SPEAK A GOOD WORD OR REMAIN SILENT

“Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should speak a good word or remain silent.” [Sahih al-Bukhari]

What a beautiful reminder of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, to guard our tongues! This means to:

>>> Speak that which is beneficial and good. .

>>> Be careful of what we say by avoiding harmful or false speech.

======== SPEAK GOOD ========

1) Speak the truth.

“O you who believe! Fear Allah and speak a word that is right. He will set right for you your deeds and forgive you your sins.” [al-Quran 33:70-71]

>>> Allah promises to fix your affairs and forgive your sins if you speak the truth.

>>> Speaking the truth also builds respect and establishes trust amongst people.

2) Enjoin good and forbid the evil.

“Let there arise out of you a group of people inviting to all that is good (Islam), enjoining the good and forbidding the evil. And it is they who are the successful” [al-Qur’an 3:104]

>>> Enjoining the good includes inviting people to Islam and everything that Islam orders to do.

>>> Forbidding evil includes warning people against polytheism, disbelief in Allah and all that Islam has made forbidden.

3) Speak about beneficial topics.

“No good is there in much of their private conversation, except for those who enjoin charity or that which is right, or bring reconciliation between people.” [al-Qur’an 4:114]

>>> Encourage people to do good deeds such as giving in charity.

>>> Help to reconcile between people.

======= REMAIN SILENT =======

If we don’t have anything good to say, then we should avoid saying it altogether. Here are a couple of things considered as ‘bad speech’ which we should avoid saying:

1) Backbiting.

“O you who have believed, avoid much [negative] assumption. Indeed, some assumption is sin. And do not spy or backbite each other.” [al-Qur’an 49:12]

>>> Avoid thinking and speaking ill of others.

>>> Make excuses for them just how you expect them to make excuses for you.

***On a side note***

Allah does not like that evil should be mentioned in public except by one who has been done injustice.” [al-Qur’an 4:148]

>>> Only speak out if you are seeking justice for some wrong that has been perpetrated against you.

2) Offensive words.

“O you who have believed, let not a people ridicule [another] people; perhaps they may be better than them...And do not insult one another and do not call each other by [offensive] nicknames.” [al-Qur’an 49:11]

>>> Do not be arrogant, perhaps they are better than you. Only Allah knows the affairs of the heart.

>>> Do not insult one another. This lowers your respect in their eyes.

>>> Do not call each other by offensive nicknames.

3) Lying

“Woe to every lying sinful person.” [al-Qur’an 45:7]

>>> Refrain from lying, even if you’re “only joking.”

“Woe to the one who talks to people and lies in order to make them laugh! [Abu Dawood]

======= LAST REMINDERS =======

1) Think before you talk.

“A man might speak a word without thinking about its implications, but because of it, he will plunge into the Hellfire.” [al-Bukhari]

>>> Think about what you say and the possible consequences of your words before speaking.

2) Verify information.

O you who have believed, if there comes to you a disobedient one with information, investigate, lest you harm a people out of ignorance and become, over what you have done, regretful. [al-Qur’an 49:6]

>>> Do not spread misinformation without checking if it’s true first.If you are not sure of its validity, then do not share it.

3) Your words are being recorded.

“He does not utter a statement except that there is an observer by him ready to record it.” [al-Qur’an 50:18]

>>> We will be held accountable for what we say.

Remember, on the day of judgement, your tongue can either talk for your, or against you.

May Allah help us to speak only that which is beneficial and true, and help us to refrain from the speech which is harmful and false.

Nabila Sara Ahmed
#EntrepreneurialMuslim