Avoiding Harms of the Tongue

In today's times, most people tend to be careless about avoiding the harms of th
e tongue, which are widespread among the people. The following are some of the m
ost common harms:
Talking about what does not concern you: This is a common practice, even though
the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, said: A sign of a person's good practic
e of Islam, is giving up that which does not concern one. The Prophet, sallallaah
u alayhi wa sallam, also said: The people with the most sins, are those who most f
requently indulge in conversations which do not concern them.
In order to set the limits for what does not concern you, you must ask yourself
the following questions:
Is there any harm if you remain silent?
Is it an issue that concerns you?
Is it some information that is vital to your wellbeing and which you need
?
The matters that concern a person are those which directly relate to his life, o
r things which would prevent harm from afflicting him.
The reason behind the prevalence of such practices is when a person is eager to
know what he has no need for, prolonging the conversation is a way of strengthen
ing social relations with the one being talked to or passing time in useless tal
ks.
The way to cure this problem is by remembering that death could attack you at an
y time, and you will questioned about your words. Time is your capital in life,
and silence is a way to earn eternal joy and the company of the purified consort
s of Paradise. You should train yourself to be silent gradually by avoiding idle
chatting and gossip as far as possible.
Indulging in falsehood: This includes talking about women, and sitting in gather
ings which include drinking, conveying and spreading innovations in the religion
. All of this is prohibited because it goes under the saying of the Prophet, sal
lallaahu alayhi wa sallam: A man may utter a word which pleases Allaah, which caus
es the pleasure of Allaah upon him until the Day of Resurrection. A man may utte
r a word which displeases Allaah, which causes the wrath of Allaah upon him unti
l the Day of Resurrection. [Ahmad]
Disputing and arguing which we were prohibited to do, Allaah The Almighty Says (
what means): {And of mankind there is he whose speech may please you (O Muhammad
), in this worldly life, and he calls Allaah to witness as to that which is in h
is heart, yet he is the most quarrelsome of the opponents. And when he turns awa
y (from you O Muhammad ), his effort in the land is to make mischief therein and
to destroy the crops and the cattle, and Allaah likes not mischief} [Quran, 2: 2
04-205]
The Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, said: The most hated person to Allaah,
is the one who always disputes and starts enmity. [Al-Bukhaari]. A Muslim should
guard his tongue from saying what intimidates others or angers them, and remembe
r the saying of the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam: I will guarantee a hous
e in Jannah (Paradise) for the one who ends an argument even if he was in the ri
ght. [Abu Daawood].
Cursing and badmouthing: The Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, said: A Muslim
does not badmouth, curse, nor is he spiteful. [Ahmad, At-Tirmithi].He, sallallaa
hu alayhi wa sallam, also said: Reviling a Muslim is an act of outrage (moral depr
avity) and fighting against him is an act of disbelief (Kufr). [Al-Bukhaari and M
uslim] Unfortunately, this is common amongst the people nowadays, especially amo
ngst the youth. A Muslim is commanded to purify his tongue from immoral words.
Claiming eloquence: This is dispraised and it leads to boasting. The Prophet, sa
llallaahu alayhi wa sallam, said: Those most hated and the farthest on the Day of
Resurrection are those with the worst manners, those who prattle, boast and the
arrogant. [At-Tirmithi].