Avoidance Of Doubtful Matters - The Safeguard of Ones Religion and Honor

read book: [The Islamic Ruling Concerning Tasweer] by: Abu Muhammad Abdur-Ra´uf Shakir.

If one hear the words of the Messenger of Alláh (Blessings of Alláh and Peace be upon him), and the explanations of the foremost scholars of the past and present - it is unlikely that any open-minded sincere believer will remain doubtful as to the correct position of Islaam concerning the making and possession of images in general.

However, their may remain certain issues - like the question of modern photography - about which some Muslims may still be unsure about its legal ruling, simply because it did not exist in the era of the Prophet (Blessings of Alláh and Peace be upon him). For this reason, we mention the words of the Prophet (Blessings of Alláh and Peace be upon him):

Verily, that which is lawful is clear and that which is unlawful is clear. And between the two of them are doubtful matters [neither clearly lawful or unlawful] about which not many people know. So, whoever avoids these doubtful matters has protected his religion and his honor. Ans whoever falls into these doubtful matters, falls into that which is HARAAM (forbidden)....
[Al-Bukhaaree 1/44, no.49]

It is also authentically reported that the Prophet (Blessings of Alláh and Peace be upon him) said:

´´Leave that which makes you doubt, for that which does not make you doubt.´´
[At-Tirmidhee, no.2518, and it is a good and authentic hadith (Hasan Saheeh).