TONGUE: Disaster of Tongue

Excerpts from Islahi Nisaab by Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi rahmatullahi 'alaih

To avoid useless and forbidden talk:
Sahal Bin Sa'ad (Radhiyallaho anho) narrates that Prophet Mohammad's said: "One who guarantees me about that which is between his jaws i.e., tongue and that which is between his thighs i.e., private parts, I am responsible (guarantor) for his jannat." (Bukhari)

Uqbah Bin Aamir (Radhiyallaho anho) narrates that he met Prophet Mohammad's and asked him: "What is the way of salvation?" Rasulullah (Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: "control your tongue and your house should be enough spacious for you i.e., don't come out of your house unnecessarily and keep on weeping on your mistakes."
(Ahmad, Tirmizi)

Disaster of tongue:
One of its disaster is that it looks very light but is very heavy, that is why Prophet Mohammad's laid much stress on taking care of it because more of the disasters come due to of the tongue only. Until tongue does not start, there is no quarrel or litigation with anybody, when it starts, every such things is there. Pious religious scholars have collected these disasters of tongue at one place after extracting them from Ahadith.

Hadhrat Imam Ghazali (Radhiyallaho anho) has written this topic in quite detail in his book (Ihya-ul-Uloom). In Urdu, Maulana Mufti Inayat Ahmad Sahib has written this topic sufficiently in his book Zamanul Firdous. It is must for every body to see this book, even daily. Author of these lines will enumerate only the sins of tongue and will refer the reader for details to above mentioned books. These disasters according to Imam Ghazali (Radhiyallaho anho) are 20.

1. To talk about the thing which has no benefit.

2. To talk more than needed.

3. To talk about nonsense things like telling stories of women, transgressors or tyrants with interest.

4. To indulge in (useless) debates and discussions.

5. To quarrel.

6. To talk with formality and artificiality.

7. To talk obscene language and to abuse.

8. To use fool language.

9. To say La'anat.

10. To sing and to read such poetry which is against the Shari'ah.

11. To chat and laugh more.

12. To laugh at others in which others are looked down, upon.

13. To reveal some body's secret.

14. To make false promise.

15. To tell lie unless it is extremely necessary and nobody's right is being snatched, there it is allowed.

16. Geebat (Backbiting):- This becomes one's food and gives rise to many evils. many people say that they are speaking truth, how is it Geebat? This doubt is silly as Geebat takes place only when it is true, otherwise it is slandering. Of course, if there is a possibility of some Deeni or worldly harm to someone, then it is allowed to reveal his condition.

17. Double faced:- To say yes to everyone and in every group.

18. Flattering someone at his face. If it is felt that the listener will not feel proud instead may get more inclined towards virtue, then there is no harm.

19. Not to take care of minute mistakes during conversation as people say "above is Allah and below you." This is a bad thing, in it there is sort of equation between the creator and the creature.

20. To ask Ulema such questions which are not related to you.

Method of control of tongue:

The remedy of it is that whenever you have to say something, don't say it abruptly, first think for two or three seconds that whether this thing which I am going to say, may not displease my real owner Allah. If one is fully satisfied that it is not so, then one should say without hesitation but only whatever is needed (not more than that). If there is slightest doubt, then keep quite, InshaAllah, you will get saved from all the disasters of tongue easily.

May Allah give Tawfeeq.