This is one of the shortest hadith in the collection, and one of the most usable. The Prophet ﷺ gives his grandson, al-Hasan, a single compass for a thousand grey moments: leave what makes you doubt for what does not.
He is pointing to a sense Allah placed inside you, a quiet unease when something is not quite right, and telling you to trust it, to move toward what leaves the heart at rest.
Where this hadith comes from
It is narrated by Abu Muhammad al-Hasan ibn 'Ali ibn Abi Talib (ra), the beloved grandson of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), who said he memorised it directly from him. It is recorded by at-Tirmidhi (2518) and an-Nasa'i, and at-Tirmidhi graded it hasan sahih (good and authentic).
Imam an-Nawawi placed it among his forty as one of the great organising principles of the religion. Despite its brevity, scholars treated it as a foundation for wara' (scrupulousness): a portable rule the believer can carry into the countless situations where no clear verdict is in front of them.
The key words
What it means, line by line
Da' ma yuribuka: when a thing stirs that inner unease, the small flicker that says 'I am not sure about this,' set it down. The wording is a gentle command to release, not to wrestle with the doubtful thing or talk yourself into it.
Ila ma la yuribuka: and turn instead toward what leaves the heart with no waver. The two halves form a single motion, away from disquiet and toward settledness, on the assumption that a sound heart can feel which is which. And the surest rest the heart can reach is the rest of remembering Allah:
A compass in the chest
The Prophet ﷺ does not hand al-Hasan a list of answers. He hands him a method. There is, in the believing heart, a needle that swings between rest and unease. Truthful, sound things bring a settledness; doubtful, off things bring a flicker of disquiet. Leave the disquiet for the rest.
This pairs closely with the hadith of the doubtful matters: there the teaching was to step back from the grey to protect the heart; here it is to follow the heart's own peace toward what is sound. Both trust that a heart kept clean can feel the difference.
Truthfulness brings rest
In another narration the Prophet ﷺ explains the principle behind it: truthfulness is tranquillity, and lying is disquiet. What is true settles; what is false agitates. This is why the people whose hearts are most at peace are the people most committed to the truth, in their speech, their dealings, and their worship.
And the deepest rest of all is the rest of remembering Allah, which is where every doubt finally quiets:
Keeping the needle honest
A compass only works if it is kept from interference. The heart's needle is dulled by sin and constant exposure to the doubtful, and sharpened by truthfulness, remembrance, and lawful living. So the more honestly you live, the more reliably you can feel the difference this hadith asks you to follow. Care for the instrument, and it will guide you.
Carry this with you
A short hadith for everyday decisions: when in doubt, move toward peace.
Leave the doubtful for the certain.
Move toward what leaves your heart at rest, away from what makes it flinch.
Peace is a sign.
Truthful, sound things bring settledness; off things bring disquiet. Trust the calm.
Truthfulness is tranquillity.
What is true settles the heart; what is false agitates it. The honest live more at peace.
Keep the compass clean.
Sin and the doubtful dull the heart's needle; honesty and remembrance sharpen it.
A du'a to carry
وَٱلَّذِينَ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا هَبْ لَنَا مِنْ أَزْوَٰجِنَا وَذُرِّيَّٰتِنَا قُرَّةَ أَعْيُنٍ وَٱجْعَلْنَا لِلْمُتَّقِينَ إِمَامًا
Our Lord, grant us from among our spouses and offspring comfort to our eyes, and make us a model for the righteous. (Al-Furqan 25:74)
A du'a for a peaceful heart
The Prophet ﷺ gave a child a tool he could use for the rest of his life, and so can you: when the path forks and no sign is posted, walk toward the peace.
For the heart that lives honestly becomes a trustworthy thing, settling on the truth and flinching from the false. Keep it clean, and it will keep guiding you home.
O Allah, make our hearts truthful and let them find their rest in You. When we stand unsure, lead us toward what is sound, and quiet our doubts with Your remembrance. Ameen.
The hadith is from sunnah.com: 'Leave what makes you doubt for what does not,' narrated by al-Hasan ibn 'Ali (ra), at-Tirmidhi 2518 and an-Nasa'i, graded sahih. Qur'an citations (13:28 and 25:74) are in Uthmani script verified via quran.ai (ar-uthmani-minimal) with the Saheeh International translation. Per the editorial policy this stays with the spiritual meaning (truthfulness and the heart's peace). FOR SCHOLAR REVIEW before publication.