#Islam

Importance of Saying: “I Don’t Know”

Published

October 23, 2015

As-salaamu alaykum,

I was once invited to a faraway place to an Islamic event as a keynote speaker. At the end of the event someone came up to me and asked a religion based question. I cheerfully replied to them and said: “That is a really good question, ma shaa Allah. But my apologies as I do not know the answer. I would like to know the answer too. I would recommend that you ask your local scholar.”

At that point I could tell the person was shocked by their facial expressions and then they verbalized their shock by saying: “You seriously don’t know the answer to this question! You traveled all the way here and you end up saying I do not know!” (I believe the person thought I was a scholar) So I smiled back and said: “I am sorry. But I really do not know the answer. You are better off having me say “I do not know” than giving you an incorrect answer and ruining things for you and me.”

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Generally speaking, being put in such situation and not knowing an answer to a question which people expect you to know may be a bit embarrassing to the one being asked. It has happened, countless times, where people guessed answers just so they can avoid such “embarrassment”.

With that being said, I couldn’t help but remember the following amazing hadith classified as authentic in Sefat Al-Fatwa. Please pay close attention to it as this may really have a long lasting effect on you. A man asked Prophet Muhammad : “What is the most disliked/evil place (i.e to Allah)?” Can you guess what was the response of the prophet ? Can you guess what was the response of the man who receives direct revelation from God, the one whom the whole ummah views as the most knowledgeable person about Islam on Earth! The prophet said: “I do not know”

Allahu akbar people!

By Allah, this raises his status in our eyes even more! There was NO hesitation! NO “but umm… but I think….” It was a simple plain “I do not know”.

3 – فقال : يا رسولَ اللهِ أيُّ البلدانِ شرٌّ ؟ قال : فقال : لا أدري ، فلما أتاه جبريلُ عليه السلامُ قال : يا جبريلُ : أيُّ البلدانِ شرٌّ ؟ قال : لا أدري حتى أسألَ ربي عزَّ وجلَّ ، فانطلق جبريلُ عليه السلامُ ثم مكث ما شاء اللهُ أن يمكثَ ثم جاء فقال : يا محمدُ إنك سألْتَنِي أيُّ البلدانِ شرٌّ فقلتُ : لا أدري ، وإني سألتُ ربي عزَّ وجلَّ : أيُّ البلدانِ أشرُّ ؟ فقال : أسواقُها

الراوي : جبير بن مطعم | المحدث : الألباني | المصدر : صفة الفتوى

The Prophet then sought to ask Angel Jibreel the question and said: “O Jibreel what is the most disliked/evil place/location?” Can you guess what was the response of the angel closest to Allah! Can you guess what was the answer of the angel who was responsible to reveal Allah’s commands to all prophets. He, Jibreel, said: “I do not know”. Allahu akbar! This is mind-boggling!

Then Jibreel left for some time and then came back to the Prophet and said: “O Muhammad, you asked me what is the most disliked/evil place/location to Allah? And I responded saying: “I do not know”. So I asked my Lord : “What is the most disliked/evil place/location?” and He told me the …..”

Now surely, Allah, Al-Aleem (The All-Knowledgeable) knew the answer. But my intention for writing this article isn’t for you to focus on the response since it is a lengthy topic that requires another article to explain. The point that I wanted to share is the fact that Prophet Muhammad and Angel Jibreel (May Allah’s peace and blessings be upon them) didn’t hesitate to say: “I do not know”. They knew really well the severe punishment that falls on those who speak without knowledge and the honor brought forth to those who know their limits and remain humble.

Read carefully, please, Ch 7 V 33: “Say (O Muhammad ): “(But) the things that my Lord has indeed forbidden are Al-Fawahish (great evil sins, every kind of unlawful sexual intercourse, etc.) whether committed openly or secretly, sins (of all kinds), unrighteous oppression, joining partners (in worship) with Allah for which He has given no authority, and saying things about Allah of which you have no knowledge.”

And the Prophet said: “Whoever tells lies about me deliberately, let him take his place in Hell.” – Sahih Muslim

So when you are asked a question and don’t know the answer ESPECIALLY if it was a religious matter then don’t hesitate to say: “I do not know” and follow it with another statement if you wish such as “I will ask for you” as long as you will actually do it though.

Brothers and sisters, we are better off being embarrassed in front of people for not knowing an answer to their question than being embarrassed in front of Allah for giving them an answer without knowledge.

May Allah bless you and increase you in beneficial knowledge.

Wassalaamu alaykum,

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Related Topics:adab Dawah hadith I don't know Islam Islamic Knowledge manners muslims sunnah

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Majed Mahmoud

Majed completed a Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Windsor, a Bachelor’s in Islamic Studies in Islamic Jurisprudence and Legal Theory from Al-Madinah International University, and a Master’s in Business Administration from Wayne State University. As he travels worldwide lecturing about different aspects of Islam, Majed works full-time as a mechanical engineer and teaches with Al-Maghrib Institute. He currently lives in Michigan with his wife and children.

18 Comments

Marin

October 23, 2015 at 11:31 PM

Really enjoyed this.

Reply
- Shahnaz
  
  October 30, 2015 at 1:54 PM
  
  Ma shaa Allah… Worth reading…. Now it will be easier to us to say I don’t know Alhamdulillah..JazakAllahu khairan brother.. May Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala bless you.
  
  Reply
Umulkhair

October 24, 2015 at 4:51 AM

Maansha Allah! this surely is something that I won’t ever forget to say when ever i am in such situation!!

Reply
Aafia

October 25, 2015 at 1:49 AM

Shaitan induces false pride in People which make them feel low .Masha Allah We have so many reminders from Rasul-allah which help us in all aspect of lives.

Reply
Laura

October 26, 2015 at 2:38 AM

Very interesting.

What does it mean, “joining partners (in worship) with Allah for which…”?

Thank you.

Reply
- Amatullah
  
  October 26, 2015 at 6:08 AM
  
  Joining partners in worship is taking someone else for worship ‘IN THE PLACE OF’ Allah or ‘ALONG WITH’ Allah. That’s joining partners with Allah. In short, not worhsipping Allah Alone.
  
  Reply
  - Laura
    
    October 26, 2015 at 10:35 AM
    
    Thank you very much, I appreciate it!
    
    Reply
Amatullah

October 26, 2015 at 6:22 AM

Bro Majed, I need the reference to the hadith you mentioned. The half knowledge is making me SO curious. Also, I’ve observed bro Majed Mahmoud doesn’t reply to the questions in his comments.
Team MM, we expect answers to our questions please. Even if its an “I do not know”.

Reply
- Majed
  
  October 26, 2015 at 8:11 AM
  
  As-salaamu alaykum Sister Amatullah,
  May Allah bless you. I believe there are two ahadith in this article in which I gave the reference of them already. Let me know if you are referring to something else. Jazakumullahu khairun.
  
  Reply
  - Amatullah
    
    October 29, 2015 at 4:18 AM
    
    Walekum Assalam bro Majed. I appreciate your reply. It was the hadith classified as authentic in Sefat Al-Fatwa that I was asking about. I want the whole hadith. Could you kindly give me a more detailed reference?
    
    Reply
  - Amatullah
    
    October 29, 2015 at 4:19 AM
    
    I was trying to say the same thing as sis Rabia in the comment below
    
    Reply
- Majed
  
  October 30, 2015 at 4:13 PM
  
  The hadith can be found in Musnad Al-Imam Ahmad and it was also narrated by Al-Hakem. The book Sefat Al-Fatwa is by Shaykh Al-Albani may Allah have mercy on him. You will find this hadith mentioned in page 9. The book is in Arabic and can be found here http://islamhouse.com/ar/books/722947/
  The last statement which I did not type in the hadith above is “the market place”. That is the most disliked location.
  If you are able to read Arabic then the following link has a nice explanation about the concept of the most liked vs disliked location to Allah. http://islamqa.info/ar/135771
  And Allah knows best. May Allah bless you.
  
  Reply
  - Amatullah
    
    November 9, 2015 at 5:46 AM
    
    JazakhAllah khayraan kaseeran wa kaseera for the information bro!! May Allah bless you Immensely for forwarding such beneficial information
    
    Reply
Rabia

October 26, 2015 at 8:54 AM

AsA wrwb, this article was very interesting, alhamdulilah. Brother Majed, I also would like to know more about the hadith that explains what is the most hated place by Allah swt. I can’t find this hadith online when I searched it on google. You referenced the hadith as being in “Sefat Al-Fatwa.” However, I don’t even know what “Sefat Al-Fatwa” means nor do I know where I can go to locate this hadith. Is there a link, website, and/or other hadith book you can reference for those of us who would like to know more about this hadith! JazakAllah

Reply
Ladan

October 26, 2015 at 8:21 PM

Wow what an amazing article on an interesting issue. The hadith had my mind blown… I really have to go search for it to see what it was. But subhanallah, all of the points you have mentioned are spot on. Really appreciate the reminder, may Allah reward you!

Reply
Maslam

October 30, 2015 at 7:59 PM

Ustadh, thank you for sharing.

Reply
Basic Quran reading

November 4, 2015 at 9:04 PM

A.A good to go through this topic…Thanks,hope for better.

Reply
Muhammad Biplob

November 18, 2015 at 12:56 PM

May Allah bless you, Really it’s a nice article. it can help us. jajhakallhu khairan brother

Reply