Wednesday, July 28, 2021

THE FAST OF THE TONGUE

當你開口說話只會有兩種結果,一是對你有利,二是對你不利,沒有所謂的中間效果。所以,每說話前要三思過

When you open your mouth to speak, there will only two things can happen. Your words will either be for you or against you. There’s nothing in between. (Mufti Menk)


Abu Sa’id al-Khudri reported: The Prophet (S.A.W.) said, “When the son of Adam wakes up in the morning, all of his limbs defer to the tongue and they say: Fear Allah regarding us, for we are only a part of you. If you are upright, we are upright. If you are crooked, we are crooked.


Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 2407


This Hadith shows the importance of guarding one's tongue against that which is prohibited. Even the slightest carelessness on the part of the tongue can make all the organs suffer for it. Crookedness of the tongue means the careless use of the tongue which lands the whole body in trouble; and keeping the tongue straight means keeping oneself safe from all kinds of troubles and ordeals.



The Tongue Expresses what is in the Heart:


If a person is good, it reflects in their saying. Allah has made it very easy for the tongue to move, and it is not difficult to realize that a person’s tongue moves much more as if compared to the limbs. So if a person is not careful about what he says, even a single saying of his can invalidate his actions. It is for this reason that the whole body warns the tongue saying, “Fear Allah concerning us, for we are (dependant) upon you. If you are upright then we will be upright and if you are corrupt then we will be corrupt.” - Sunan at-Tirmidhi (1912), Mishkaat (4838) and Riyaadh as-Saleheen (2/1521)


And at the same time, the tongue is a great blessing from Allah. If we look at the animals, who are unable to speak, we realize the importance of this great tool of communication.


The gratitude that we should show for this great blessing should include, using it as follows:

(a) for the obedience to Allah

(b) for reading the Qur'aan

(c) for seeking Knowledge

(d) to enjoin good and forbidding evil

→The prohibitions of the tongue are that you do not lie, abuse, use foul language, backbite and slander.


Allah says in the begining of Soorah al-Mumineen, “Indeed successful are the Believers, those who in their prayer have Khushoo’ (fear of Allah) and those who refrain from vain talk.” [Soorah Mumineen : 1-3]


Here Allah mentions that refraining from vain talk is a sign of the successful believers. Allah also mentions refraining from vain talk after he mentions al-Khushoo’. This is because too much talk makes the heart hard. It is not possible to reach the level of Khushoo’ (fear of Allah) unless one refrains from vain talk.


Imaam an-Nawawee - rahimahullah - mentions “Know it is incumbent upon all to guard their tongues from most speech, except a word that has some benefit in it....” - Kitaabul-Adhkaar


And for those who take heed there is a constant reminder in the verse, “Not a word is said except that there is a watcher by him ready to record it.” - [Soorah Qaf (50):18]


The Messenger of Allah, Muhammed - SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam - said, “Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should speak good or keep silent.


Imaam ash-Shafiee - rahimahullah - said. “If you wish to speak then it is upon you to think before you speak. If you think there is good in it then speak and if not then do not speak.


The earlier mentioned Qur'aanic verses, Hadeeth (sayings) of our noble Prophet and advices by the scholars of Islaam are a guide for those searching for salvation against vain talk. So before we talk, should we not ask ourselves....


>Will this saying of mine please Allah?

>Will this saying of mine bring me closer to Allah?

>Does this saying earn with it obedience to Allah?

>If yes, then speak, otherwise one should keep quiet.


安拉不喜歡人們宣揚惡事,除非他是被人虧枉的。安拉是全聽的是全知的。「古蘭經:4:148」Allah does not like the evil words to be said openly except from anyone wronged. Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.


THE FAST OF THE TONGUE

In Ramadan, we fast with our mind, stomach, limbs and tongue. How does the tongue fast? It fasts from uttering anything that is displeasing to Allah, all praises and glory be to Him. The harm of the tongue is great and its dangers are huge. In a well known hadith, the Prophet (S.A.W.) was asked whether we would be held accountable for what we say. He (S.A.W.), replied:


“Is there anything that has thrown people on their faces – or he said on their noses – into the Fire except that which their tongues reap?” (Recorded in al-Tirmidhi)


Don’t let Ramadan be a time to let your tongue reap bad deeds. Take care not to backbite, or mention the faults of others, or participate in vain talk. Surely Allah will be merciful to the one who guards their tongue from such acts. We should remember, as Allah advises us in the Qur’an:


“Not even a word can he utter but there is a watcher with him, ever-present.” (Surah Qaf:18)


We will be held to account for everything that our tongue says. In this regard, the Prophet (S.A.W.) said:


”Whoever guarantees me (the chastity of) what is between his legs (i.e. his private parts), and what is between his jaws (i.e., his tongue), I guarantee him Paradise.” (Recorded in Al-Bukhari)


When our righteous predecessors disciplined themselves with the morality of the Qur’an and Sunnah, they weighed their utterances and considered their words. They did not take words lightly. When they uttered, they uttered the praises of Allah and remembrances of him, because they feared their meeting with their Lord. They refrained from treachery, backbiting, obscenities and vain talk. They said a good word, or remained silent.


Allah advises us in the Noble Qur’an:


“O you who believe! Avoid much suspicion; indeed some suspicions are sins. And spy not, neither backbite one another. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? You would hate it (so hate backbiting). And fear Allah. Verily Allah is the One who Forgives and accepts repentance, Most Merciful.” (Surah al-Hujurat:12)


There are ten misdeeds that can emanate from our tongues if we don’t control them properly. Among them are lying, backbiting, slander, obscenity, cursing, shamelessness, false evidence, derision and scorn. How can a believer fast and then give free reign to their tongue? How can someone fast and then lie and backbite or abuse others forgetting about the Day of Judgement? Is Islam anything other than deeds, practice, methodology, submission, behaviour and application? The purpose of fasting is not hunger and thirst, it is discipline.


The tongue is therefore a means to good or evil. Let’s ensure it is a source of good for us by moistening our tongues with the remembrance of Allah this Ramadan.


Reference: https://www.siasat.com/

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