Be Careful of what you Say - Qamar Islam Khan

We live in this earthly world, we interact with friends and neighbours, we go to school and work, and we remain abreast of what is happening around us. However, if we hope for both good in this world and good in the Hereafter, we cannot afford to be only active participants in our worldly pursuits. We must also be active participants in our spiritual pursuits. Allah says:

وَقُل لِّعِبَادِي يَقُولُوا الَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ ۚ إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ يَنزَغُ بَيْنَهُمْ ۚ إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ كَانَ لِلْإِنسَانِ عَدُوًّا مُّبِينًا

“And tell My servants to say that which is best. Indeed, Satan induces [dissension] among them. Indeed Satan is ever, to mankind, a clear enemy.” (Al-Isra’ 17:53)

Most of us understand the psychological and emotional harm that comes from constantly exposing ourselves to negative, toxic social and personal environments. So we limit interactions with negative people, and we end toxic relationships. But when it comes to religion, we say things like, “If you truly have faith, nothing can shake it.” Allah says:

وَلَا يَغْتَب بَّعْضُكُم بَعْضًا ۚ أَيُحِبُّ أَحَدُكُمْ أَن يَأْكُلَ لَحْمَ أَخِيهِ مَيْتًا فَكَرِهْتُمُوهُ

“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.” (Al-Hujurat 49:12)

Allah has created the universe to show the signs of His Creation. Nothing is created in vain. However, the unbelievers cannot understand; since they don’t have the ability to “see” this purpose. We gain the best in both worlds, as well as protection from the Fire, by nourishing our hearts and souls with the constant remembrance of Allah, prioritizing the five daily prayers, and working every day to protect ourselves from spiritual degeneration—and by being ever aware of the human weakness in ourselves. Allah says:

“And tell My servants to say that which is best. Indeed, Satan induces [dissension] among them. Indeed Satan is ever, to mankind, a clear enemy.” (Al-Isra’ 17:53)

Be careful of what you say, here are some reasons to follow them:

Be careful and avoid talking about their quarrels or relations
Be careful and o not lend your ear to arguments, backbiting
Be careful and do not say bad about someone even it is true
Be careful and use normal, proper speech and avoid slang
Be careful a lier destroys his respect in the eyes of others
Be careful and protect from becoming a victim of a crime
Be careful a false thing that your tongues may put forth
Be careful and feels Allah in their heart at every breath
Be careful you cannot control your careless words
Be careful and remove the fear of social contacts
Be careful and remove the fear of material loss
Be careful taqwa is to obtain blessings of Allah
Be careful and try to achieve Allah’s love
Be careful words cannot be taken back
Be careful and try to impress people
Be careful and think before you speak
Be careful and control of worldly desires
Be careful and remove the fear of enraging
Be careful and makes things easy in daily life
Be careful taqwa strive for the pleasure of Allah
Be careful and do not use excessive eloquence
Be careful taqwa is out of love and fear of Allah
Be careful and Do not argue about bad-mouthing
Be careful and activate derive the pleasure of Allah
Be careful and do not degrade through your words
Be careful and control what comes out of your mouth
Be careful and do not swear or use obscene language
Be careful and speak the truth, even if it is against you
Be careful and avoid arguing, even if you are in the right
Be careful and o not break confidences with your tongue

وَإِن تَعُدُّوا نِعْمَتَ اللَّـهِ لَا تُحْصُوهَا ۗ إِنَّ الْإِنسَانَ لَظَلُومٌ كَفَّارٌ

“Should you attempt to count the endowments of Allâh upon you, you would be unable.” (Ibrahim 34)

On the other hand, believers are different from this ‘blind’ group because they realize and accept that the whole universe is created by Allah with a certain aim and wisdom. This belief is the first step of faith. As faith and wisdom, both of which are in parallel, increase, they will start to identify every detail of Allah’s Creation. Actually, you can not conceive the truth behind the events happening and also can not ever have the competence to interfere in them. Allah says:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِن تَتَّقُوا اللَّهَ يَجْعَل لَّكُمْ فُرْقَانًا وَيُكَفِّرْ عَنكُمْ سَيِّئَاتِكُمْ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ۗ وَاللَّهُ ذُو الْفَضْلِ الْعَظِيمِ

“O you who believe, if you fear Allah, He will grant you a criterion and will remove your sins and forgive you, for Allah is the possessor of great bounty.” (Surah Al-Anfal 8:29)

One of the identify Allah’s Creation is to be careful and observant. Because the ability to see the signs of Allah and not to be “blind” like the unbelievers, require a high concentration. One should train himself to recognize the signs of Allah and should always keep this in mind. Otherwise, the mind will start to wonder, jumping from one topic to another, wasting time thinking about useless things. Allah says:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِ وَلَا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّا وَأَنتُم مُّسْلِمُونَ

“O you who believe, fear Allah as it is His right to be feared and do not die except while you are Muslims.” (Surah Ali Imran 3:102)

A believer frees their mind from any useless thoughts and whenever they realize the appeal of Satan, they rescue themselves. Believers should be careful to keep their minds free of useless thoughts. Thus they should always keep the ropes of what is happening around them and they should always be on guard. Allah says:

فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُمْ وَاسْمَعُوا وَأَطِيعُوا وَأَنفِقُوا خَيْرًا لِّأَنفُسِكُمْ ۗ وَمَن يُوقَ شُحَّ نَفْسِهِ فَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ

“Fear Allah as much as you are able and listen and obey and spend in charity, for it is better for yourselves. Whoever is protected from the stinginess of his soul, it is those who will be successful.” (Surah At-Taghabun 64:16)

The prophet (PBUH) wants to ensure that the Muslims of Madinah will not look down upon the Muslims who are coming from Mecca and vice versa. And so the best solution to establish this manner is respect. On the contrary, your mind gets directed by those events. You are “bewildered” all the time which is not an attribute of a believer, but the unbelievers. Allah says:

وَمَن يَتَّقِ اللَّهَ يَجْعَل لَّهُ مَخْرَجًا وَيَرْزُقْهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَحْتَسِبُ

“Whoever fears Allah, then Allah will make for him a way out from a place he does not expect.” (Surah At-Talaq 65:2-3)

Allah Almighty says in The Holy Quran:

“they have eyes wherewith they see not, …” (AL-ARAF 179)
“Be quite sure that to Allah doth belong whatever is in the heavens and on earth. Well doth He knows what ye are intent upon: and one day they will be brought back to Him, and He will tell them the truth of what they did: for Allah doth know all things.” (AL-NOOR 64)
“Those who fear Allah, when a thought of evil from Satan assaults them, bring Allah to remembrance, when lo! they see (aright)!.” (AL-ARAF 201)
“And among the people is he who says, ‘Our Lord, give us in this world,’ and he will have, in the Hereafter, no share. But among them is he who says, ‘Our Lord, give us the best in this world and the best in the Hereafter, and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.” (Al-Baqarah, 2:200-201)
“Ah indeed! Are they in doubt concerning the Meeting with their Lord? Ah indeed! It is He that doth encompass all things!” (FUSSILAT 54)
“Our Lord, let not our hearts deviate after You have guided us; and grant us from Yourself mercy. Indeed You are the Bestower.” (Al-Imran, 3:8)
“Who is better in speech than one who calls (men) to Allah and works righteousness and says I am one of those who bow down in Islam.” (Quran 41:33)
“O ye who believe! let not some men among you laugh at others: it may be that the (latter) are better than the (former): Nor let some women laugh at others: it may be that the (latter) are better than the (former): Nor defame nor be sarcastic to each other nor call each other by (offensive) nicknames: Ill-seeming is a name connoting wickedness (to be used of one) after he has believed: And those who do not desist are (indeed) doing wrong.” (Quran 49:11)
“… if anyone assigns partners to Allah, is as if he had fallen from heaven and been snatched up by birds, or the wind had swooped (like a bird on its prey) and thrown him into a far-distant place.” (AL-HAJJ 31)

A believer hears more good things and thus learn more and are more likely to have an expansive and enlightened heart. There is no downside to guarding your tongue, and everyone can do it with practice and effort. No other part of the body commits more sins than the tongue, but if we are diligent, we can make ourselves the exceptions. Allah says:

مَّا يَلْفِظُ مِن قَوْلٍ إِلَّا لَدَيْهِ رَقِيبٌ عَتِيدٌ

“Man does not utter any word except that with him is an observer prepared [to record].” (Qaf 50:18)

Islam gave attentive care to the manner of speech and the way it functions, as the word coming out indicates an individual’s level of intellect and manners. The level of conversation judges its general standard and the extent that good virtues fuse in its environment. We must make sure that all of that which we speak in this world is limited to these three issues and if we fall out of this boundary, then we will definitely incur a loss.

لَا تَدْخُلُونَ الْجَنَّةَ حَتَّى تُؤْمِنُوا وَلَا تُؤْمِنُوا حَتَّى تَحَابُّوا أَوَلَا أَدُلُّكُمْ عَلَى شَيْءٍ إِذَا فَعَلْتُمُوهُ تَحَابَبْتُمْ أَفْشُوا السَّلَامَ بَيْنَكُمْ

“You will not enter Paradise until you believe and you will not believe until you love each other. Shall I show you something that, if you did, you would love each other? Spread peace between yourselves.” (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 54)

Don’t ever lose hope and say that I’ve spoken ill of others many times. Just repent right now and clear your heart and try to apologize to those whom you have wronged, and even if you feel that it was not really your mistake, forget about your ego, and go hug your brother and sister and tell them some good words. Allah says:

فَأَقِمْ وَجْهَكَ لِلدِّينِ حَنِيفًا ۚ فِطْرَتَ اللَّهِ الَّتِي فَطَرَ النَّاسَ عَلَيْهَا ۚ لَا تَبْدِيلَ لِخَلْقِ اللَّهِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ

“Direct your face toward the religion inclining to truth. Adhere to the nature of Allah upon which he has created all people. No change should there be in the creation of Allah. That is the correct religion, but most people do not know.” (Surat al-Rūm 30:30)

The mind is like water; unless it is directed which way to flow, it spreads away, to the places that you would not want it to flow. So be careful what you feel your soul. May Allah assist us in our struggle against our evil desires, may He forgive us if we got angry, backbite others or slandered them, may He help us to follow the footsteps of the Prophet (PBUH) who never shouted, used bad words, or repay evil with evil mean.

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