NOTES
[1] Reported with this wording by Abush-Shaikh in al-‘Azamah (no.5) and Abul-Qaasim al-Asbahaanee in at-Targheeb (2/73, 174) from the marfoo’ hadeeth of Ibn ‘Abbas and its sanad is weak. However, it has a witness in the hadeeth of ‘Abdullah ibn Sallaam in marfoo’ form reported by Abu Nu’aym in al-Hilyah (6/66-67), which brings it to the level of hasan. It has further witnesses that are weak. Refer to Silsilatus-Saheehah (no.1788).
The reflection that is forbidden here is to try to reflect about Allah’s self, asking ‘how?’ and ‘why?’ and so on. The hadeeth is also a reply to those who claim that the first obligation upon a person is to have doubt, or to reflect and ponder. However, it is not forbidden to reflect on Allah’s creation, His dominion, the blessings that He has bestowed, His Greatness and His names and attributes.
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