The Impact of Guarding One’s Tongue on Individuals and Society
Practicing restraint in verbal expression brings numerous benefits to both individuals and communities. Some of these advantages include:
- Effective verbal restraint enhances an individual’s wisdom. The primary principle of guarding one’s tongue is to avoid hasty speech, promoting careful contemplation before expressing thoughts. Consequently, when an individual speaks less and refrains from unnecessary dialogue, it contributes to their overall wisdom and composure.
- It positively influences society; by exercising restraint in speech, individuals help protect the community from various social ills that can arise from careless talk, such as gossip, slander, falsehood, and rudeness. Thus, Muslims who refrain from inappropriate speech foster love, compassion, and mercy among community members.
- The alignment of an individual’s faculties is also notable. As Ali ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) stated, “The tongue is the foundation of the body; if the tongue is straight, the limbs will also be straight. If the tongue is troubled, the limbs will not stabilize.”
- It allows individuals to allocate their time wisely for the benefit of others. Engaging in disputes and focusing excessively on the words of others yields no advantage; rather, it results in a waste of time that could be better spent serving both one’s faith and worldly endeavors.
Principles of Guarding the Tongue
The following are key matters individuals should avoid in order to preserve their speech from harmful effects on both themselves and society:
Avoiding Gossip and Slander
Gossip refers to mentioning someone in a manner they would dislike, whether concerning their appearance, beliefs, personal life, character, or family. This includes any verbal or non-verbal insinuations. The distinction between gossip and slander lies in the intention of causing discord; while gossip focuses on talking behind someone’s back, slander aims to incite conflict among people.
Refraining from Excessive Swearing and False Oaths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) prohibited swearing by false oaths or sanctities such as faith, and he condemned swearing falsely by God’s name. In one of his teachings, the Prophet stated, “Whoever swears by other than Allah has committed shirk (associating partners with Allah).”
Shunning Deceitful Speech
Lying is regarded as a major sin, and being labeled a liar can result in the loss of one’s credibility and trustworthiness, leading to disdain from others. To avoid falling into deceit, one must observe how society perceives liars and its general aversion to falsehood, encouraging individuals to maintain honesty in their speech.
Controlling Foul Language
Individuals should carefully consider their words before speaking. If it serves a beneficial purpose, they may proceed; otherwise, they should remain silent. Abu Huraira narrated that when asked about what most commonly leads people to paradise, the Prophet responded, “Fear of Allah and good character.” When asked about what most frequently leads people to hell, he replied, “The two voids: the mouth and the private parts.”