Freedom of the ‘tongue’

In a world of rapidly developing mass communications and the resultant rise in the use of social sites, we have the best opportunities ever to benefit from the vast amount of real and useful knowledge available, all easily accessible on portable or non-portable electronic devices. Embracing these opportunities, unfortunately, exposes a dark side as well: idle chatter, wasting time and gossiping and slander have become all too common. Disgraceful material containing degrading photos and videos, lies, bullying and false information are only some of the more unattractive aspects of this rise in mass communication.

While the expansion of electronic communication has made it easier for people to become closer to each other and to accomplish tasks at a faster pace and in a shorter time, its negative effects have also adversely affected people morally, spiritually, psychologically and socially.

Looking at the consequences of both the positive and negative aspects of these mass communication facilities I am reminded of a hadith that I wanted to explain to the readers, in which the ‘tongue’, sometimes, symbolises a totally irresponsible freedom of speech that can create havoc, ruin lives, create pain and distress and bring harm to people. The ‘Tongue’ can take people closer to their Creator or can remove them from the mercy of Allah, the Almighty.

The hadith is narrated from the companion Muath, may Allah be pleased with him, who said: ‘I asked the Prophet saying: O Messenger of Allah! Inform me of a deed that would enter me the Paradise and set me away from the hellfire. The Prophet replied: ‘You have indeed asked about a great matter. However, it is easy for those to whom Allah has eased its understanding upon them. You would worship Allah alone and not make a partner to Him. Establish the Salaah (the obligatory prayers), pay out the Zakah (the obligatory charity contribution), fast the month of Ramadan and accomplish the pilgrimage to the House of Allah. Then he said: ‘shall I not inform you about the ‘gates of goodness? Fasting is a shield. Charity extinguishes (removes) the wrongdoing in the same way as water douses the fire. (in addition) the prayer of a person in the heart of the night’

Here the Prophet recited this verse: ‘They forsake their beds of sleep, and they call upon their Lord in fear and hope, and spend (in charity) out of the sustenance We have granted them. No one knows what delights of the eye are kept hidden for them as a reward for their good deeds. S32 V16-17

The Prophet, peace and mercy of Allah be upon him, then continued: Shall I not inform you of the essence of the matter, its pillars and its height? Muath said: yes indeed O Messenger of Allah! He said: ‘the essence of the matter is ‘Islam’, (a total submission to Allah in all matters), its pillar is the ‘Salaah’ the obligatory prayers and its height is the ‘total struggle’ (Jihad) in the path of Allah.

Then the Prophet, peace and mercy of Allah be upon him, said: ‘Shall I not inform you of the essence and nature of this matter in its entirety? Muath said: Yes indeed O Messenger of Allah! The Prophet, then, held his tongue and said: ‘hold you upon this’. Muath replied: O Messenger of Allah! Are we indeed going to be accountable for what we utter about? The Prophet said: Be lost O Muath! Wouldn’t people fall in the hellfire except by being the victims of their tongues? Narrated by Tirmidhi

Free speech must be responsible speech that does not violate the rights of any other person. Most grievances, that cause people heartache or ruin relationships, are the results of irresponsible use of their ‘tongue’, either spoken or written. The problem becomes even greater when people explore so many new opportunities of expressing themselves and enhancing their importance and space through mass communication.

The Quran guides the believers saying: ‘Believers! Fear Allah and speak the truth (straight speech), Allah will set your deeds right for you and will forgive you your sins. Whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger has achieved a great triumph.’ S33 V70-71

The Quran further says, guiding us about the etiquette of using our tongue: ‘Believers! Let not a group (of men) scoff at another group, it may well be that the latter (at whom they scoff) are better than they; nor let a group of women scoff at another group, it may well be that the latter are better than they. And do not taunt one another, nor revile one another by nicknames. It is an evil thing to gain notoriety for ungodliness after belief. Those who do not repent are indeed the wrongdoers’. S49 V11

In this age of mass communication, it has become common practice to ‘share and like’ a message or a video clip. In many cases, people do this without bothering to investigate the reality and truthfulness of the message, not understanding that spreading false and untrue information is as bad as originating it. We ‘forward’ the message and then shrug our shoulders and ignore our responsibility. This is not an Islamic act.

The Quran says: ‘Believers! When an ungodly person brings to you a piece of news, carefully ascertain its truth, lest you should hurt people unwittingly and thereafter repent at what you did’. S49 V6

The Prophet said: ‘It is enough for a person to be a liar to utter everything that he may hear’.

It is, therefore, of the utmost importance that we take extra care when we speak, write or indeed when we ‘forward’ messages that may be based on lies and falsehood. By failing to do so we may spread indecency, corrupt people’s morality or create havoc in society. Some people derive a perverse satisfaction from tormenting others and enjoy the misery they cause, but sometimes silence is indeed ‘golden virtue’ and far more rewarding than futile arguments, false information or words that are meaningless or misguided.