Out of the several ways people harm each other, the harms of the tongue are the most widespread. Harming others by one's tongue is a heinous act that can only be committed by evil people or those who have given in to the evil whispers of Satan.
Some of the evils of the tongue that we have been warned against in the Quran and Sunnah (Prophetic tradition) are as follows:
It was defined by the Prophet as: “Mentioning your brother in his absence with that which he hates.” [Muslim]. It is one of the major great sins, Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {“O you who believe! Avoid much suspicion; indeed some suspicions are sins. And spy not, neither backbite one another. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother You would hate it (so hate backbiting).”}[Quran, 49: 12]. It is not only an action performed by the tongue, but it could be an indication of the eye or any signal or gesture which indicates mockery without the person noticing.
There are many reasons behind such an evil deed like satisfying one's hatred towards others, envy, arrogance, heedlessness, and forgetting that Allah The Almighty is an Ever Watcher over us.
The cure for the evil habit of backbiting is for the perpetrator to know that he is subject to the wrath of Allah The Almighty; his rewards will vanish as a result of backbiting, because it goes to the one he transgressed against. He should think about his own shortcomings and faults, and busy himself in reforming them. He should not do what he would hate others to do against him, and he should spend his time fruitfully engaged in acts of obedience. He should regret acts of backbiting that he may have done before and repent to Allah The Almighty sincerely.
This is conveying what people say about one another with the intention of causing corruption between people; it causes ties between kinship to break and spreads people’s secrets. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {“A slanderer, going about with calumnies.”}[Quran, 68: 11].The Prophet said: “No talebearer will ever enter into Paradise”.
Spreading people’s secrets
This harms others and it is a form of transgressing against people’s rights. The Prophet said: “If a man tells something, then starts looking around (to make sure no one can hear him), his speech will be a trust (in confidence).”[Abu Daawood].
False testimony
This is one of the great major sins, as the Prophet said: “Shall I tell you about the most grievous kinds of major sins?” It was said, “Yes, Messenger of Allah.” He said: “Associating deities with Allah in worship, unkind treatment to parents, (he sat erect after he had been reclining) and false testimony.” He kept repeating the last phrase until the audience wished he would stop”.[Al-Bukhari, Muslim].
Those who do this are cursed in this life and the Hereafter, Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {“Verily, those who accuse chaste women, who never even think of anything touching their chastity and are good believers ـ are cursed in this life and in the Hereafter, and for them will be a great torment”}[Quran, 24: 23]
Ibn Mas’ood, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet said: “He who swears falsely to usurp some of his brother’s wealth will meet Allah while He is Angry with him” and he recited (what means):{“Verily, those who purchase a small gain at the cost of Allah's Covenant and their oaths, they shall have no portion in the Hereafter (Paradise). Neither will Allah speaks to them nor look at them on the Day of Resurrection nor will He purify them, and they shall have a painful torment.”}[Quran, 3: 77] [Al-Bukhari, Muslim]
The Prophet also said: “He who knowingly insists upon giving a false oath in order to usurp some of his brother’s wealth, Allah will make Hell his abode and forbid him from entering Paradise.” A man said, ‘Even if it was a little thing?’ He replied: “Even if it was as little as a Siwak (wooden tooth brush)”[Muslim].
Islam came to instil and spread fine manners and noble etiquettes. When in conversation or discussion, a Muslim must maintain these because Islam comprehensively addresses all aspects of life, and requires a Muslim to be distinct in his character, creed, worship, manners, etiquettes and appearance.
Undoubtedly, Islam is the superior and lofty religion. There can be no doubt that its legislation is the final one and the finest amongst all revealed legislations.
This issue is vital and must be borne in mind when addressing our Lord, when speaking to people of knowledge, when conversing with friends, when talking to one's spouse, and when in a public gathering. If the manners and etiquettes of speech disappear, people’s gatherings will become futile and fruitless, and a source of enmity and hatred.
Guarding one's tongue: Allah commands us to guard our tongues and His Messenger warned us against setting them loose.
Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, reported: “I heard the Prophet saying: “A person utters a word thoughtlessly (i.e., without thinking about whether it is good or evil) and as a result, will plummet into the fire of Hell deeper than the distance between the east and the west.”” [Al-Bukhari & Muslim]
Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that the Prophet said: “A man may utter a word pleasing to Allah without considering it of any significance, but for which Allah elevates his ranks (in Paradise); another one may speak a word displeasing to Allah without considering it of any importance, but for which he would be plummeted into Hell.” [Al-Bukhari]
Bilaal Ibn Al-Haarith Al-Muzani, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that the Messenger of Allah said: “A man may speak a good word without knowing its worth, for which Allah records for him His good pleasure until the Day he will meet Him; another man may utter an evil word without realising its importance, for which Allah records for him His displeasure until the Day he will meet Him.” [Maalik & At-Tirmithi]
People often carelessly utter words, some of which may include or imply transgression of the limits of Islam. Such negative words may even be about Allah, or an objection to His decree, or the like, which would lead the person uttering them to the Hellfire.
For this reason, when the Prophet was talking to Mu’aath, may Allah be pleased with him, he told him: “The root (i.e. foundation) of this matter is Islam, its pillar (mainstay) is the prayer and its apex is Jihaad (fighting in the cause of Allah).” Then he asked: “Shall I tell you of that which holds together all these things?” Mu’aath, may Allah be pleased with him, said: “Yes, O Messenger of Allah!” So he held his tongue between his fingers, and said: “Restrain this.” Mu’aath, may Allah be pleased with him, asked: “O Messenger of Allah! Will we really be held to account for what we say?” The Prophet exclaimed: “May your mother lose you! Most people will be thrown on their faces into the Hellfire on account of their tongues.” [Ahmad & At-Tirmithi] The phrase: “May your mother lose you” is certainly not a supplication or a wish, as the Prophet would never have supplicated against any of his companions, but rather it is an idiom used by the Arabs to draw people's attention to the importance of what follows it, which in this case was to highlight that misuse of the tongue is the basis for the punishment of most people.
Statements from the Salaf regarding controlling and guarding the tongue: There are many statements that came in this regard, such as the words of Ibn Mas’ood, may Allah be pleased with him: “That which requires imprisonment the most is one's tongue.” [End of quote] This is why many scholars have written books about the excellence of remaining silent.
The Prophet was silent most of the time, and only spoke when absolutely necessary. He encouraged us to use kind words when we do have to speak. `Adiyy Ibn Haatim, may Allah be pleased with him, reported the Messenger of Allah as saying: “Allah will surely speak to every one of you without an interpreter. He (i.e., the one being spoken to) will look to his right and see nothing but (deeds) which he had done, and will look to his left and see nothing but (deeds) which he had done. Then he will look in front of him and will find nothing except the Hellfire facing him. So protect (yourselves) from the Fire, even if by giving in charity half a date, and if you cannot find that, then with a kind word." [Al-Bukhari & Muslim] He therefore clarified that kind words protect one from Hell and are thus a main cause of gaining entry into Paradise.
The Prophet also said: “In Paradise are rooms, the inside of which can be seen from the outside, and the outside of which can be seen from the inside. Allah has prepared them for those who offer food (to the needy), are soft in speech, who frequently fast, and who pray at night while the people are asleep.” [Al-Bayhaqi & Al-Haakim]
The etiquettes of dialogue and speech: There are many etiquettes that Islam legislated and encouraged, which reflect the magnitude of this topic. The following are some of these etiquettes:
· Lowering one's voice: Allah Says (what means): “…And lower your voice; indeed, the most disagreeable of sounds is the voice of donkeys.” [Quran 31: 19] Raising one's voice reflects a lack of manners, unless the need arises, such as when delivering a Khutbah, or when warning someone, or teaching, or when it is feared that those at a distance may not be able to hear. On the other hand, one's voice should not be so low that people can hardly hear, nor should it be monotonous, as this instigates boredom on the part of those listening, which can cause them to lose interest altogether.
·Shunning excessive talk and badmouthing others: Jaabir, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that the Messenger of Allah said: “The dearest and nearest of you to me on the Day of Resurrection will be the one who is best in manners; and the most abhorrent among you, and the farthest of you from me (on that Day) will be the offensive (i.e. in speech), the garrulous, and the Mutafayhiqoon.” His companions asked him: "O Messenger of Allah! We know about the offensive and the garrulous, but we do not know who the Mutafayhiqoon are.'' He replied: “(They are) those who are arrogant when they speak.” [At-Tirmithi] This is a stern warning to not sound arrogant or talk to people with words that they do not understand in order to demonstrate that one is knowledgeable or eloquent.
· Listening attentively to others: This is especially the case when the Quran is being recited; Allah Says (what means): “So when the Qur'aan is recited, then listen to it and pay attention that you may receive mercy.” [Quran 7: 204] The worthiest person of being listened to was the Prophet and when his companions practically applied this, they attained an exalted level of manners and glorified the Prophet with his due glory. In fact, Allah commanded the believers to lower their voices in his presence, as He Says (what means): “O you who have believed! Do not raise your voices above the voice of the Prophet or be loud to him in speech like the loudness of some of you to others, lest your deeds become worthless while you perceive not.” [Quran 49:2] This also applies after his death, by lowering one's voice when his prophetic narrations are being related.
Having sincerity: Some people speak in order to display their knowledge of a certain topic, or show their eloquence. Others hate anyone except themselves speaking in a gathering. Such insincerity does not of course include teaching those who have only a rudimentary understanding of Islam, or to enjoin good and forbid evil.
