There is that whose lawfulness is plain and undeniable, and there is that whose unlawfulness is plain and undeniable. Between the two lies what is ambiguous—something that could reasonably be linked to either side, leaving the observer uncertain. To this the Prophet ﷺ alluded when he said, “Many people do not know them,” implying that some people do, namely the scholars firmly grounded in knowledge. When a qualified mujtahid (jurist-scholar who exercises independent reasoning) investigates the matter and, by means of sound evidence, attaches it to one of the two categories, it takes on the ruling of lawful or unlawful accordingly. But if those evidentiary markers are lacking, then pious restraint requires one to leave it, for it is covered by his ﷺ declaration: “Whoever guards himself against doubtful matters preserves his religion and his reputation.”