Transliteration:( Wa laa taqfu maa laisa laka bihee 'ilm; innas sam'a walbasara walfu'aada kullu ulaaa'ika kaana 'anhu mas'oolaa )
"And do not pursue that of which you have no knowledge [85]. Indeed, the hearing, the sight [86], and the heart—each of those will be questioned [87]."
This indicates that it is forbidden to speak, pass judgments, or explain religious matters without proper knowledge.
Acting without certainty or evidence in worldly or religious affairs is condemned by this verse.
A person will be questioned for harboring corrupt or deviant beliefs, or for nurturing evil thoughts deliberately.
However, unintentional thoughts that come to the heart involuntarily are excused by Allah’s mercy.
Hence, there is no conflict between this verse and the Hadith regarding unintentional thoughts.
This verse affirms that hearing, sight, and the heart—representing our external and internal faculties—will all be held accountable on the Day of Judgment.
They will be asked:
“Why were you not used in doing what was right and permissible?”
These questions are not for Allah’s information, but for the transgressors to acknowledge their guilt and have no excuse left.
36. And follow not that of which you have no knowledge. Verily, the hearing, and the sight, and the heart of each of those ones will be questioned (by Allah).
`Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn `Abbas said: “This means) do not say (anything of which you have no knowledge).” Al-`Awfi said: “Do not accuse anyone of that of which you have no knowledge.” Muhammad bin Al-Hanafiyyah said: “It means bearing false witness.” Qatadah said: “Do not say, `I have seen’, when you did not see anything, or `I have heard’, when you did not hear anything, or `I know’, when you do not know, for Allah will ask you about all of that.” In conclusion, what they said means that Allah forbids speaking without knowledge and only on the basis of suspicion, which is mere imagination and illusions. As Allah says:
(Avoid much suspicion; indeed some suspicions are sins.) ﴿49:12﴾ According to a Hadith:
(Beware of suspicion, for suspicion is the falsest of speech.) The following Hadith is found in Sunan Abu Dawud:
(What an evil habit it is for a man to say, `They claimed…’) According to another Hadith:
(The worst of lies is for a man to claim to have seen something that he has not seen.) In the Sahih it says:
(Whoever claims to have seen a dream (when he has not seen) will be told on the Day of Resurrection to make a knot between two barley grains, and he will not be able to do it.)
(each of those ones) means these faculties, hearing, sight and the heart,
(will be questioned.) means, the person will be asked about them on the Day of Resurrection, and they will be asked about him and what he did with them.
(17:36) (xiii) Do not follow that of which you have no knowledge. Surely the hearing, the sight, the heart – each of these shall be called to account.[42]
42. The meanings of “Do not follow that of which you have no knowledge” are very comprehensive. It demands that both in individual and collective life, one should not follow mere guess work and presumption instead of knowledge. This instruction covers all aspects of Islamic life, moral, legal, political, administrative and applies to science, arts and education. It has thus saved the society from numerous evils which are produced in human life by following guesswork instead of knowledge. The Islamic moral code demands: Guard against suspicion and do not accuse any individual or group without proper investigation. In law, it has been made a permanent principle that no action should be taken against anyone without proper investigation. It has been made unlawful to arrest, beat or imprison anyone on mere suspicion during investigation. In regards to foreign relations, the definite policy has been laid down that no action should be taken without investigation, nor should rumors be set afloat. Likewise in education the so called sciences based on mere guess work, presumptions and irrational theories have been disapproved. Above all, it cuts at the very root of superstitions, for this instruction teaches the believers to accept only that which is based on the knowledge imparted by Allah and His Messenger.
[745]- i.e., do not assume and do not say.
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