Checkout

153

In the name of Allah most gracious most merciful.

Control your tongue

Written by: Sk Omar Ali

Translated by: Dr. Faheem Bukhatwa

25 Almoharrum 1432 h.

31 December   2010.

All thanks be to Allah, and peace and prayers be upon our prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and all his companions. And I testify that there is no other God other than Allah, the one, the only, who has no partners with him. And I testify that Muhammad is His slave and His messenger.

Today’s talk is about the manners of conversing and the control of the tong. Slaves of Allah, be God fearing in all you say and in all you do. Allah says: {and be fearful of a day on which you shall be returned to Allah, and each soul will be given in full what it had earned, and they shall not be wronged} 2:281.

Slaves of Allah, our Islamic faith is a great religion complete and comprehensive in its regulations. It cared for forming the individual Muslim in faith, law, manners, ethics and morals. It is through this religion that Allah Has guidance to the highest level of morals, and led to the most comprehensive manners, and also through this faith that Allah Has deterred against the evil of deeds and against evil talk. One of what Islam called for is maintaining the proper manners during conversing and talking, and to maintain the good logic, and to control the tong off being carried away talking. The tong is one of Allah’s great mercies upon us. It is the tong that Allah has differentiated us from the rest of his creations or creatures. The tong has become our tool which enabled us to make explanations and clarifications. Allah says: {Did We not assign unto him two eyes (8) And a tongue and two lips, (9)} 90:8-9. Allah also says: {Does man not see that we created him out of a drop of seed, yet now he turns to be such a clear opponent} 36:77. This mercy ought to be thanked for, and not be denied. The right of Allah ought to be considered and ought to be kept off the forbidden, and ought to be kept off sinning. The tongue is one of the most dangerous of our organs, and is the one that has the greatest effect. If used in what brings Allah’s contentment, and benefits the slaves of Allah then it becomes a cause of happiness and success in this life and next for the individual. And if used in disobedience of Allah, and in what harms the slaves, then it becomes a cause of demise in this life and next. It is for that that Islam pays particular attention to the tong. Allah says: {Tell My slaves to speak the good. Satan sows discord among them. Satan is an open enemy for man} 17:53. Allah in this verse (Ayah) commands His slaves to always pick and say the best they can at all times. That way they can avoid Satan destroying the worship and affection between them. Satan sows dissension among the brothers through an unintentional bad spoken word, and the reply which follows it. That taints affection and love with disagreement then estrangement and then hostility. A good word heals wounds and bruises in the hearts. A good word blocks gaps and ways for Satan to penetrate through, and protects the sanctity of brotherhood.

A believer should pick only the best of his or her words, just as he or she would pick the best of the fruits to eat. The messenger ppbu said: {on the day of resurrection the slave would look on his right and sees nothing but fire, and looks on his left and sees nothing but fire, let each of you get protection from fire even by donating as little as a piece of date fruit, and he who does not have to donate, then let them get protection by a good spoken word}.

Allah says: {Successful indeed are the believers (1) Who are humble in their prayers, (2) And who shun vain conversation, (3)} 23:1-3. Allah also says: {And when they hear useless talk they withdraw from it and say: Unto us our deeds and unto you your deeds. Peace be unto you! We do not desire those who are ignorant} 28:55. Holding on the tongue is the essence of straight religion, and the completeness of faith, and the balance in morals. The messenger ppbu said: {faith for a slave only becomes perfected or straight when his heart becomes straight. And the heart will only become straight when his tongue becomes straight}. The messenger ppbu placed a lot of emphases on the tongue more than on any other organ in the body when he said: {when the morning time comes on to a son of Adam all the organs humble and begs the tongue by saying: fear Allah in us. We shall get the same fate as you, if you would go straight then so shall we, and if you go wrong then so shall we}.

A wise man once said: “As the brain becomes complete, the spoken words become reduced”. And another said: “spoken words of an individual are a sign of his status and the interpretation of his mind. So, limit it to the beautiful, and keep it short”. Another poet said:

Weigh your words when you speak,

for through words your flaws can be seen.

A Muslim must through his faith care for what he/she says. Only speaks with good and favourable words. If the situation requires talking then he/she talks, otherwise, they opt for silence seeking peace and expecting Allah’s reward. The messenger ppbu said: {whoever has faith into Allah and the day after then let them either say good words or let them be silent}.

Soft talking and good spoken words are needed by all people. They work well with friends and with enemies. The most dangerous problems that develop in a family or in a society, in most cases originate from ill spoken words, which are said without thinking in the rush of a moment. They fall on to the others, who frown upon and reject them and dislike who said them. Many unnecessary arguments and animosities develop, and of course Satan is always waiting and ready to take advantage and to inflame and exaggerate the situation further. Nothing blocks Satan’s way like good spoken words. Allah says: {Push forward with the one which is better, then he, between whom and you there was enmity (will become) as though he was an affectionate friend. (34) None is granted paradise except those who are patient, and none is granted paradise except the owner of a great fortune (35)} 41:34-35.

The tongue has many diseases or problem and has real bad effects. It is an obligation for every Muslim to take care in the words they speak. He or she ought to be in constant vigil from slips of the tongue. Let them be people of many deeds and fewer words. Omar Ben Al-Khattab said: “whoever has many words makes many slips. And whoever makes many slips loses his/her modesty. And whoever loses modesty loses his/her devotion and whoever loses devotion then his/her heart dies”.

A wise person once said: “the people with the longest misery and the biggest problems are those who are plagued with a loose tongue and a shut heart”. Those who have faith ought to speak; only if it brings benefit for them in this life or the next life. Luqman advising his son said: “Son, if people become proud of how eloquent their spoken words are, then you be proud of how good your silence is”. The messenger ppbu said: {God bless this that speaks good words and wins, or stays silent and remains safe}. Once a man came to the messenger ppbu and spoke for a long time. The messenger ppbu said: {What barriers are there to hold your tongue?} the man said: “my lips and teeth”. The messenger ppbu said: {Allah, the Almighty hates when one speaks with extreme length. May Allah bless (and keep fresh) the face of this who uses few words when speaking, this who limits his words to his needs}. The messenger ppbu was asked by Muath for a deed which would get him closer to paradise and gets him further away from hellfire. The messenger ppbu told him about the main matter and its peak, and then went on to say: {and I shall tell you how you would win all that? Avoid this} pointing at his tongue. Muath said: “and are we going to be judged for what we say?” The messenger ppbu said: {What’s wrong with you Muath!!! Are people not going to be dumped into hell fire face down first, except because of what their tongs say!}. yes, some of the problems tongs bring are: backbiting, and slandering, lying and fabrication and false testimonies and ill spoken words, and threats to others and rudeness and bad attitudes, and ridiculing other, and mockery of others and disdain or disregard to others, or talk of others pitfalls and failings, or spreading rumours. Remember what Allah says: {and for any words he utters there is an ever ready diligent watching observer} 50:18. The messenger ppbu said: {Out of Allah’s anger the slave speaks a word for which he pays no attention but because of it he drops into hellfire}.

Abdul-Allah ben Masood said: “by Allah, whom there is no other God except He, there is nothing on this earth that needs a longer prison term than the tongue”. Al-Hasan said: “hold on and lock your tong except when there is truth to be affirmed, or a wrong to be denied, or wisdom to be spread, or a blessing to be mentioned”

Slaves of Allah, fear Allah, and control and hold your tongs off what Allah forbade for you. And remember what Allah says: {O you who believe! Guard your duty to Allah, and speak straight and proper words. He will fix your deeds for you and will forgive you your sins. Whosoever obeys Allah and His messenger, he verily has won a clear victory} 33:70-71.

Notes:

Adhan - The call to prayer.

Ahmad (Ahmed)- Another name for the messenger Muhammad (PPBU).

Allah - The Arabic word for "god." It is often used as a name for God in Islam.

Ansar (or Al-Ansar): The inhabitants of the city of Al-Medina that received and supported the messenger (PPBU) when he immigrated from Mekkah in the very early years of Islam.

Assalam Alaikum - The Islamic greeting, literately means: Peace be with you. Used when approaching or leaving. When used during approaching it will be like saying: I bring no harm to you . and when said during leaving somebody it will mean: No harm will come to you after I leave.

Aya (or Ayah): is a verse of the Koran. It also means a miracle or a sign from God.

Arafa (or Arafah or Arafat): is a mountain outside the city of Mecca that represents the climax of the Hajj worship. All doing Hajj must stay at this location on the same day.

Badr - The place of the first significant battle between the Muslims and the pagans of the Quraish. It is located in Saudi Arabia.

Caliph - A Muslim ruler. See: (Khalifa)

Dajjal - Antichrist or the False Massiah.

Dawah - The proliferation of Islamic teachings through word and deed.

Deen (Din) - Religion or way of life.

Duaa: a prayer in the form of talking to Allah; praising him and asking him for help.

Fatwa - Legal verdict given based on the Qur'an (Koran) and the Sunnah which are the recorded sayings and deeds of Muhammad.

Ferdose: is the highest level of the all the gardens of Eden or paradise.

Fiqh - Religious law.

Hadeeth: is something reported that the messenger have said. It includes all the speeches and ceremonies he gave. It is usually narrated or told by one of his companions. There is a list of hadeeths approximately 14000 that are reported and checked to be genuine. No more hadeeths are acceptably added to this list.

Hajar - The Black Stone set into the corner of the Ka'aba in Mecca. It is said to be a stone from Heaven.

Hajj - The pilgrimage to Mecca which takes place in the last month of the Islamic calendar. One of the five pillars of Islam.

Hasana or hasanas: is the reward for a good deed. a hasana is a point or a merit for a good deed.

Hadith - The sayings and not deeds of the prophet Muhammad recorded by his followers. Considered authoritative and perfect.

Hajj: is the worship of pilgrimage.

Hijra (or Hejrah): the event of the immigration of the messenger from Mekkah to Madina. This event marks the start of the Islamic calendar. the Islamic calendar has 12 months based on the lunar cycle, each is 29.5 days. Hijra is also used as a name for the Islamic dating system.

Ibadah - Worship. All the words and deeds with which Allah is pleased. These deeds could be prayer and charity.

Iblis - (Ibleese): On of Satan's names.

Ibn (Ebn): the son of. Used by Arabs as part of an individual's name. Example: Ali whose father is Omar or the son of Omar, would be called: Ali Ibn Omar.

Imam (or Emam)- The leader for a prayer. In the Shiaa sect, an Imam is the individual who has the religious authority.

Iman: belief or faith

Injil (Enjeel) - The Bible. The book inspired to Jesus for the Christians.

Islam - Submission, the religion of all the prophets of Allah culminating in Muhammad.

Jannah - The heavenly garden, Paradise. The place of the faithful in the afterlife.

Jihad: is striving in the line of Allah in many forms. Includes a very wide scope varying from improving oneself to fighting a defensive war in protection of Allah's word. The greatest Jihad is the fight one's self against temptations. It also means "holy war."

Jinn - Supernatural, invisible beings race of beings, below angels. They were made from fire. Like humans, there amongst them are the faithful and the non beleivers and Jinn shall be judged on Judgment Day.

Ka'aba: A cube shaped building in Mecca containing a stone laid there by Abraham and Ishmael. Some say Ka'aba was first built by Adam, and some say by Abraham. It is the holiest place for Muslims. It is where all Muslims face in their daily prayers. Ka'aba also makes a major part of the pilgrimage in a ritual known as Tawaf.

Khalifa: is the Muslim ruler. Head of the Islamic empire. Exact translation: "Successor".

Khutbah - A sermon given in a Mosque, usually on Friday.

Kufr - Denial or Disbelief. A term Muslims use for anyone who denies existence of Allah or the prophecy of Muhammed.

Koran - Also spelled Qur'an. The holy book of Islam revealed to Muhammad by Allah through the Archangel Gabriel. Koran literally means "the recital." It is the final revelation of Allah given to the prophet Muhammad. It consists of 114 surahs (or chapters.)

Madinah - (Medinah): A city in the Arabian peninsula (in the country known now as Saudi Arabia). A city where the messenger had to immigrate to. Then it was called Yathrib.

Masjid - A center for Muslim activity. It is referred to as a mosque.

Masiah - A sin, or a sinful act

Mecca or Makkah: is the holiest city for Muslims. It contains the Ka'aba mosque with the famous black cubical shape. Mecca is the birth place of the messenger (PPBU).

Mosque - A Muslim house of worship.

Muhajir - (Muhajireen) Immigrant, one who leaves his home town due to lack of religious freedom. It was first used to describe early Muslims immigrating from Mecca to Median and Ethiopia.

Muhammad - the final messenger and prophet of God whose message abrogated all previous revelations. He received the Koran through the angel Gabriel over a 23 year period. Born in Mecca and died in Medina at the age of 63. His full name: Muhammad ibn Abd-Allah

Muslim - One who holds faith to the religion of Islam.

Nafilah: a voluntary prayer other than the five obligatory prayers; performed at any time.

Nasara - Christians. Nasrani: A Christian individual. Nasraniah: Christianity.

Ommah: is the Arabic word for a nation. It usually refers to the Islamic nation unless otherwise specified.

Paradise - Another word for heaven. A garden of bliss, fruits, rivers and all forms of pleasures imaginable and imaginable. No suffering, disease or death. Service is provided by angels. All live in it an ever lasting youthful life. Promised by Almighty Allah to all faithful, true Jews, true Christians and True Muslims. Paradise is one of two places every person will go to, either Paradise or Hellfire.

PPBU (P.B.U.H.) : Peace and Prayers Be Upon him. A statement Muslims use any time they mention the name of the messenger or make a reference to him.

Qadar - Fate. Preordainment is the teaching that all things, good and bad, are preordained to occur.

Qadr - (night of Qadr): The night when the first revelation of the Koran took place. Most likely it happened during one of the last ten nights of the month of Ramadan. Or when the Koran was brought down to the nearest heaven in one go, and from there it was brought down in bits and few verses at a time over a period of 23 years. This night is considered the holiest night for Muslims with tremendous advantages.

Qibla - The direction which Muslims turn for daily prayers, towards Mecca.

Quraish - An ancient Arab tribe to which the messenger Muhammad belonged.

Ramadan - The ninth month of the Islamic calendar which is the month of the fast. The holiest month in the Muslim colander.

Salat - Prayers. Generally it covers all forms of worship, but more specifically refers to the Muslim rituals which is performed to worship Allah five times daily.

Shiaa: A sect of Islam that teaches that a religion leader (Imam) should be the political ruler and must be direct descendants of the messenger (PPBU). Therefore, disapproving of all Muslim leaders who ruled After the messenger (PPBU) except Ali, the messenger's grandson.

Shirk - Associating another god with Allah. Or associating anyone or anything with Allah. Or using anyone or anything as a medium to Allah. The opposite of Monotheism or Tawheed.

Siam or Soam- Fasting

Sunni: is a the title of those Muslims who are suppose to be following the life style of the messenger. This differentiates them from the Shiaa of Iran.

Sunna (Sunnah): Is how the Messenger PPBU lived, what he did or said. It includes the way he dressed, ate, drank, prayed, interacted with other people and fought. Basically, sunnah is the life style of the messenger PPBU. It is considered the second source of legislation in Islamic laws and it is considered to be an important reference to be used for concluding arguments and disputes. It is also a title give to the main stream Muslims who make 90% if all Muslims.

Surah - A chapter of the Koran.

Tawaf: part of the pilgrimage (Hajj) ritual. It involves walking round the Ka'aba Mosque in anti-clock wise direction a number of seven circles.

Tauhid - Tawheed - Monotheism, in Islam is the teaching that there is only one God who alone is worthy of worship. The first requirement of becoming a Muslim. It is included in the testimony of faith for new Muslims when declaring that God is one: (No God but Allah)

Taqwah - Proper fear and veneration of Allah. A divine spark that enables the person to understand God.

Taurat: The old Testaments and scriptures of Mosa.

Ummah - the word means: a Nation. Usually refers to the Islamic nation unless otherwise stated.

Umrah - (Amrah): A mini hajj. A Minor form of pilgrimage to Mecca. Unlike Hajj which can only be done on the 12th month of the Islamic year, Umrah can be performed at any time.

Wathoo (wadoo): a washing up ritual done by Muslims before each of the five daily prayers known as ablution.

Zaboor - The Psalms

Zakat - The third pillar of Islam. Alms giving, charity that is given to the poor.

Faheem Bukhatwa, my email address is : faheemfb@gmail.com