Speaking

Allah Ta’ala has honoured Insaan by giving him the ability to speak and express himself. Just like all other favours of Allah Ta’ala, we must be very grateful to Allah Ta’ala for this favour also. To show gratitude for this favour, we should always use it for things that will be beneficial for us in Dunya and Aakhirah such as Tilawat-ul-Qur’an, Zikrullah, Durud Shareef, etc.

We must know that we will be accountable by Allah Ta’ala for every word that we utter. So, we have to be more vigilant and more careful before speaking. In a Hadith found in Abu Dawud and Tirmizi, Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) showed that Salvation lies in controlling the tongue. This mouth that can be of great benefit to us, may be the cause of dire circumstances if we do not know how to use it. We must think well before asking a person something or replying to a person. It all depends in which way and with what formula we are saying it. One could have received something in a good way but one did not receive it just because one’s way of speaking was not good. Disputes, quarrels in the household, among colleagues at work and in general, are provoked by the wrong way of addressing a person. These quarrels end up in very heartbreaking ways. Sometimes, marriage breaks, just as sometimes, it also costs the life of people. All this happens because we do not control this piece of flesh which has no bones. Therefore, controlling the tongue spares us from many damages in the worldly life and in the Aakhirah also. In a Hadith, Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) said:

"The one who gives me guarantee concerning that which is found between his two jaws (the tongue) and concerning that which is found between his two legs, I guarantee him Jannah."

This means that misusing the tongue can deprive a person of an inestimable gift like Jannah. In a way, we can say that the mouth can render a person fortunate or unfortunate. It is up to us to choose our good fortune or bad fortune.

[English version of "Causé" – Al Jamiat – Vol.3 No.4]