Vices of Tongue - Islamic Perspective

“He “He who purifies himself who purifies himself

(his soul) will succeed.” (his soul) will succeed.”

[Al - A’laa 87:14]

The Messenger (saw) asked us:

“Do you know who the bankrupt person is?” We said:

“A bankrupt person among us is one without money and

provision.” He (peace be upon him) said: “The bankrupt

in my Ummah (nation of Muslims) is he who comes on

the Day of Judgment with Salaah, Fasting and Zakaat,

but he also comes having blasphemed this (person),

slandered and vilified this (person), ate the wealth of this

(one), spilling the blood of this (one), hitting this (one), so

(on the Day of Judgment) his good deeds will be given to

this one, and this (other one) will be given from his good,

and if his good deeds are consumed before everyone have

taken their rights from him, their evil deeds would be

taken and put upon him (the bankrupt) and then he will

be thrown into the fire (of Hell). [Muslim]

He also said:“The servant speaks words, the “The servant speaks words, the consequences of which he does not consequences of which he does not realize, and for which he is sent realize, and for which he is sent down into the depths of the Fire down into the depths of the Fire further than the distance between further than the distance between the east and the west.” the east and the west.” [Bukhari and Muslim]

“Whoever can guarantee “Whoever can guarantee

what is between his jaws what is between his jaws

(his tongue) and what is (his tongue) and what is

between his thighs (his between his thighs (his

Private part), I will Private part), I will

guarantee him Paradise.” guarantee him Paradise.”

[Al-Bukhari]

“Whoever believes in “Whoever believes in

Allah and the last Allah and the last

Day, let him speak Day, let him speak

good or remain silent.” good or remain silent.”

[Bukhari and Muslim]

Hatred in this WorldHatred in this World

Failure in the HereafterFailure in the Hereafter

Speaking about Allah without Knowledge

Joking

Speaking about everything we hear

Lying to make others laugh.

Speaking without confirming

A painful torment is theirs because they used to be liars. [Al-Baqarah 2:10]

“Mentioning about a person in his absence something he “Mentioning about a person in his absence something he

would hate even if it is a characteristic he possesses.”would hate even if it is a characteristic he possesses.”

“Do not backbite one another, “Do not backbite one another,

would any one of you love to would any one of you love to

eat the flesh of his dead eat the flesh of his dead

brother, verily you detest brother, verily you detest

this....” this....” [[AlAl--HujuraatHujuraat 43:12]43:12]

“Backbiting is mentioning “Backbiting is mentioning

something about your brother that something about your brother that

he dislikes.” he dislikes.” [Maalik & Ibn Mubaraak]

“Backbiting is to mention about a “Backbiting is to mention about a

person something about him in his person something about him in his

absence”. absence”.

[Abu Dawood]

“Do you know what is “Do you know what is gheebahgheebah (Backbiting)? They said “Allah (Backbiting)? They said “Allah

and His Messenger (peace be upon him) know best.” He (peace be and His Messenger (peace be upon him) know best.” He (peace be

upon him) said: “Mentioning about your brother what he would upon him) said: “Mentioning about your brother what he would

hate (in his absence)’. It was said: ‘What about if what I say hate (in his absence)’. It was said: ‘What about if what I say

about my brother is true?’ He (peace be upon him) said: “If what about my brother is true?’ He (peace be upon him) said: “If what

you said about him is true then you would have you said about him is true then you would have backbitedbackbited him, him,

and if it is not true, then he is slandered (and if it is not true, then he is slandered (buhtaanbuhtaan).” [Muslim]).” [Muslim]

1. Subsiding Subsiding AngerAnger. .

2. Wanting to keep Wanting to keep MendsMends

3. Wanting to raise one’s status with Wanting to raise one’s status with other people.other people. This is done by debasing others4. Playing around and making fun of others. Playing around and making fun of others. “Woe to the one who speaks and lies to make people laugh, woe to him, woe to him.” [Ahmad, Abu Dawood& others]

5. Envy. 5. Envy. “Faith and envy cannot exist together in the heart of the slave”. [Ahmad 8: 436]

6. Fear of Blame. 6. Fear of Blame.

7. Having too much spare time. 7. Having too much spare time. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:“Two blessings are misused by people, good health and spare time to do good.” [Bukhari]

The The backbiter should be corrected by stopping him from backbiting and he backbiter should be corrected by stopping him from backbiting and he should be warned that he is involved in a great sinshould be warned that he is involved in a great sin..

The one to whom the backbiter comes should defend the brother who is being The one to whom the backbiter comes should defend the brother who is being backbittenbackbitten..

Also, the person who listens to the backbiter should be aware that he is Also, the person who listens to the backbiter should be aware that he is encouraging an evil, and if the person does not stop, then he should walk away encouraging an evil, and if the person does not stop, then he should walk away

from him.from him.

Slander and the making of false Slander and the making of false accusations, are considered to be accusations, are considered to be major sins in Islam. This involves major sins in Islam. This involves fabricating or spreading a lie fabricating or spreading a lie about your brother (Muslim) in about your brother (Muslim) in his absence.his absence.

“The tale“The tale--carrier (scandal carrier (scandal mongerermongerer) would not enter Al) would not enter Al--JannahJannah.”.”

[Bukhari & Muslim]

“Do you know what is “Do you know what is scandalingscandaling (carrying tales)? It is transfer(carrying tales)? It is transfer--ring of ring of the speech of someone to another person to cause trouble between them.” the speech of someone to another person to cause trouble between them.”

[Al-Bukhari in Adab Al-Mufrad]

One One must verify the tales or stories brought by must verify the tales or stories brought by the carrier of tales, lest he act upon his words, the carrier of tales, lest he act upon his words, thus harming someone who is innocent.thus harming someone who is innocent.

It is Prohibited to Deceive a Muslim who is Seeking Sincere Advice.The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:

“...and whoever directs his brother in an affair; but knows that the right “...and whoever directs his brother in an affair; but knows that the right guidance is other than that, has guidance is other than that, has deceived deceived him.” him.”

[Abu Dawood & Haakim]

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:

“Ribaa (interest) is divided into seventy two categories, the least is (as evil as) the like of a man who comes (fornicating) with his mother; and the worst form of ribaa is (the like) of a man who deliberates in the honor of his brother. “ [At-Tabaraanee].

“The most evil of people is the two “The most evil of people is the two faced person who come to these with faced person who come to these with one face and goes to those with anone face and goes to those with an--

other.” other.” [Abu Dawood]

He (peace be upon him) also said:“Who is two faced in this world will “Who is two faced in this world will have two tongues of fire on the Day of have two tongues of fire on the Day of

Judgment.” Judgment.” [Abu Dawood]

.

Allah, the Glorious said:“O you who believe! Let not a group “O you who believe! Let not a group mock at another group, it may be that mock at another group, it may be that the latter is better than the former, nor the latter is better than the former, nor let some women mock at other women, let some women mock at other women, it maybe that the latter are better than it maybe that the latter are better than

the former... the former... ““[Al-Hujuraat 43:11]

“If someone confided “If someone confided

something (to another something (to another

person), then it is a person), then it is a

trust.’ trust.’

[Abu Dawood, Ahmad]

It is Prohibited to It is Prohibited to Remind Others of One’s Remind Others of One’s GenerosityGenerosity..

“O you who believer do not render vain your “O you who believer do not render vain your charity (charity (sadaqahsadaqah) by reminders of your ) by reminders of your

generosity or by injury...” generosity or by injury...” [Al-Baqarah 2:264]

“Kind words and forgiving of faults are better “Kind words and forgiving of faults are better than than SadaqahSadaqah (charity) followed by (charity) followed by

injury...” injury...” [Al-Baqarah 2: 263]

“No person consumes better food than that which “No person consumes better food than that which he earns with his own hand...” he earns with his own hand...” [Al-Bukhari]

In another Hadeeth he (peace be upon him) asserts thus:“Whoever requests for what he can do without, will “Whoever requests for what he can do without, will have something on his face (for it) on the Day of have something on his face (for it) on the Day of Judgment.” Judgment.” [Ahmad, Al-Bazaar, At-Tabaraanee]

While it is not prohibited to express appreciation for someone or his works,

To do so excessivelyexcessively, or flatteringlyflatteringly is disallowed.

Speaking about Things that there is no Need with Which to Concern Speaking about Things that there is no Need with Which to Concern Oneself.Oneself.

“Part of someone’s being a good Muslim is leaving alone that which does not concern him.” [At-Tirmidhi]

Excessive SpeechExcessive Speech

This is not only offensive, but also prohibited. It originates from being malicious, vile, wicked, and reproachful. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

“A believer is not a shameless person, nor one who curses, nor an obscene “A believer is not a shameless person, nor one who curses, nor an obscene person nor is he indecent.” person nor is he indecent.” [At-Tirmidhi and Al-Baihaqie].

May Allah, the Most High assist us to purify our tongues, and avoid its evil consequences.

According to Ibn ‘Umar, the thing that needs the most purification by any person, is his tongue.

Let us guard our tongues from these evils, lest our works be destroyed.

"Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him say good things or keep quiet!"

Handle them carefully, for words have more power than atom bombs. --Pearl Strachan

Speech is the mirror of the soul; as a man speaks, so he is. --Publilius Syrus

Be careful of your thoughts; they may become words at any moment. --Ira Gassen

Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools, because they have to say something. – Plato

By swallowing evil words unsaid, no one has ever harmed his stomach. --Winston Churchill

If you wouldn't write it and sign it, don't say it. --Earl Wilson

"Truthfulness and lying are in combat in the heart until one of them expels the other.“

Malik Ibn Deenar

"Beware of lying. Whenever you think it will benefit you, it only harms you.“ Ash-Sha'biy