TAMBIHUL GHAAFILEEN - ADMONITION FOR THE NEGLECTFUL
by Faqih Abul Laith Samarqandi

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16. THE TONGUE

THE PERSON WHO SAFEGUARDS HIS TONGUE WILL BE SAVED FROM PUNISHMENT

Hadhrat Hishaam bin Umar (R.A) has transmitted the hadith wherein Rasulullaah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) has mentioned, "The expiation of slapping a slave is to set him free. The person who safeguards his tongue will be saved from punishment, and Allah will accept the repentance of His slave. A Mu´min should entertain and honour his neighbours and guests. He should either speak good words or remain silent."

FOUR QUALITIES OF A BELIEVER.

Hadhrat Anas bin Maalik (R.A) reports that Rasulullaah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) said, "Four qualities are only found in a Mu´min. (viz.)

  1. Silence,
  2. Humility,
  3. Remembrance of Allah,
  4. Minimal evil."

A LOFTY POSITION OBTAINED BY 3 QUALITIES.

When someone asked the wise man, Hadhrat Luqmaan (A.S) as to how he attained his lofty position, he replied, By:

  1. truthfulness,
  2. trustworthiness and
  3. abstaining form futility."

THE STATEMENT OF FOUR KINGS.

Hadhrat Abu Bakr bin Ayyaash (R.A) says that four kings said the same thing in their respective times viz.

  1. The Chosroe of Persia: "I have never regretted something that I have not spoken, but have mostly regretted what I have spoken."
  2. The Emperor of China: "As long as I do not speak, I am that master of my words. However, after speaking them, you are the master."
  3. The Caesar of Rome: "I am more capable of retracting what I have not spoken, than that which I have already spoken."
  4. The Shah of India: "That person is astonishing who speaks in haste because his speech will cause him harm if it spreads and will be useless if it does not."

RECKONING IS EASIER IN THIS WORLD.

Every Muslim should reckon his own actions in this world because the reckoning of this world is much easier than that of the Hereafter. Controlling the tongue in this world is also much easier than the regret of the Hereafter.

THE SAINT THAT NEVER SPOKE A WRONG WORD FOR TWENTY YEARS.

A person narrates that he remained in the service of Hadhrat Rabee bin Khaitham (R.A) for a period of twenty years. He adds that during the entire period, the saint never said anything that was questionable.

However, when he was informed of the episode he looked towards the heavens and recited the following verse of the Qur´aan, "Oh Allah, the Creator of the heavens and the earth! Oh the Knower of the seen and the unseen. You judge between Your bondsmen with regard to the matters wherein they differ."

He continues to narrate that he thought Hadhrat Rabee (R.A) would say something excessive upon the martyrdom of Hadhrat Hussain (R.A).

SIX SIGNS OF AN IGNORAMUS.

A wise man once enumerated the following six traits of an ignorant person, viz.

  1. He is infuriated without just cause (even animals and dead people make him angry).
  2. He speaks without reason.
  3. He gives without reason (without any benefit in this world or in the Hereafter).
  4. He discloses secrets to all and sundry.
  5. He trusts everyone.
  6. He cannot differentiate between friend and foe (there are many evil people disguised as good men and a person living in this world should be able to recognize them for his own safety).

A STATEMENT OF HADHRAT ISA (A.S) 8 ADVICES.

Hadhrat Isa (A.S) said,

  1. Every type of speech is futile except the dhikr of Allah,
  2. and silence is useless without meditation and deliberation.
  3. All sights are useless unless they teach a lesson.
  4. Blessed is the person whose speech is the dhikr of Allah,
  5. whose silence is in contemplation of the Hereafter,
  6. and whose sightseeing is with a lesson.
  7. A believer talks less and does more,
  8. while a hypocrite talks more and does less."

THE ABOMINATION OF EXCESSIVE LAUGHTER AND 2 HABITS OF THE IGNORANT.

Hadhrat Isa (A.S) addressed his disciples saying, "Oh you, who are the salt of the earth! You should never be corrupted. Every spoilt thing can be cured with salt, but there is nothing to cure salt that has spoilt. You should not accept any remuneration for your teaching, save that which you have given to me. Remember, you have two habits of the ignorant,

  1. laughing loudly
  2. and sleeping during the early hours of the morning (if you had not remained awake during the night)."

Explanation: Hadhrat Isa (A.S) refers to the learned scholars as the salt of the earth because they need to rectify the masses who have gone astray. However, if they have to succumb to the pleasures of this world to their carnal desires and to the lethal traits of jealousy and hatred, none can correct them. The masses will then be left without leadership.

The Ambiyaa (A.S) propagated and taught solely for Allah´s pleasure and never demanded remuneration. Hadhrat Isa (A.S) therefore advised his disciples to do the same. Allah says in the Qur´aan, "Say, ´I do ask you for any remuneration for this. My remuneration is Allah´s responsibility."

The ulema, being the heirs of the Ambiyaa (A.S), should also act likewise. Although it is perfectly permissible to accept payment for imparting the knowledge of Deen, none can deny the superior stance of teaching solely for Allah´s pleasure and, at the same time, adopting some other means of earning a livelihood. This was the method adopted by the early ulema. The latter scholars have permitted the acceptance of a salary for teaching due to pressing circumstances.

Laughing loudly (guffawing) is Makrooh and the habit of ignorant people, just as it is to sleep in the beginning of the day (unless one did not sleep at night).

THE ADVICE OF RASULULLAH (SALLALLAHU-ALAYHI-WA-SALLAM).

Rasulullaah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) said, "It is foolish to sleep during the opening hours of the day, a good habit to sleep in the afternoons, and an act of ignorance to sleep during the last portion."

Rasulullaah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) was passing by a Masjid when he noticed some people talking of worldly matters and laughing loudly. After greeting them, he said, "Think of death." He then proceeded. He later passed by again and noticed that they were still at it. He told them, "By Allah! If you people knew what I do, you would laugh less and cry more."

It so happened that Rasulullaah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) again passed by the same group for a third time. Noticing that they had not changed their behaviour, he said, "This Deen had begun as a stranger and will again be a stranger, so glad tidings be for the strangers." When he was asked who he was referring to by the "strangers, Rasulullaah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) said, "Those who remain steadfast upon the Deen when the ummah has become corrupt."

FOUR ADVICE OF HADHRAT KHIDR (A.S).

When Hadhrat Moosa (A.S) was leaving Hadhrat Khidr (A.S), he asked him for some parting advice. Hadhrat Khidr (A.S) said, "Oh Moosa!

  1. Do not beg importunately before anyone,
  2. do not go anywhere without reason,
  3. do not laugh except for something extremely surprising
  4. and never remind any person of his folly because then people will remind you of yours."

A PERSON SHOULD NEVER LAUGH LOUDLY.

Hadhrat Awf bin Abdullah (R.A) narrates that Rasulullaah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) never laughed loudly, but would simply smile. He would also never look a person straight in the eye.

A SAYING OF HADHRAT HASSAN BASRI (R.A).

"The person who laughs loudly is surprising, since Jahannam is behind him. Surprising is the person who is happy whereas death is ahead of him."

Once, upon seeing a youngster laughing, he said, "Oh son! Have you already crossed the bridge of Siraat? Have you already come to know that you are bound for Jannah and will be saved from Jahannam?" When the boy replied in the negative, Hadhrat Hassan (R.A) said, "Then why are you laughing?" It is reported that the boy was never seen laughing again.

FOUR FACTORS PREVENT LAUGHTER.

Hadhrat Yahya bin Mu´aadh Raazi (R.A) mentioned that four factors prevent man from laughing and being happy. These are:

  1. Concern for the Hereafter,
  2. involvement in earning,
  3. grief over one´s sins,
  4. and being afflicted by calamities.

THREE THINGS HARDEN THE HEART.

  1. Laughing without reason.
  2. Eating without being hungry.
  3. Talking without reason.

LAUGHING AND MAKING OTHERS LAUGH LEADS TO DESTRUCTION.

Rasulullaah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) has mentioned, "That person is destroyed who invents lies to make people laugh."

Hadhrat Ibrahaam Nakha´ee (R.A) has mentioned, "When a person says something to make people laugh, the hearts of the speaker and the listeners become hard. When a person says something to please Allah, then Allah´s mercy descends upon the gathering, causing all to benefit."

BENEFICIAL ADVICE, 5 ADVICES OF RASULULLAAH (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam).

Rasulullaah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) told Hadhrat Abu Huraira (R.A), "Oh Abu Huraira!

  1. Adopt piety, you will be recorded as those who worship Allah abundantly.
  2. Be content, and you will be deemed as a grateful person.
  3. You will be a Mu´min if you like for others what you like for yourself.
  4. You will be a Muslim if you behave well towards your neighbours.
  5. Laugh less because excessive laughter kills the heart."

8 ADVICES OF HADHRAT UMAR (R.A)

Hadhrat Umar (R.A) told Hadhrat Ahnaf bin Qais (R.A),

  1. The awe shown to a person will be reduced by excessive laughter.
  2. The person who jokes becomes humiliated,
  3. and a person becomes renowned for that activity wherein he invests most of his time.
  4. The person who talks excessively becomes disgraced and shame faced.
  5. The person who loses face loses respect.
  6. The person who is immodest loses fear of Allah,
  7. and the heart of one who loses Allah´s fear eventually dies.
  8. Only Jahannam is befitting for the person whose heart has died."

8 HARMS OF LAUGHING EXCESSIVEL Y

Imam Abu Laith (R.A) says, "Abstain from laughing excessively and loudly. Eight harms come to the person who laughs excessively. These are:

  1. The ulema and wise men scorn such a person.
  2. The ignorant and foolish people become bold before him.
  3. Laughing increases his ignorance (if he is ignorant) and reduces his knowledge (if he is learned). {Rasulullaah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) has mentioned that one portion of knowledge is reduced when a learned person laughs}
  4. Laughter causes one to forget his sins.
  5. Laughter makes one bold enough to continue sinning.
  6. Excessive laughter causes a person to forget death.
  7. When others laugh because of him, all their resultant sins accrue to him.
  8. Laughing in this world leads to excessive weeping in the Hereafter.

May Allah save us all from excessive laughter and from all sins. Ameen.

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