NASFAT WEEKLY SERMON FOR FRIDAY JANUARY 17,2020
TOPIC: GUARDING ONE’S TONGUE
A’udhu billahi minash shaytanir rajeem Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem Alhamdu lillaah wa kafaa was salatu was salamu ‘ala rasulil laahil Mustafa wa ‘ala alihi was habihi wa sallim.
Allah (SWT) who created us and gave us the sense organs also guided us to the best way of using the organs so that we might not fall into problems. One of the parts of our body which we must take good care of is our tongue. It has been said that a man is judged by two little organs: his heart and his tongue. Given this, our sermon this week will be to look at the issue of guarding one’s tongue.
In defining this topic,we can say that guarding one’s tongue is keeping the tongue under control and restraining it to good words and useful speaking. For the tongue, if sound, could be the most useful organ: and, if corrupted, it would be the most dangerous.
A couple of relevant quran portions can be seen in:
16:62And they attribute to Allah what they themselves dislike, while their tongues utter the lie that theirs is the goodness. Without a doubt, for them is the Fire, and they will be neglected.,
24:24On the Day when their tongues, and their hands, and their feet will testify against them regarding what they used to do.,
26:84And give me a reputation of truth among the others.,
30:22And of His signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the diversity of your languages and colors. In this are signs for those who know. and
50:18 Not a word does he utter, but there is a watcher by him, ready.
Prophet Muhammad (SAW) in a couple of his traditions which include the following also talked about this very important topic.
Abu Musa (RTA) related that once he asked Allah’s messenger about the blessed Muslim, and he answered: That of whose tongue and hand Muslims are safe.
According to Sahl Ibn Sa’ad (RTA), Allah’s messenger (SAW) said: whoso ensures the purity of what lies between his lips and that which lies within his thighs, I ensure him of Paradise”
Abu Hurayrah (RTA) related that he heard Allah’s messenger (SAW) “Verily a servant of Allah may, with Allah’s benevolence, utter a word-without paying heed to it- for which Allah would raise him to higher ranks; and a servant of Allah may,with the disgrace from Allah, utter a word-without paying heed thereto-which would take him down to hell. (Related by Al Bukhari).
Abu Hurayrah (RTA) related that the Prophet (SAW) said:Whosoever believes in Allah and the hereafter should say good things or keep silent”
Some of the companions of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) also have sayings that are related to this topic and these include:
Ali Ibn Abi Talib (RTA) said:Keeping silent preserves reverence.
Amr Ibn Al As (RTA) said: Talking resembles medicine. Little of it cures, too much of it kills.
In relation to this also is what Luqman, the sage, said to his son: “O My son, should people boast with their eloquence, boast with your reasonable silence”. The tongue asks other organs every morning: “How are you?” And they reply: “Well…. as long as you leave us in peace!
It was related that Abubakr Ibn Abi Quhafa (RTA) used to put pebble in his mouth to prevent him from talking. He also used to point to his tongue and say: ‘That is what may damage me’
In conclusion, it should be mentioned that every individual who falls under the category of being responsible for his actions (mukallaf) must guard his tongue from all types of speech, except for that speech which consists predominantly of some benefit. So in the situation that speaking and refraining from speech are both found to contain the same amount of benefit within them, then the Sunnah is to refrain from it, altogether. This is because the allowable speech (equal in benefit and harm) paves the way towards that which is forbidden as well as disliked. Rather, in most cases, this will be the result, and applying safety, at that point, will not be able to soothe it in the least.
May Allah make it easy for us to be able to control our tongue.
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