waste Your Limited Time - Every minute you spend on others' affairs is a minute you could have spent on dhikr, Quran, or self-improvement. Ibn Mas'ud said: "I regret nothing more than a day that passes in which my lifespan decreases but my deeds do not increase."
You Accumulate Sins - Getting involved in others' business almost always leads to backbiting, slander, spreading secrets, or lying. The Prophet ﷺ said: "The bankrupt person from my ummah is one who comes on the Day of Judgment with prayers, fasting, and charity, but he insulted this one, slandered that one, consumed the wealth of this one, shed the blood of that one, and beat this one. So this one will be given from his good deeds, and that one from his good deeds. If his good deeds run out before the score is settled, their sins will be thrown upon him, then he will be thrown into the Fire."
You Destroy Trust - When you involve yourself in everyone's business, people stop trusting you. They know you'll spread their affairs just like you spread others'.
You Create Enemies - Every time you take a side in something that doesn't concern you, you make an enemy. Pretty soon, you're surrounded by people who have grievances against you for matters that had nothing to do with you in the first place.
You Lose Inner Peace - When your mind is full of everyone else's problems, drama, and issues, where is the space for remembrance of Allah? Where is the tranquility that comes from focusing on your own journey?
The Social Media Catastrophe
Brothers outside, and even some inside through tablets and phones, are drowning in matters that don't concern them. They know more about celebrities' divorces than their own children's needs. They can tell you every detail about political scandals but haven't read a page of Quran in weeks.
The Prophet ﷺ warned us about this, as Imam Muslim recorded in his Sahih:
[Hadith,Muslim (5),"It is enough of a sin for a person to narrate everything he hears."]
Yet look at us—forwarding every message, sharing every post, commenting on every issue. We've become news agencies for Shaytan, spreading fitna faster than any virus.
A brother told me he used to spend four hours a day on social media, arguing with strangers about religion, politics, everything. He said, "I was defending Islam online while my own prayers were delayed or missed. I was teaching strangers about brotherhood while my own brother hadn't heard from me in months."
This is why Allah swears by time itself in Surat al-Asr, warning us about its value:
[Quran,103:1-3,"By the ˹passage of˺ time! Surely humanity is in ˹grave˺ loss, except those who have faith, do good, and urge each other to the truth, and urge each other to perseverance."]
What Should Concern You
So what should legitimately concern a Muslim? The scholars outlined it clearly:
Your Relationship with Allah - Are you praying with khushu'? Are you avoiding what He prohibited? Are you fulfilling your obligations to Him?
Your Own Sins and Shortcomings - Umar ibn al-Khattab said: "Take yourself to account before you are taken to account."
Your Responsibilities - Your family's rights, your job, your debts, your promises—these concern you directly.
Seeking Beneficial Knowledge - Learning what you need for your worship and your worldly obligations.
Helping Others When Appropriate - Key word: appropriate. When someone asks for help, when you see clear oppression, when you can make a positive difference without overstepping.
Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal, the great muhaddith and faqih, summarized it perfectly:
[Quote,Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal (Kitab al-Zuhd),"The foundation of asceticism (zuhd) is three things: leaving what doesn't concern you, leaving argumentation, and being satisfied with what Allah has given you."]
The Power of Strategic Silence
The Prophet ﷺ said: "Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should speak good or remain silent."
Allah reminds us in Surat Qaf that every word we speak is recorded:
[Quran,50:18,"not a word does a person utter without having a ˹vigilant˺ observer ready ˹to write it down˺."]
Brothers, your silence is worship when you use it to avoid what doesn't concern you. Every time you stop yourself from asking about someone's personal business, you're worshipping Allah. Every time you refuse to spread a rumor, you're worshipping Allah. Every time you walk away from gossip, you're worshipping Allah.
I know a brother who took a vow of unnecessary speech for one month. He only spoke when absolutely necessary—for worship, work, or genuine need. He said those 30 days transformed his life. He realized 90% of his speech was about matters that didn't concern him. His relationships improved because he stopped offending people. His worship improved because his tongue was freed for dhikr. His heart found peace because his mind wasn't cluttered with everyone else's drama.
Practical Steps to Mind Your Own Business
The Three-Second Rule - Before speaking about any person or situation, pause for three seconds and ask: "Does this concern me?" If not, change the subject.
The Redirect Method - When someone starts telling you gossip, redirect: "Brother, I'm trying to work on not getting involved in others' affairs. Let's talk about something else."
The Busy Alternative - Replace gossip time with productive activities. When others are talking about what doesn't concern them, pull out your Quran, make dhikr, or study something beneficial.
The Accountability Partner - Find a brother who also wants to improve. Agree to remind each other when you're getting into others' business.
The Daily Review - Each night, review your day. How much time did you spend on others' affairs? Make tawbah and resolve to do better tomorrow.
The Sweetness of Minding Your Own Business
When you master this principle, life becomes incredibly sweet:
Your Relationships Heal - People trust you, confide in you, respect you. You become known as a person of honor who doesn't spread others' affairs.
Your Time Multiplies - Suddenly you have hours for Quran, dhikr, learning, family. You wonder how you ever had time for gossip.
Your Heart Finds Peace - Without the constant noise of others' drama, your heart can finally focus on Allah. The dhikr becomes sweeter, the prayer more focused, the connection deeper.
Your Sins Decrease - Most sins of the tongue disappear when you mind your own business. No backbiting, no slander, no spreading secrets, no lying about others.
Allah Turns to You - Remember al-Hasan al-Basri's words? If being busy with others' affairs is a sign Allah turned away, then leaving others' affairs is a sign Allah is turning toward you.
Allah confirms this in Surat an-Nisa, showing His desire to turn to us in mercy:
[Quran,4:26-27,"It is Allah's Will to make things clear to you, guide you to the ˹noble˺ ways of those before you, and turn to you in mercy. For Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise. And Allah wants to turn to you in grace, but those who follow their desires want you to drift far away ˹from the right path˺."]
This is why the Prophet ﷺ said, as Imam al-Tirmidhi recorded:
[Hadith,Tirmidhi (2318),"The Prophet ﷺ said: 'Blessed is he who is preoccupied with his own faults rather than the faults of others.'"]
The Ultimate Test
Here's how you know if something concerns you—ask these questions:
- Am I responsible for this person or situation?
- Will my involvement bring clear benefit to the deen?
- Has someone directly asked for my help?
- Will staying silent cause direct harm to someone?
If the answer to all four is no, then it doesn't concern you. Walk away.
Combining Both Hadiths for Complete Success
Now brothers, when you combine these two hadiths—leaving doubt and leaving what doesn't concern you—you achieve something remarkable:
Hadith 11 protects you from unclear matters that could harm your faith. Hadith 12 protects you from wasting your life on useless matters.
Together, they create a fortress around your time, your tongue, and your heart. You become focused, purposeful, and peaceful. You know exactly what you should be doing (certainty) and you're not distracted by what you shouldn't be doing (others' affairs).
For Those in Difficult Circumstances
Brothers, if you're in a situation where your choices are limited—whether due to circumstances, environment, or constraints—these two hadiths become even more crucial. When you can't control much, control what you can: your response to doubt and your involvement in others' affairs. This is your path to maintaining dignity, peace, and connection to Allah regardless of your situation.
This is why the scholars said these two hadiths contain the entire religion. Master these two principles, and you've mastered the art of living as a Muslim in this complex world.
Allah summarizes the comprehensive nature of Islamic ethics in this powerful verse from Surat an-Nahl:
[Quran,16:90,"Indeed, Allah commands justice, grace, as well as generosity to close relatives. He forbids indecency, wickedness, and aggression. He instructs you so perhaps you will be mindful."]
O Allah, grant us the wisdom to avoid doubtful matters and choose the path of certainty.
O Allah, help us leave what doesn't concern us and focus on what does.
O Allah, protect our tongues from backbiting, slander, and useless speech.
O Allah, grant our hearts tranquility through truth and keep us away from the anxiety of doubt.
O Allah, help us perfect our Islam by implementing these two foundational hadiths.
O Allah, make us busy with our own faults rather than the faults of others.
O Allah, grant us beneficial knowledge and protect us from knowledge that doesn't benefit.
O Allah, make us among those who speak good or remain silent.
Wa ākhiru da'wānā an al-hamdu lillāhi rabbi'l-'ālamīn
We ask Allah to make us firm upon His straight path, to guide us and not let us go astray, to have mercy on us and forgive us.
Whatever good was said in this khutbah is from Allah alone, and whatever mistakes or errors are from myself and from Shaytan. I ask Allah to forgive me and you for any shortcomings.
I say these words of mine, and I seek forgiveness from Allah for myself and you all. Seek His forgiveness—indeed, He is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful.
[Arabic,أَقُولُ قَوْلِي هَذَا، وَأَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ لِي وَلَكُمْ، فَاسْتَغْفِرُوهُ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ.]