By Arman Neyazi, New Age Islam
20 May 2021
Hazrat Ali (KW) Says: ‘Wounds Of Knives Can Heal, But The Wounds Of The Tongue Can Never Heal’
Main Points:
1. Controlling the Temptation to Speak is Spiritual.
2. Human Being will Be Accountable to His Words Here and Hereafter.
3. Benefits of Keeping Silent or Speaking the Best Words, If Necessary.
4. Do not Pursue That Which You Do Not Know.
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‘Silence is Golden’ is a famous old saying that our forefathers have been asking us to follow. Our forefathers were not that educated as this generation of ours is, in the sense that they did not attend classes in local, national or international educational institutions. But the wisdom they carried was of immense value as it used to be transferred to them from generations. Thus, their wisdom had no parallel from those of ours.
Our forefathers were good listeners during their age of learning. They were not allowed to interrupt when someone is speaking especially if the speaker is older to them. The question is, do we carry that wisdom of listening, the answer has to be a big ‘No’.
Thus, like all other teachings of our wise forefathers, we have abandoned the teaching that ‘silence is golden and with that, we have abandoned the lessons in spirituality. The spiritual lesson about keeping control on our tongue, in the words of the Apostle of Allah Pbuh is, “If a person is given silence, he is given wisdom”.
Controlling the Temptation to Speak is Spiritual
Most of the evils in the world today is because the human being has fallen prey to the temptation of speaking without any sense of time, place and or necessity. Speaking on irrelevant and unnecessary topics, using foul words has become a trend of the time. Hazrat Ali (KW) says: “Wounds of knives can heal, but the wounds of the tongue can never heal”. This exactly is the reason that all the nations, communities, political parties and individuals are wounded deep in their hearts. The human being should know that the human heart is the abode of the Creator of the universe. If a heart is broken is thus a broken abode of Allah, the Most Gracious. The human being needs to control their tongue to be counted as a good human being as the following Ahadees say:
The best Islam belongs to those from whose tongue and hand people are safe. (Musnad Ahmad 6714)
“Do not curse each other and do not summon the wrath of Allah or His Hell on each other”. (Abu Daawood and Tirmidhi)
“A true believer is never used to cursing others”. (Muslim)
“People who curse others will never be witnesses or intercessors on the Day of Judgment” (Muslim).
Human Being will Be Accountable to His Words Here and Hereafter
It is not only during the span of our lives that one day or the other we are held accountable for our utterances by one agency or the other. The human being must know that he will be punished for his foul mouthing abusive, arrogant and accusing words on the Day of Judgement. Allah, the All-knower has two angels established on our shoulders who are commanded to note down each of our deeds, bad or good. Consider the following Ayat:
Man does not utter any word except that with him is an observer prepared [to record]. (Ayah Quaff:18) - Sahih International
The human being will not only be punished for his foul mouthing but will be rewarded, without doubt, for all his good words that bring happiness and on his face and console his heart. We, the human being must learn to control our tongue to simplify others lives in an attempt to bring peace to the world.
Benefits of Keeping Silent or Speaking the Best Words, If Necessary
Islam asks human being to maintain theirs’ and others modesty by speaking only when asked or only when it is necessary. If our words hurt someone, it is better no to speak. Prophet Muhammad Pbuh always practised the art of staying silent unless it is important to speak. In this regard consider the Hadees that Abu Hurairah (AS) narrated:
Prophet Muhammad SAW said, “Whoever believes in God and the Last Day should speak a good word or remain silent. … (Al-Bukhari)
Listening to others and speaking only when it is required is a sign of a good believer and it is a sign of one belief in Allah and the Day of Judgement. Nothing more can be said in praise of not speaking unless necessary and not being abusive or arrogant. Following Ayat are lessons for us to speak, when we must, but the way the Holy Quran states:
O you who believe! Keep your duty to Allah and fear Him, and speak (always) the truth. (Quran 33:70)
And say to My slaves (i.e. the true believers of Islamic Monotheism) that they should (only) say those words that are the best. (Because) Shaitan(Satan) verily, sows disagreements among them. Surely, Shaitan (Satan) is to man a plain enemy. (Quran 17:53)
And those who turn away from Al-Laghw (dirty, false, evil vain talk, falsehood, and all that Allah has forbidden) (Quran 23:3)
Above mentioned Ayat teach us to speak but ‘speak the truth’ speak the words that are the best’ and ‘do not talk dirty, false, evil or vain talk’.
When a human being speaks he is unaware of the punishments of the ‘bad words used by him and the rewards of the ‘good words’ so be conscious while speaking and use only the words that will bring rewards here and hereafter. Consider the following Hadees reported by Imams At-Tirmidhi and Ibn-Majah:
“A person may say a word that is pleasing to Allah (S.W.T.) and he may not think much of it, but Allah (S.W.T.) will, (because of that word), bestow his pleasure upon him on the Day of Judgment, and a person may say a word that is displeasing to Allah (S.W.T.), and he may not think much of it, but Allah will have, (because of that word) put his wrath and anger on him on the Day of Judgment.”
Do not Pursue That Which You Do Not Know
In this age of materialism and show of power and ego, we all have cultivated a habit of speaking without any knowledge of the subject. Social media is agog with plenty of false news and reports that misguide the innocent and ignites them to act immodestly and unlawfully. No matter how much the unauthentic news is religiously, politically or community-wise concerning to you, if you spread you in society, it is harmful to you and the agency you wish the news to reach. Spreading by sharing the unauthentic news makes you eligible for worldly accusations and divine sin without even being in knowledge of the consequences it will bear. In this regard, Allah, the All-knowing, says in the Holy Quran:
And do not pursue that of which you have no knowledge. (Ayah al-Isra: 36) - Sahih International
For a long time, for reasons unknown to many of us, the universal society is sitting on the brink of devastation and ruins, much because of our habit of going after every news, unknown of its validity and truthfulness.
We must desist, therefore, from any such activity that is harmful to humanity at large. The times we are living in is injured and wounded with devastation and death therefore it demands from all of us to be negligible of our benefits and work for the safety of the human race. We will be handsomely rewarded for it as the Holy Quran says: “If anyone saved a life it would be as if he saved the life of the whole humanity.” (Quran 5:32).
Let us be one of those who refrain from speaking aimlessly and be saving lives and thus saving humanity.
And Allah knows the best.
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Arman Neyazi is a columnist with NewAgeIslam.com.
New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism
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