Documenti di Didattica
Documenti di Professioni
Documenti di Cultura
If the tongue is used correctly then it has its blessing but if used incorrectly it has its
dangers. Allah (SWT) has given us this tool (the tongue) to communicate and it is a
blessing form Allah (SWT) which must be used correctly.
The gratitude we should show for this great blessing should include, using it for the
obedience to Allah (SWT), for reading the Quran (and good Islamic materials), for
speaking good, such as, enjoining good and forbidding the evil and in teaching the
ignorant, in Dhikr, in worship, in sincere advice to our brothers and sisters and in many
other things which enable us to get closer to Allah (SWT). It is true that ONE saying
may enter a person into the fire and one saying may save a person from the fire and
enter one into paradise.
The prohibitions of the tongue are that you do not lie, abuse, use foul language, backbite,
and do not slander.
The tongue is protected by the teeth and then the lips which should act as a prison when
indulging in loose talk. Allah (SWT) says in the Quran:
"Successful indeed are the believers. Those who offer their prayers with all solemnity and
full submissiveness. And those who turn away from Al-Laghw (dirty, false, evil vain talk,
falsehood, and all that Allah has forbidden)." (Al-Mu’minun 23:1-3)
Here Allah (SWT) mentions the words "turn away from" not "leave" which shows that,
refraining from vain talk is a characteristic of the believers.
On the authority of Abu Hurairah (RA). The Messenger Muhammad (SAW) said:
"Whoever believes in Allah and the last day should speak good or keep silent."
(Sahih Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
Imam ash-Shaafi’ee (rahimahullah) said, "If you wish to speak then it is upon you to
think before you speak. If you think there is good in it then you should speak and if not
then do not speak."
One searching for salvation against vain talk should ask themselves:
If so then speak otherwise on should keep silent. Sahl ibn Sa’ad (RA) reported that the
Messenger of Allah (SAW) said:
"Whomever guards what is between his jaws and legs, I will guarantee him paradise."
(Sahih Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
This is one of the open paths to paradise. It is calling the people to come to paradise with
the guarding of their tongues.
On the authority of Abu Hurairah (RA) that he heard the Messenger (SAW) say:
"Indeed a servant may say a word which he doesn’t realize and it will make him fall into
the fire further than the East and the West." (Sahih Al-Bukhari (without "further than the
East and the West) and Muslim)
Most of the People Who Will Enter the Fire Will Do So Due to Their Tongues
So the servant must beware! We could invalidate all our fasting and prayer from just
one gathering. There is no success of us unless we learn how to imprison our tongues
from vain talk. Allah (SWT) has placed this tongue of ours in a prison, that it does not
come out except when there is a need for it.
Imam Ahmad (rahimahullah) on the authority of Salamn ibn Suhaim on the authority of
his mother who heard the Prophet (SAW) say:
"A man may be close to paradise such that the distance between him and it is one derah
(arm length) and he speaks a word and he becomes distant from it further than San’aa."
What is the ruling of backbiting and tale carrying from the Quran and the Sunnah and
the consensus of the ummah? As regards to the Quran then it is from the saying of Allah
(SWT):
"O you who believe! Avoid much suspicions, indeed some suspicions are sins. And spy not,
neither backbite one another. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother?
You would hate it (so hate backbiting). And fear Allah. Verily, Allah is the One Who accepts
repentance, Most Merciful." (Al-Hujurat 49:12)
As regards to tale carrying then Allah (SWT) says,
"Woe to every slanderer and backbiter." (Al-Humazah 104:1)
As regards to the Sunnah then it is form the authentic saying of the Prophet (SAW)
saying,
"The gossip-mongerer will not enter paradise."
(Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Dawood, Ahmad and Daraqutnee)
Also there have come upon us many Hadith warning us of backbiting. The situation of
the tongue is very dangerous and no one truly submits except a few people. Except a few
from the few people who are sincere. It is also very unfortunate that another this topic is
not mentioned except a few times. In a gathering when one is backbiting another saying
this and that, no one hardly speaks out to say, "O sister fear Allah (SWT), this is
backbiting from the major sins."
So it is obligatory upon a Muslim that if you are present in these gatherings and a
person has been mentioned then you should speak out for the honor of your sister and
struggle for her and make the speaker be quiet by telling her, "Fear Allah !!! Don’t
backbite this Muslim." If you have difficulty then you should go to her and advise her. If
she refuses then you should leave her and get up. It is not allowed for you to stay in this
gathering where the faults of the people are magnified. If you still find this difficult then
you should occupy yourself with the remembrance of Allah (SWT) by glorifying Allah
(SWT) such that you do not hear this bad speech. Such that it does not harm you.
Exceptions to Backbiting
There are certain occasions when backbiting is allowed. There are six occasions where
the scholars have reminded us about. Other than these occasions then it is forbidden.
For example a man has been oppressed. His property and rights have been taken away.
Should he go to the people and say that they done this and that to him? NO!!! This is not
allowed. As he will backbite the oppressor. Rather he should go to one who is capable of
dealing with him such as the judge, ruler or he who has the ability to stop the oppression
and return his right to him.
Help in changing the evil and retune the bad person to righteousness. So if there is evil
that one is not able to change then he should go to one to help him with it hence backbite
the one who is doing evil. All of these of course with the correct intention seeking the
face of Allah (SWT).
When changing the evil of the rulers then this should be done by the scholars and not
openly as is mentioned by a clear Hadith of the Prophet (SAW),
"When you wish to correct the sultan then take him by the hand in secret and advise him."
(Aquidah Tahawiyah)
For example a man who has a wife (or a father who has a son or a brother who has
another brother) who harms him. She goes to a scholar and asks him for a fatawa.
"What is your opinion regarding my wife who does not listen and she leaves the house
without my permission?" So here you are talking about her doing bad but here it is
permissible but first he should be general like. "What is your opinion about a woman
who does not obey her husband, what is your opinion on a woman that does this and
that?" This should be first.
Ibn Daqiqa said, "Backbiting is a drop from one of the drops of Hell-Fire. On its edge
are the judges and rulers." Due to them listening to the problems. For example one is
going to do business with another man whom you know is not honest so you say to the
one wishing to do business with him. "This is not good for you." Here one must be
careful not to let his tongue get carried away. Such that he says, "Oh he is this and
that…" NO! Rather he should stop at, "Its not good for you to go into business with
him." So you try to keep that person away by saying general statements like that which
are allowed.
If you see a person going to an innovator and you fear for this person then you can warn
him but warn him by wishing the face of Allah (SWT) and for the benefit of this brother
or sister. As regards to speaking about this innovator or sinner by bringing down his
honor then this is not allowed. This is Haram. There are many people who in the name
of advice pull down the honor of the sinners and innovators.
Fifth Exception to Backbiting - Advising Those Away From the Innovators &
Sinners
Openly declare the open actions of such and such person to give advice but as regards to
his secret actions then it is not allowed to declare them. You backbite that which he
openly did.
That a person is blind or deaf or limping but this has a sin. Here it is allowed with the
good intention knowing who this perinea is. But most not be with the intention of putting
the person down.
Another Important Point to Earn a Great
Reward
Abud Darda (RA) said, "Whoever protects the honor of his brother then Allah (SWT) will
protect his face from the fire on the Day of Judgment."
The meaning of this is that he who does not refute for the honor of his brother then
Allah (SWT) will not keep the fire away from his face.
Jabir ibn Abdullah and Abi Ttalha (RA) that he said the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said,
"No (Muslim) man will desert a man who is a Muslim in a place where his respect may be
violated and his honor aspered without Allah deserting him in a place where he wishes
help; and no (Muslims) man who will help a Muslim in a place where his honor may be
aspered and his respect violated without Allah helping him in a place where he wishes His
help."
"Whoever protects he honor of his bother in his absence, Allah will protect his face from
the Fire on the Day of Judgment." (Hasan Tirmidhee)
"The believer is a mirror to a believer. The believer is a brother to a believer. Guarding him
against loss and protecting him in his absence." (Al-Bukhari and Abu Dawood)
Information from Sheikh Ahmad Zamzami’s Advice On The Bad Consequences of the
Tongue
Translated by Abdulilah Ibn Rabah Lahmami as-Salafi