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Look at the Tongue
and the Hands
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The Prophet (SAWS) said: "The best believer according to his
practice of Islam is one from whose tongue and hand Muslims are
safe." (Bukhari and Muslim)
So believer! Don't you want be the best in your practice of
Islam? Don't you want be among those who enter Jannah and live
in delight and ecstasy forever? Then look at your tongue and
hands! Are our brothers and sisters safe from the nastiness of
our tongues and the evil of our hands? Are our tongues and
hands a danger to them and a cause of pain to them? Are we,
through our actions, purifying our souls or destroying them?
Are we truly racing towards Jannah or advancing towards Hell?
Let us look to our tongues first of all. We know full well that
backbiting is a major sin. Yet how minor is our resolve to
guard against it! A gossip-filled comment here of there may
seem harmless, but it is a dangerous path to tread. We are
belittling that person in another's eyes. We may have raised
our egos high only to plunge our hearts into darkness.
In this earthly life, such comments serve to destroy trust and
mutual affection between Muslims, leaving rancor and suspicion
to settle in their hearts. We also cause those around us to
'take sides' in this battle of the tongues. Thus a 'seemingly
harmless' comment has caused corruption and hatred in society.
And Shaytaan is ever ready to pounce, igniting a fiery word
until it turns into a blaze, so much so that words can even
lead to wars.
So let us urgently reflect on the seriousness of this vice, and
understand why Allah has compared it to the vile and sickening
act of eating the flesh of one's dead brother:
"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 hat backbiting)..." (Al-Hujaraat
49:12)
Let us realize the consequences for our Aakhirah "Hereafter"
also. The Prophet (SAWS) has warned us: "When I was taken up
into heaven, I passed by people who had copper claws tearing at
their faces and chests. I asked, 'Who are these O Jibreel?' He
replied: 'They those who ate the flesh of people and insulted
their honor'." (Ahmad, Abu Dawood)
How will we fare on the Day when tongues are torn apart and
faces ripped open? So how can we dare to let our tongues roam
so freely? Rather than listening to such evil talk, let us use
our tongues to secure great reward, by opposing all forms of
backbiting, and with beautiful manners, correcting it.
These situations are opportunities from Allah to perform Jihad,
for indeed trying to keep our tongues is truly a Jihad of the
soul, (Jihad al-Nafs). Let us hasten to correct our everyday
speech. When we speak, have we ever scrutinized how little
sincerity there is in our voices? How mechanical our speech has
become!
Our words emanate from our throats and not from our hearts. How
easily do our tongues hurt others. We feign care and concern
for our fellow Muslims, but our hearts may be empty. Yet these
are our very brothers and sisters! We should love them and
desire the best for them. Tongues are sharp and hearts are
cold, because the love of self has left no room for others...
Let us examine our words more carefully. Do they bring comfort
and relief to those around us or do they fall sharply and
heavily on their hearts? On harsh word from us sends those
gentle servants of Allah plummeting into sadness and grief. But
know that Allah Hears everything. And the angels are recording
every utterance: "Not a word is said
except there is a watcher by him ready to record it."(Surah Qaf
18)
How will we fare when all our unkind words appear in front of
our eyes the moment we are given our scroll of deeds? What
terror-stricken state shall we experience on that Day, when it
dawns on us that we too could be sent plummeting, into far
greater grief...? We seek Allah's refuge! Abu Harayrah reported
that he heard the Messenger (SAWS) 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 West." (Bukhari,
Muslim)
We must realize dear Muslims, and realize it now, that our
words hurt and maim our brothers and sisters more severely than
knives. Would we ever dream of cutting them with a blade? Yet
with our tongues we cut deeply into their hearts. Know that we
cannot be the best in our Islam if we fail to guard our
tongues.
Indeed our Eemaan is in peril if we remain heedless. And if our
Eemaan is lost, we have lost everything... The Prophet (SAWS)
confirmed: "The Eemaan of Allah's servant will not be upright
until his heart is upright and his heart will not be upright
until his tongue is upright." (Ahmad)
Consider how many times in the day and night we use our
tongues! So let us not delay in looking to see how they may be
destroying us. Let us strive to use them in ways that will,
Inshaa'Allaah, save us, for indeed countless are the ways our
tongues can secure Jannah, Insha Allah!
O you who wants to be the best believer! Run and rush towards
gentle speech and good words. Call to tawheed (monotheism),
enjoin the right and forbid the wrong, and teach others with
your tongue. Allah has shown us the way, if we would only try:
"Who is better in speech than he who
invites (people) to Allah, does righteous deeds and says
'Indeed I am a Muslim." [Surah Fusillat 41:33]
So heed this advice, before your opportunity is gone and your
tongue falls silent in the grave...
And what of our hands? Are they stretched out offering help and
charity to the needy? And are they being used to perform the
best of good deeds? Or are they grasping and taking what does
not belong to them? Are our hands selling doubtful food and
drink to others? Do these same hands angrily hit our children
for shortcomings we once had ourselves...?
Let us examine our hands closely. If they are taking more from
others and giving less, or harming more and comforting less,
then realize that we may be oppressors! Our hands are
oppressing our dear brothers and sisters and ultimately,
damaging our own souls. Take heed lest these hands carve out a
path to misery...
Understand that we must all remain on our guard against
Shaytaan and realize how he uses the hands of men to fulfil his
evil designs. Men like Abu Lahab ( The Prophet's uncle who
refused Islam and bitterly fought it and mistreated the
Prophet), whose two hands will roast in the flames:
" Perish the two hands of Abu Lahab and
perish he! his wealth and his gains will not benefit him! He
will be burnt in a fire of blazing flames!" (Surah Lahab
111:1-3)
Know that Shaytaan seeks to fling your hands into the fire too!
So be aware! Let us recognize that our two hands are an
immeasurable blessing from Allah. How beautifully has our Lord
and Cherisher constructed them! And how diverse and complex the
tasks they can perform! Consider what great good they can do,
by the permission of Allaah and how much of the Aakhirah they
can gain!
Let us go out of our way in using our hands to help our
brothers and sisters, near and far. And let us not forget the
simple things, for even the smallest deeds can yield the
biggest rewards. The Prophet (SAWS) said:
"A man passed a branch of a tree lying in the road and said,
'By Allah, I want to remove this out of the way of the Muslims
so that it will not hurt them', and he was admitted to
Paradise." (Muslim No 914)
This hadeeth should inspire us to race to pick up something
fallen on the road or sidewalk, or even in the grocery store.
Consider that we are not only saving the Muslims from harm, but
many other beautiful creatures of Allah - like the birds, the
animals and the plants. (For example, the simple act of
throwing empty drink cans into these empty trash cans, with
painful consequences.)
Let us not scorn any kind of opportunity to use our hands in
good works, for Allah showers us with such opportunities every
day and night. Even if it is just cooking a nice meal, thus
bringing friends or family together, blessings may come from on
high, Inshaa Allah: "The best among you are those who feed
others and respond to the salaam." (Ahmad, Al-Haakim)
And let us not forget those who do the dishes afterwards, and
the reward for them, Inshaa Allaah, for they use their hands to
ease other of this chore! Subhaan Allaah! How easy it is to
earn Paradise!
O friend! Reflect on this hadeeth, for in it may lie one of the
keys to your salvation and success in this life and the next.
Following its wisdom may, Inshaa Allah, permit us to receive
our books of good deeds in our right hands and joyfully respond
with our tongues, to the salaams of the angels as they bring us
to the gates of Paradise! So let us never be harsh with our
innocent children, who are our beautiful flowers. And never let
us be indifferent to our wise and caring elders. Let us strive
with these duties now, while we still have these precious gifts
from Allah - our tongue and our hands.