Speak good or remain silent

Ibn Uthaymin

Junior member
Isn’t it funny how easily people label each other under different categories, just from a single meeting? Often early judgment based on brief and imprecise observation, stones in mind and is difficult to be altered. Prejudices and stereotypes are wicked traps of human minds, that influence and form one’s convictions most. Just a thought, but it reminds me of one old Japanese saying:

See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.


Good advice, especially as it is difficult to hold ones own tongue or not let oneself into backbiting and gossiping.

Allah says:

“Not a word does one utter, except that there is an (angel) Watching, Ready to record it.”
[Surah Qaaf: 18]

Abu Hurairah (RA) reported words of Prophet (SAWS):

‘Whosoever believes in Allaah and the Last Day, then let him speak good or remain silent.’
[Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree]

Abu Moosaa Al-Ash’aree (RA) said:

“I said: ‘O Messenger of Allaah Which of the Muslims is best?’ He (SAWS) said:
‘He whose tongue and hand the Muslims are safe from.”’
[Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim]

Abu Hurairah (RA) reported that he heard the Prophet (SAWS) said:

‘Indeed, the servant will speak a word, while being unaware of (its consequences), and due to it, he will be cast into the Hellfire, farther than the distance between the east and the west.’
[Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim]

It is important always to consider whether words one is about to say, are good or not.

Sufyaan Ibn ‘Abdillaah (ra) reported that prophet said:

‘O Messenger of Allaah (SAWS) , tell me of a matter that I may cling tightly onto.’ He (SAWS) said: ‘Say: I believe in Allaah and then remain steadfast (upon that).’ I said: ‘O Messenger of Allaah (SAWS) , what is the most serious thing that I should fear for myself?’ So he (SAWS) took a hold of his tongue and said: ‘This.”
[An authentic hadeeth reported by At-Tirmidhee, Ibn Maajah and others]

‘Uqbah Ibn ‘Aamir (ra) reported:

‘I said: ‘O Messenger of Allaah (Sallallahu ‘Alayhi wa Sallam) , how does one attain salvation?’ He said: ‘Restrain your tongue, remain in your home and weep over your sins.”
[An authentic hadeeth reported by Ibn Al-Mubaarak in Az-Zuhd and it has support in Ahmad]

Abu Sa’eed Al-Khudree (ra) reported that the Prophet sallahu alyhi wasslam said:

“When the Son of Adam wakes from his sleep, all of his body parts seek refuge from his tongue, saying: ‘Fear Allaah with regard to us, for indeed we are part of you. So if you are correct, then we will be correct and if you are corrupted, then we shall be corrupted.”
[A hasan hadeeth reported by At-Tirmidhee and others]

“See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil” translated into Japanese as “mizaru, kikazaru, iwazaru”, is the simplest and most understandable rule…so why is it so difficult for some to hold on to it?
 

abdul-aziz

Junior Member
assalam aleikum,

did you put this together?

I like this on about speech:

The Four Types of Speech


‘Alee ibn Abee Maryam narrated to me on the authority of Khalaf ibn Tameem who said that Abu Ishaaq al Fazaaree said:
Ibraheem ibn Ad-ham, may Allaah have mercy upon him, used to remain silent for long periods of time, if he spoke I would be pleased. One day he remained silent for a lengthy period of time, I said: ‘If you would speak.’ He said:
There are four types of speech:


  1. The type of speech that you anticipate benefit from, but fear its consequences. It is more virtuous to be safe from such speech.
  2. Speech that you do not anticipate any benefit from, nor do you fear its consequences. By leaving such speech, the least that you would benefit is to lighten the burden on your body and tongue.
  3. Speech that you do not anticipate any benefit from, and you are not sure of its consequences. The intelligent person does not burden himself with such speech.[this third type was taken from Tahdheeb al Kamaal by al Haafidh al Mizzee as it was not included in this narration in ‘as Samt’. In another narration this type of speech is described as poison.]
  4. Speech that you anticipate benefit from, and are sure of its consequences, and this is the type of speech that you must propagate.

As samt page 67, google for the link to the source, I can't post a link
 
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