because the conjecture meant here is not the preponderant probability they had in mind. Rather, it means doubt, falsehood, baseless speculation, and guesswork. Al-Nihāya, Lisān al-Arab, and other lexicons state: “Conjecture is a doubt that arises in your mind about something, which you then treat as certain and judge accordingly” (1).

Ibn Kathīr said in his commentary on this verse: “‘They have no knowledge of this (28)’ [al-Najm: 28]—that is, they possess no sound knowledge confirming what they say. Rather, it is a lie, a falsehood, a fabrication, and heinous disbelief. ‘They follow nothing but conjecture, and conjecture is of no avail against the truth (28)’ [al-Najm: 28]—that is, it is of no benefit whatsoever and can never take the place of truth. It is authentically established that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: ‘Beware of suspicion, for suspicion is the falsest of speech’ (2).” (3)

Thus, the conjecture that Allah Most High condemned and censured the polytheists for was doubt and falsehood. This is further supported by His saying: “They follow nothing but conjecture, and they do nothing but guess (116)” [al-An‘ām: 116]. He thus described them as following conjecture and engaging in mere speculation and guesswork. If the conjecture in question is mere speculation and guesswork, it may not be relied upon in legal rulings (4), for rulings are not founded on doubt and guesswork.

As for the claim that a narrator may have been inattentive or forgotten, this is rebutted by the conditions required for an individual report: every narrator must be trustworthy and precise. Thus, once the hadith is established as authentic,