Today’s generation tends to be negligent when it comes to avoiding the extensive effects caused by the tongue. Some of the most frequent damages include the following:
Discussing subjects that don’t directly affect you: Despite the Prophet Peace be upon him also said that:
“A sign of a person’s good practice of Islam, is giving up that which does not concern one.”
The Prophet Peace be upon him also said:
“The people with the most sins, are those who most frequently indulge in conversations which do not concern them.”
You must ask yourself the following questions in order to set limits for what is not of importance to you:
– Is there any harm if you remain silent?
– Is it an issue that concerns you?
– Is it some information that is vital to your wellbeing and which you need?
A person is concerned about things that directly affect his life or that would stop damage from coming to him.
The reason for the frequency of these behaviors is that when someone is curious about something they don’t need to know, continuing the conversation is a means to deepen their social bond with the other person or to pass the time by engaging in pointless discourse.
Reminding yourself that death could strike at any moment and that you might be asked about your statements will help you solve this issue. Time is your life’s currency, and stillness is a method to acquire eternal happiness and the company of the cleansed consorts of Paradise. By limiting idle chatter and gossip as much as you can, you should gradually accustom yourself to silence.
● Indulging in falsehood: This includes talking about women, and sitting in gatherings which include drinking, conveying and spreading innovations in the religion. All of this is prohibited because it goes under the saying of the Prophet Peace be upon him :
“A man may utter a word which pleases Allah, which causes the pleasure of Allah upon him until the Day of Resurrection. A man may utter a word which displeases Allah, which causes the wrath of Allah upon him until the Day of Resurrection.”[Ahmad]
● Disputing and arguing which we were prohibited to do, Allah The Almighty Says (what means):
{“And of mankind there is he whose speech may please you (O Muhammad ), in this worldly life, and he calls Allah to witness as to that which is in his heart, yet he is the most quarrelsome of the opponents. And when he turns away (from you O Muhammad ), his effort in the land is to make mischief therein and to destroy the crops and the cattle, and Allah likes not mischief”} [Quran, 2: 204-205]
The Prophet Peace be upon him said:
“The most hated person to Allah, is the one who always disputes and starts enmity.” [Al-Bukhari].
A Muslim should control his speech to avoid intimidating or upsetting others and remember the saying of the Prophet Peace be upon him :
“I will guarantee a house in Jannah (Paradise) for the one who ends an argument even if he was in the right.” [Abu Daawood].
● Cursing and badmouthing: The Prophet Peace be upon him said:
“A Muslim does not badmouth, curse, nor is he spiteful.” [Ahmad, At-Tirmithi].
He also said: “Reviling a Muslim is an act of outrage (moral depravity) and fighting against him is an act of disbelief (Kufr)”. [Al-Bukhari and Muslim] Unfortunately, this is common amongst the people nowadays, especially amongst the youth. A Muslim is commanded to purify his tongue from immoral words.
● Claiming eloquence: This is dispraised and it leads to boasting. The Prophet Peace be upon him said:
“Those most hated and the farthest on the Day of Resurrection are those with the worst manners, those who prattle, boast and the arrogant.”[At-Tirmithi].
