Kitab Bahaya Lisan

Learn about how to avoid verbal disasters and their solutions.

Oral is the body part that is most used in our daily life. Therefore, it is very important to take care of our speech. Is there a lot of goodness by conveying what is haq or even falling into sin and immorality?

At various meetings, we often find conversations in the form of gossip (gossip), playing one another (namimah) or other immoral acts. In fact, Alloh Subhanahu wa Ta'ala prohibits this. Allah describes backbiting as something very dirty and disgusting. Allah says which means, "And do not gossip some of you others. Would any of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? Then of course you feel disgusted by him. " (Al-Hujurat: 12)

The Prophet sallallaohu 'alaihi wa sallam has explained the meaning of ghibah (gossip). He said, "Do you know what is backbiting?" They replied, "Allah and His Messenger who know better" He said, "You preached about your brother with something he hated." He was asked, "What if what I said was found in my brother?" He replied, "If what you say is found in your brother, then you have gossiped about it (doing backbiting) and if it is not present in him then you have lied to him." (HR. Muslim)

So, ghibah is mentioning something that is contained in a Muslim, whether about religion, wealth, morals, or physical form, while he does not like it if it is mentioned, by exposing disgrace, imitating certain behavior or movements of the person being gossiped with the intention of make fun. Many people underestimate the problem of backbiting, even though in Allah's view it is something vile and dirty. Rosululloh shollallohu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "Riba is seventy-two doors, the lightest of which is the same as a man who has intercourse with his (own) mother, and the heaviest riba is gossiping by a man for the honor of his brother." (As-Silsilah As-Sahihah, 1871)

It is obligatory for people present in the assembly who are gossiping about others, to prevent evil and defend their siblings who are gossiped about. The Prophet sallallaohu 'alaihi wa sallam strongly advocated this, as in his saying, "Whoever defends (backbiting) the honor of his brother, undoubtedly on the Day of Judgment Allah will prevent the fire of Hell from his face." (HR. Ahmad)

It is the same with playing sheep (namimah). Complaining someone's words to another with the aim of damaging the relationship between the two is one of the factors that causes the breaking of ties and ignites the flames of hatred and enmity between humans. Allah denounces the perpetrator of these actions in His words, "And do not follow everyone who swears a lot, more contemptuously, who criticizes a lot, who goes here and there scatter slander." (Al-Qalam: 10-11). Rosululloh shollallohu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "Al-qattat (sheepfighter) will not enter heaven." (Narrated by Bukhari). Ibn Atsir explained, "Al-Qattat is a person who eavesdrops (overhearing speech), without their knowledge, then he brings the conversation to other people with the aim of playing one against one another." (An-Nihayah 4/11)