The Meaning of His Saying: “Indeed, the lawful is clear, and indeed, the forbidden is clear, and between them are matters of doubt.”

The Shaykh : Al-Nu'man (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I heard the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) say: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) divided the rulings into three categories: a category whose lawfulness is clear, a category whose prohibition is clear, and a category that is doubtful, i.e., ambiguous. The explanation of the causes of this ambiguity will come, if Allah wills. The clear lawful is like food; everyone knows that food is lawful. The clear forbidden is like the prohibition of intoxicants; everyone knows that intoxicants are forbidden. Now, there are ambiguous matters where it is unclear whether they are among the forbidden or not.