Allah says in chapter 9 verse 119 of the Glorious Qur’an that, “O you who have believed, fear Allah and be with those that are truthful.” He also says in chapter 33 verse 70 that, “O you who have believed, fear Allah and speak words of appropriate justice.” Furthermore, Allah says in chapter 49 verses 11 and 12 as follow: “O you who have believed, let not a people ridicule another people; perhaps they may be better than them; nor let the women ridicule other women; perhaps they may be better than them. And do not insult one another and do not call each other by offensive nicknames. Wretched is the name of disobedience after one’s faith. And whoever does not repent, then it is those who are wrongdoers.
“O you who have believed, avoid much negative assumption. Indeed, some assumption is sin. And do not spy or backbite each other. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his brother when dead? You would detest it. And fear Allah; Indeed Allah is Accepting of repentance and Merciful.”
All the above quoted verses are very instructive. They warn Muslims against the wrongful use of one of the most important sense organ and vital instrument of speech- the tongue.
One consistent thing about the four quoted verses is that they contain, “O you who have believed.” These are the people Allah decreed fasting upon. It invariably means that as Ramadan fasting is compulsory on all medically fit and matured Muslim, it is also obligatory on Muslims to tie down their tongue during Ramadan. This is because a slip in the use of the tongue as appropriate could make someone’s fast as merely staying away from food and drinks without any tangible reward from Allah thereafter.
So much emphasis is placed on the rightful use of the tongue in Islam. There are hundreds of quotations either advising or warning Muslims on how they use their tongue. The tongue is the surest way to securing Paradise as well as the easiest way to hell based on its use. Despite being in Ramadan, some fasting Muslims still carelessly let loose their tongue.
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon his soul) strongly enjoined people to always say good things with their tongue. At the same time, he vehemently warned against the wrongful use of the tongue. A Muslim should always use his tongue to say good words; greet people without malicious intentions; pray for people; avoid gossip and any other thing that brings about slandering and backbiting.
Going by some of the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad on being careful with the tongue; this should serve as a reminder to anyone who truly and sincerely love Allah to completely desist from using his tongue to cause rancour, hatred and enmity among people.
The Messenger of Allah said in Sahih Bukhari as narrated by Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) that, “Whoever does not give up lying speech or false statements and acting on those lies and evil actions, etc, Allah is not in need of his leaving food and drink (That is, Allah will not accept his Ramadan fast).” In a hadith in An Nawawi, the Prophet said that, “Part of the perfection of one’s Islam is his leaving that which does not concern him.” Again in An Nawawi, he said that “Let him who believes in Allah and the last day (day of resurrection) speak good or keep quiet.” He further said in Malik’s Muwatta that “A man speaks what is pleasing to Allah and he does not suspect that it will have the result that it does, and Allah will write for him His good pleasure for him until the day when he meets Allah. And a man speaks what excites the wrath of Allah and he does not suspect that he will have the result that it does, and Allah will write His wrath for him until the day when he meets Allah.”
The reason for quoting copiously is for Muslims to know that Allah does not joke about how the tongue is used. Nothing should stop anyone that is cautious of the rightful use of the tongue since Ramadan began not to maintain this after fasting and continue for the rest of his life in order to earn the favours, blessings and mercies of Allah always. This is because your tongue either makes or mars you in this world and the hereafter. -naij.com
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