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Every
word you say counts.
Picture ©Microsoft.com
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The
ability to speak and communicate is regarded in the Qur’an as one of the
greatest blessings that God has given humanity. In the Qur’an, God details how
He created humanity and then taught humans the power of expression or speech and
understanding. The complexity and range of communication possibilities
distinguishes humans from other living creatures.
The
power of speech and expression is both used effectively and at the same time one
of the most abused blessings. The Qur’an addresses this issue by emphasizing
each individual’s responsibility for their own deeds. One of the major
responsibilities is that of the word. The Qur’an contrasts between responsible
and irresponsible use of the blessing of speech.
[Seest
thou not how Allah coineth a similitude: A goodly saying, as a goodly tree, its
root set firm, its branches reaching into heaven,
Giving
its fruit at every season by permission of its Lord? Allah coineth the
similitudes for mankind in order that they may reflect.
And
the similitude of a bad saying is as a bad tree, uprooted from upon the earth,
possessing no stability.]
(Ibrahim 14:24-26)
This
contrast highlights that the crux of the problem lies not in the power of speech
itself or the ability to produce words or communicate messages, but rather, it
lies in the use or abuse of this ability according to the responsibility God has
assigned along with it.
Preventing
Abuse of Speech
The
Qur’an outlines a number of recommendations on how to prevent the abuse of
speech. Many verses point out that one should avoid vain and idle talk, with an
emphasis on the importance of weighing words carefully. Muslims are encouraged
to either say something useful and constructive or keep their silence.
In
describing the characteristics of true believers, God mentions in the Qur’an
that they avoid meaningless speech:
[And
(the believers are) those who shun vain conversation.]
(Al-Mu’minun 23:3)
In
another verse, the Qur’an outlines the proper response believers should have
towards those who do indulge in abusive speech:
[And
those (worshipers of the Merciful are those) who will not witness vanity, but
when they pass near senseless play, pass by with dignity.]
(Al-Furqan 25:72)
The
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), reiterated
this same principle. In a hadith, the Prophet said, “He who believes in God
and in the Day of Judgment should say good things or keep quiet” (Bukhari).
It
follows that there are no restrictions with regards to speech as long as there
is a good purpose and intention behind it. There are many verses in the Qur’an
which highlight the kind of speech that is recommended.
[…speak
fair to the people…]
(Al-Baqarah 2:83)
This
highlights one of the qualities of good speech: fairness.
In
another verse, God says what means:
[O ye who believe! Guard your duty to Allah, and speak words straight to the
point and true]
(Al-Ahzab 33:70)
The
Prophet Muhammad also stressed that the reflection of belief is the purity of
the heart. In turn, the reflection of the purity of the heart is the kind of
words uttered by the individual.
In
another saying, the Prophet points out that “A goodly word is a charity.” So
charity in Islam is not just money, and the very least that people can give in
charity is a good word.
Slips
of the Tongue
The
gravity of the responsibility of the word is such that the Qur’an warns
against using speech to provoke enmity and conflict. This irresponsible use of
words is so abhorrent that the Qur’an attributes it to the speech of the
ultimate evil: Satan.
[Say (O Muhammad) to My servants that they should (only) say those things that
are best and decent: for Satan tries to sow discord and enmity among them: For
Satan is to man an avowed enemy.]
(Al-Israa’ 17:53)
The
danger of the abuse of the faculty of speech, therefore, is directly related to
the doings of Satan.
Slips
of the tongue can have dire consequences, and the cost of such slips can be
serious in both this world and the next.
Courtesy
Applies to All People
In
Islam, courtesy of the word is not only prescribed to Muslims with regards to
other Muslims. It applies for all people, as the Qur’an points out:
[And
dispute ye not with the People of the Book, except with means better (than
mere disputation), unless it be with those of them who inflict wrong (and
injury): but say, "We believe in the revelation which has come down to us
and in that which came down to you; Our Allah and your Allah is one; and it is
to Him we bow (in Islam).]
(Al-`Ankabut 29:46)
Therefore,
Muslims should be courteous in their speech towards all people of all religions
or philosophies.
*Adapted
from a lecture in Dr. Jamal Badawi's Islamic
Teachings series.
**
Dr.
Jamal Badawi is a professor at Saint Mary's University in Halifax, Canada,
where he teaches in the areas of management and religious studies. He is the
author of several works on various aspects of Islam.
