Good Words
05-02-2008
Some people, even if their consciences tell them to be forgiving towards someone
who has wronged them or to speak politely to someone who has spoken harshly to
them, prefer not to forgive and to answer the insult with a greater one.
According to this warped way of thinking, to speak peevishly, to ridicule
another person with arrogant and insulting words and to respond with insolence
and disrespect is actually a sign of superiority.
Of course, these ideas are totally contrary to the Qur'an. In the Qur'an, Allah
gives us the following examples of how blessed polite language is and how it
always brings benefit to human beings:
"Do you do not see how Allah makes a metaphor of a good word: a good tree whose
roots are firm and whose branches are in heaven? It bears fruit regularly by its
Lord's permission. Allah makes metaphors for people so that hopefully they will
pay heed. The metaphor of a corrupt word is that of a rotten tree, uprooted on
the surface of the earth. It has no staying power. Allah makes those who believe
firm with the Firm Word in the life of this world and the Hereafter. But Allah
misguides the wrongdoers. Allah does whatever He wills." (Surah Ibrahim: 24-27)
As we see in this verse, a person who speaks edifying words and lives according
to them will find great beauty and incomparable blessings both in this world and
in the world to come. On the other hand, a person who speaks un-edifying words
and lives according to them is walking along a dark road that will end in the
Fire.
A believer speaks well and wisely to everyone he meets during the day. Wherever
he may be, he speaks about Allah's Deen, gives advice from the Qur'an, speaks
words that recall Allah and the good character of the Messenger of Allah (may
Allah bless him and grant him peace) and speaks to people with respect. In order
to encourage his friends, he praises their good qualities that correspond to the
teachings of the Qur'an and the Sunnah and he speaks in a way that will help
people to continue through the day more joyfully and lively. We may compare this
behavior of believers to the good fruit tree in the verse above.
However, some people prefer not to speak about the good qualities of others but
want to humiliate them by pointing out their errors and shortcomings. As we
pointed out, in the verses in Surah Ibrahim, our Lord draws our attention to
this and compares this kind of language to a corrupt tree that bears no fruit.
Just as a harsh word destroys a good relationship, it will also dampen the
enthusiasm of the other party and be the cause of sorrow and regret.
On the other hand, when a believer speaks with someone giving him advice about
how to remedy his shortcomings or pointing out his errors, he will take care to
choose the best words. In doing this he will be fulfilling the following command
of Allah:
"Say to My slaves that they should only say the best. Shaytan wants to stir up
trouble between them. Shaytan is an outright enemy to man." (Surat al-Isra': 53)
As Allah says in this verse, Shaytan tries to get people not to say good things
to one another and, in this way, to make them enemies. When a negative word is
spoken, Shaytan immediately starts to introduce suspicions to pry each side
apart. A person who feels uncomfortable because he has been addressed
unpleasantly will be influenced by the insinuations of Shaytan and respond in
the same way to his opponent. This will damage or even destroy their friendship.
But a positive word will avert the possibility of Shaytan's drawing people into
error. For this reason, believers make every effort to speak to one another as
positively as possible so that Shaytan will not have the occasion or the
conditions to interfere. Such an attitude will be the means by which they will
increase their bond of friendship. Our Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant
him peace) has commanded believers always to practice high conduct and to speak
positively:
"Do not envy one another; do not hate one another; do not turn away from
another; and do not undercut one another, but be you, O slaves of Allah,
brothers." (Muslim)
"Greeting a person is charity. Acting justly is charity. A good word is
charity." (Bukhari and Muslim)
"There is nothing heavier in the scales than good character." (Imam Ahmad and
Abu Dawud)
Submitted by a Mujahid