Tongue is the most important part of human being. It may be
used in a constructive way or destructive way. It needs to be controlled so
that it may not attack someone. The tongue is used in a constructive way; it is
used to recite Kalema of Shahadah, recite the Glorious Qur’an, praise Allah
(s.w.t.), contact with others to inquire their welfare, recite prayers, say Amr-e-bil
Maruf (ask people to do good deeds) and Nahi anil Munkar(stop people not to do bad
deeds) etc. Its destructive uses may include talking kufr, hurt others in a wrong
way, back-biting, utter obscene language etc.
The Noble Messenger
(s.a.w.a.s.) said: Blessed is the man who speaks good and is triumphant; or
keeps silent in the face of evil. Affliction caused by the tongue is worse than
(that caused by) the strike of the blade of the sword. The destruction of man
lies in three (things): his stomach, his lusts, and his tongue. Everything that
a person says is against him, except for three types of speech: the remembrance
of Allah; Amr bil Maruf and Nahi anil Munkar; and making amends between two
believers. An active tongue of a person will lead him in the Hell Fire. Whoever
seeks safety (from the fire), then let him protect that which comes out from
his tongue. May Allah’s mercy be upon that servant whom people can benefit from
his speech and who observes silence to stay safe and protected.
The Commander of the
Faithful, Imam Ali (a.s.) said: Do contemplate before speaking so that you may guard
yourself from (committing) errors. The tongue of a wise man lies behind his
heart. The tongues pierce deeper than the spear. A man is hiding under his
tongue. The best speech is one that is short and reasonable. The right of
freedom of speech consists in speaking the truth. As a man’s wisdom increases,
so his desire to speech decreases. That knowledge is superficial which is
merely on the tongue; that knowledge is real which demonstrates itself in your
practice. Do not speak in a state of ignorance. Refrain from unnecessary talks.
The Infallible Imam
Ja’far as-Sadiq (a.s.) said: Behave to be as ornaments for us and not to be
against us as shame. Tell people of goodness, and protect your tongues and hold
it from excessive talks and offensive speech.
Back-biting: The foremost great sin for which the
Glorious Qur’an and the Traditions have promised chastisement is back-biting. Surah al-Nur Ayah 19 says, “Surely (as for) those who love that scandal
should circulate respecting those who believe, they will have a grievous
chastisement in this world and in hereafter.” Similarly, Sarah al-Hujurat Ayah
12 says, “…nor let some of you back-bite others. Does one of you like to eat
the flesh of his dead brother? But you abhor it….” A tradition of the Noble
Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) say, “On the night of Mira’j (Ascension), I saw some
people in Hell who were eating dead meat. I asked Jibril (a.s.) who those
people were. He replied, “They used to eat human flesh in their worldly life
(that is, they used to back-bite about other people).”
The Infallible Imam
Musa ibn Ja’far (a.s.) said, “If one speaks of a person in his absence about
something which is present in a person but people are unaware of it, it would
be “Ghiba”. Moreover, if what he says is not present in the person, it is
allegation (Buh’tan)”
It is said that on
the Day of Judgment, the other parts of body will curse the tongue that because
of its utterances, the other parts of the body will suffer chastisement.
Sources used: The Glorious Qur’an, The characteristics of a
Muslim, Tabrasi, Mashkat al-Anwar page 175, Ethical Discourses by Ayatollah
Nasir Makarem Shirazi, A Battle of Flowers by Sayyid Faqih Imani, Bihar ul
Anwar v. 71 page 277, 286. V. 78 page 178, Ghurar -ul-Hikam, Waqaayi-ul-Ayyam
page 297
No comments:
Post a Comment