THE POWER OF SPEECH

Teachings of the Prophet • If the observer of a fast does not give up false utterances and their pursuit, then God does not require him to give up his food and water. • Fasting is like a shield. When one of you is observing a fast, neither should you indulge in indecent talk nor should you create an uproar. And if someone talks ill of you, or fights with you, you should just say, “I am observing my fast.” • A man may speak of God’s pleasure without giving it much importance and yet be raised in status by his Creator. A man may say something which is abhorrent to God, without attaching any importance to it, and it may sweep him straight into Hell. • A person once said to the Prophet, “O Messenger of God, a certain woman is said to offer prayers, observe fasts and give alms generously, but she hurts her neighbours by the way she speaks.“ The Prophet replied, “She will go to Hell.” Then the man said, “O Messenger of God, a certain other woman says fewer prayers, keeps fewer fasts voluntarily and offers little in the way of alms. She only gives a few pieces of cheese. But she never hurts her neighbours with her tongue.” The Prophet replied, “She will enter Paradise.” • According to a Companion of the Prophet, the Prophet forbade not only indulgence in slander and backbiting, but even listening to such talk. • The man who indulges in backbiting will not enter Paradise. • God! I seek from You a tongue that speaks the truth and a heart which is pure and clean. • The Prophet once remarked that Lord had commanded him nine things. One of them was to speak the truth, in prosperity and adversity. • Asupervising angel remains vigilant to preserve on record every speech that is uttered by a person’s tongue. o