Question

Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) struck the chest of the Sahabi and he said, “Whatever your heart rejects, then abandon it.”

What is the source for this narration?

Answer

Imam ‘Abdullah Ibn Mubarak (rahimahullah) has recorded this narration (mursalan). The Hadith is suitable to quote and is supported by many similar narrations. The full narration is as follows:

Abdur Rahman ibn Mu’awiyah (rahimahullah) reports: “A man asked Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) thrice, ‘O Rasulullah! What is lawful and unlawful for me?’ Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) kept silent and after the third time said, ‘Where is the questioner?’ When the questioner came forward, Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said, ‘Whatever your heart rejects, then abandon it.’”

(Kitabuz Zuhd, Hadith: 1162. Also see Jami’ul ‘Ulumi Wal Hikam, under Hadith: 27)

‘Allamah Munawi (rahimahullah) explains that this only applies to those pure clean hearts which are trained to obey Allah and filled with his remembrance, so much so that the knowledge and light of Nubuwwah emanates from it, for only these types of hearts will be able to differentiate between right and wrong.

(Faydul Qadir, Hadith: 7846)

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.

Answered by: Mawlana Suhail Motala

Approved by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar

Checked by: Mawlana Haroon Abasoomar