2 habits advised: Good manners and Lengthy silence

[Alsunna Teacher]

Bissmillahir-Rahmadnir-Rahim.
May Allah grant us sincere intentions and facilitate for us rewardable deeds and their acceptance.

Allah, the Exalted, endowed upon His slaves uncountable endowments. Allah said in Surat Ibrahim, Ayah 34: which means: [Should you attempt to count your endowments from Allah, you would be unable.]
The tongue is one of many endowments Allah bestowed upon His slaves. Although the tongue is a tiny organ, the person who uses it to comply with the orders of Allah, the teachings of the Qur'an, and the teachings of the Prophet may earn blessings in this world and the in Hereafter.

However, the one who uses his tongue in disobedience does not display thankfulness to Allah and leads to his own destruction. Certainly, being thankful to Allah means not using the endowments bestowed by Allah in what is forbidden.

One needs to know the sins of the tongue can be small or enormous. One should be aware some of these sins take the person out of Islam, as the Prophet, sallallahu ^alayhi wa sallam, said in the hadith related by at-Tirmidhiyy: which means: "A person may utter a word he thinks harmless, which results in his falling the depth of seventy (70) years into Hellfire."; This hadith clearly refers to the bottom of Hellfire--a place only the blasphemers will reach.

Included among the sins of the tongue are gossip (ghibah) and tale-bearing (namimah). Ibn Abid-Dunyia related the Prophet, sallallahu ^alayhi wa sallam, said: which means: "One can greatly beautify himself with two habits--good manners and lengthy silence. In this hadith lengthy silence means not speaking--except for what is good, such as remembering and praising Allah and teaching others what is good.

Al-Bukhariyy and Muslim related from the route of Abu Hurayrah, that the Prophet said: This hadith means: Let the one who believes in Allah and the Hereafter utter good words, or let him be silent; We are responsible for our words. Allah said in Surat al-Isra', Ayah 36: which means: [One is responsible for what he hears, sees, and believes.]

At-Tirmidhiyy narrated a saying of the Prophet to the Companion, Mu^adh Ibn Jabal, in which he responded to Mu^adh by saying: In this hadith the Prophet answered the question of Mu^adh Ibn Jabal, confirming what makes the people fall into Hellfire on their faces is the reaps of their tongues.

May Allah Protect us and our organs from which Allah made unlawful.

[Alsunna Teacher]

Wisdom entails that one uses his tongue in remembering Allah, performing obedience, ordering the lawful, and forbidding the unlawful. Let us remind ourselves of what Allah said in Surat Qaf, Ayah 18: which means: [Raqib and ^Atid write down every uttered word.]

Every one of us must be careful of what he says, every word that comes out, it's either for him or against him. I one uttered words of Allah, taught Islamic knowledge asserted from Qur'an and Hadith as well as sayings of scholars such as shafi^y, Malik, Ahmad, and Abu Hanifah may Allah be reward them, one will be rewarded for mentioning Allah with wisdom and good manners, and with respect to others. But using filthy language, lying, beliying, and cursing will be against you on the day of judgment.

However, it is known that some of these sinful words will be erased if the person repents. On the Day of Judgment wouldn't each one of us want to have all good words in his record and not those disliked or sinful words?

Thus, it is important to emphasize on matters relating to the tongue. The Prophet advised us in a hadith related by at-Tirmidhiyy: which means: "The one who adheres to the lengthy silence (except from that which is good) will be saved on the Day of Judgment." Subhanallah, In the hadith related by al-Bayhaqiyy, the Prophet said: which means: "You shall be saved as long as you are silent, for if you speak, it will either be in your favor or stand against you.";

Due to the importance of this subject the scholars of Islam were compelled to write extensively about it!. Among the great scholars of Islam is Imam al-Ghazaliyy, who said about the tongue "The tongue is a great endowment from Allah; though small in size, its crime is enormous." A person may utter words of praise and thankfulness to Allah for which he earns reward. One might also utter a word that take him out of Islam--thereby loosing the reward of all his previous good deeds. Shouldn't one be careful about what he says and how he says it?! Remember, speaking about the religion without knowledge is an enormous sin.

Reported in the texts of the scholars are narrations that highlight significant matters of the tongue. Among these is what Imam an-Nawawiyy (whom is Ash^ary) reported: Qiss Ibn Sa^idah and Aktham Ibn Saifiyy met together. One of them asked the other, "Generally how many errors have you found the sons of Adam commit?" The other replied, "I have counted 8000 such errors, but let it be known, we cannot count them all. However, there is one good trait that would cover up for all of these errors and mistakes: To have control over one's tongue." Subhanallah.

We ask Allah to make us from those who follow these great scholars in trait and in good manners.

[Alsunna Teacher]

Scholars' Emphasis!

Imam ash-Shafi^iyy, in addressing his companion, ar-Rabi^, said: which means: "Do not haphazardly speak without a need. Once uttered, you no longer control the words, but they control you." That is, once you speak a word it will be to your benefit if it is good. However, if it is sinful, then it will be written against you and will require a valid repentance.

^Abdullah Ibn Mas^ud said: which means: "The tongue is the thing that deserves imprisonment most ." Other scholars said: which means: "The tongue is like a beast. If you do not tie it up, it attacks you." One must watch out what he says.

Various scholars talked at length about issues related to the tongue to highlight for Muslims the importance of keeping control of one's tongue. When asked about the one who controls and protects his heart the most, Dhun-Nun al-Misriyy, (Ibrahim Ibn Tawbah) replied: "The one who controls his tongue the most."

Allah made the tongue witness to what is in the heart, as mentioned by the great scholars of Islam. Words of goodness reflects what is in the heart, as sinful or blasphemous words, such as some of the examples mentioned in previous post, reflect what is in the heart!.

Wal-Hamdulillah.

[Sayfullah]

The messenger of Allah peace be upon him said: "One can greatly beautify himself with two habits--good manners and lengthy silence. In

Good manners mentioned in this hadith means to have three matters: avoid harming others, bear their harm, and to do good to those who acknowledge it and  those who don't acknowledge it. Whoever practices the good manners, attains high status. A man could attain with his good manners, the status of the person who stays up the night in prayers and days in fasting. This means he doesn't stop night prayers, nor optional fasting.

Also alBukhary narrated that Rasulullah said: "I guarantee a house in Jannah for one who gives up arguing, even if he is in the right; and I guarantee a home in the middle of Jannah for one who abandons lying even for the sake of joking; and I guarantee a house in the highest part of Jannah for one who has good manners."

To have good manners is to be good to people, to put effort in being good with other people, those who appreciate and those who don't appreciate that kindness. Not being kind only to those who acknowledge his kindness, rather to all. Because good manners includes three matters: to put effort in being kind to those who treat him well and those who mistreat him. That person is the one that has that reward from Allah, that Allah would grant him a house in the highest part of Jannah. The second matter is to be patient on the harm of others. The third matter is to behold his harm from others. These traits were all the traits of the Prophet's of Allah, they were role models to people so we ask Allah to enable us to take them as an example.