Re: Ar-Riqaq - The Heart Softeners
* "know that every individual who falls under the category of being responsible for his actions must guard his tongue from all types of speech, except for that speech which consists predominantly of some benefit. So in a situation where speaking and refraining from speech are both found to contain the same amount of benefit with them, then the sunnah is to refrain from it altogether. This is because the allowable speech paves the way towards that which is forbidden, as well as that which is disliked. Rather, in most cases, this WILL be the result, and applying safety at that point will not be able to help in the least."
* "From the types of backbiting we see today: the backbiting of the devoutly pious and knowledgeable individuals, for indeed they turn towards committing backbiting by doing it in a manner by which they cause others to understand [who they are talking about] just as something that is quite clear is understood. So, for example, when it is said to one of them 'how is so and so?', he responds, 'may Allah rectify us!,' or 'may Allah forgive us!,' or 'may Allah rectify him!,' or 'we ask Allah for his pardon!' or 'all praise to Allah who has not tested us with entering into darkness!!' or 'we seek refuge in Allah from evil!' or 'may Allah save us from having little modesty!' or 'O Allah! accept our repentance!' and what is similar to that, by which one will come to realize that person's defects. All of this is from the forbidden types of backbiting."
* Abu Sa'eed al Khudree reported that the Prophet said, "When the son of Adam wakes from his sleep, all of his body parts seek refuge from his tongue, saying, ' Fear Allah in us, for indeed, we are a part of you. So if you are upright, then we will be upright. And if you are corrupt, then we will be corrupt." [Hasan; at-Tirmidhee in at-Tuhfah #2518; Ahmad 3/95-96, Ibn al Mubaarak in az-Zuhd #1012 and others.]
* It is also reported from Sa'eed bin Zayd that the Prophet said, "Verily, one of the worst forms of ribaa is being condescending with regard to a Muslim's honor without due right " [Saheeh; Ahmad 3/224, Abu Dawood #4876, and al-Haytham bin Kulaib in al-Musnad 2/30]
* Anas reported that Allah's Messenger said, "When I ascended, I came across a people that had nails made of brass with which they were scratching their faces and their chests. So I said, 'Who are these people, O Jibreel?' He said, ' They are the ones who eat the flesh of people and dishonor them.'" [Saheeh; Ahmad 3/224, ibn Abid-Dunyaa in as-Samat #165 + 572, Abu Dawood #4878 + 4879].
* It has reached us that Qass bin Sa'aadah and Aktham bin Sayfi once met and one of them said to the other, "How many faults were you able to find in the son of Adam?" The other responded, " They are too numerous to count, however, the faults that I was able to account for numbered eight thousand. I also discovered one thing which if put into practice, all of these faults would be kept hidden." He asked, "What is it?" He responded, "Guarding the tongue."
* Abul Qaasim al-Qushayri said in his famous Risaalah, "Remaining silent is salvation, and that is a fundamental principle. And staying quiet at the proper time is a characteristic of manhood, just as speaking when it is proper to speak is from the most honorable of matters ."
[From Imaam An-Nawawi's - al-Adhkaar]
