Etiquette of speaking

A true believer should always keep in check the language that he uses to communicate with other people. He should have a selection of words such that it will have a positive impact on the individuals and leave a great impression that people can remember him even after he’s gone from this worldly life. When comes to the communication part, the tongue mainly plays a very important role.

The Prophet SAW – “Every morning all the organs of the body call out to the tongue and say fear the Almighty regarding all of us. It is through you, we are known so please be careful.”

(Sahih Hadith)

This hadith is a proof that our character is reflected in the kind of speech that we use. The organ tongue is either our door to Jannah or Jahannum. It is our choice! Remember Jannah is not free of cost, you have to sacrifice loads of things for it, be it a mere argument! But if we remember the hadith of the Prophet SAW then we will not stretch the argument even when we are right. The Prophet (SAW) said- “I guarantee a house in the surroundings of paradise for a person who avoids quarreling even if he knows he is right.”(Abu Dawud).

There are a lot of evil effects of the tongue that we must think twice before uttering a single word. The Prophet SAW said- “He who believes in Allah and the Last Day must either speak good or remain silent.” So, let us all take note of the kind of speech and words that we use in our daily life. The real challenge lies here! The Prophet SAW also said that most people who enter the hellfire is because of our tongues. In a Hadith when Muadh bin Jabal asked the Messenger of ALLAH (SAW) informed Muadh bin Jabal about the great acts of worship, He (SAW) said: “Shall I tell you of that which holds all these things (salah, zakah, fasting)?” I said: “Yes, O Messenger of Allah.” So he took hold of his tongue and said, “Keep this in control.” I asked: “O Messenger of Allah! Shall we be accounted for what we talk about?” He replied People will be thrown on their faces into the Hell on account of their tongues.”

In the evil of tongue from which we may fall into sin are backbiting, cursing, using sarcastic tone, gossip, flattery, lying, boasting, ridicule, and excessive talking. Whenever we are about to use speech we must think that is the speech that we are about to use useful or beneficial? A person is guaranteed Paradise if he safeguards what is between his two jaws (tongue) and which is between his legs (sexual organs).

May Allah protect us from the evils of the tongue and make us among those true believers who use their tongue only for goodness. Aameen. 

Lastly, what we should do?

• Be conscious of Allah SWT: When a believer will be conscious of His Maker at all times, he will only use his speech for goodness. Let us fear ALLAH as He should be feared. We should more often open the glorious book Al-Qur’an for guidance and to become Allah-fearing believers. Verily, the most honorable of you with Allah is that believer who has At-Taqwa (Surah Hujurat 49:13)
• We should always feel from within that the blessed angels are recording all our deeds and this will be shown to us on the day of judgment. So with every single word that we use, it is been recorded! Let that sink in! In which hand do we want our book of deeds?
• When we remember death and the life that comes after it inside the dark grave; ask yourself-do I want angels to reward or punish me for the speech I use? Nothing will benefit us in our graves except our goods deeds.
• It is better to use good speech beforehand rather than apologizing later. Yes! It is hard to seek forgiveness from people after you have hurt them so let us think before we speak.

I ask ALLAH to forgive us for our shortcomings and grant us His consciousness. O Allah make us among those slaves who use their speech only for goodness. Aameen.