Tuesday 30 January 2007

Holding One's Tongue 101

FIQH: TRADITIONAL AHLUS SUNNAH WAL JAMA'AH - SHAFI'I SCHOOL


THE IMPORTANCE OF HOLDING ONE'S TONGUE

Every legally responsible person (i.e. someone who has reached puberty with a sound mind) should refrain from saying anything except when there is a clear advantage to speaking.

Whenever speaking and not speaking are of equal benefit, it is sunnah to remain silent, for permissible speech easily leads to that which is unlawful or offensive, as actually happens much or even most of the time - and there is no substitute for safety.

The Prophet Muhammad SAW has said:

"Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him say what is good or remain silent." (Bukhari, Muslim)

This hadith, whose authenticity Bukhari and Muslim concur upon, is an explicit legal text indicating that a person should not speak unless what he intends to say is good, meaning that the benefit of it is apparent to him. Whenever one doubts that there is a clear advantage, one should not speak.

Imam Shafi'i RA said:

"when one wishes to speak, one must first reflect, and if there is a clear interest to be served by speaking, one speaks, while if one doubts it, one remains silent until the advantage becomes apparent."


SOME AHADITH OF RASULULLAH SAW REGARDING HOLDING ONE'S TONGUE

Hadith 01

Someone approached Rasulullah SAW and asked:

"O Messenger of Allah (SAW), which of the Muslims is best?"

Rasulullah SAW replied:

"He who the Muslims are safe from his tongue and his hand."


Hadith 02

The Prophet SAW has stated:

"A servant unthinkingly says something pleasing to Allah Most High for which Allah raises him whole degrees. And a servant unthinkingly says something detested by Allah Most High for which he plunges into Hell."


Hadith 03

The Prophet SAW said:

"The excellence of a person's Islam includes leaving what does not concern him."


Hadith 04

The Prophet SAW advised:

"Do not speak much without mentioning Allah (zikr), for too much speech without mentioning Allah hardens the heart, and the hard-hearted are the furthest of all people from Allah Most High."


Hadith 05

Rasulullah SAW has been reported to have said:

"All of a human being's words count against him and not for him, except commanding the right, forbidding the wrong, and the mention of Allah Most High (zikr). "


THE IMPORTANCE OF SPEECH WHEN SOMETHING MUST BE SAID

The grand Ulama, Abul Qasim Qushayri RA said:

"Safety lies in remaining silent, which should be one's basis. Silence at the appropriate time is the mark of men, just as speech at the appropriate time is one of the finest qualities. I have heard (the companion of Rasulullah SAW - ) Abu 'Ali Daqqaq (RA) say, 'He who is silent when something should be said is a tongueless villain.' " (Ibid)

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