In search of Ahadeeth concerning the misuse of the tongue

[Ali_008]

I was going through the forums and found this story in the "" thread.

True Speech

Perhaps it was because he was righteous and they were not; perhaps they were jealous of him; whatever the reason, a group of people resented Rabi' bin Khuthaim, and so they decided to put him to trial.
They chose the most beautiful woman they could find, and they offered her a reward of 1000 dirhams if she could successfully seduce him. After she agreed to take on the challenge, she attired herself in her most beautiful clothing and she put on the best perfume she could find.
Then she went to Rabi' and presented herself before him. They were all alone, and Rabi' seemed to be cornered; worse, her beautiful figure and face presented what seemed to be an inescapable temptation.
Approaching him she moved her body enticingly and she spoke sweet, melodious words. What was Rabi' to do? He had no where to escape; her beauty had practically taken him as captive; and he had no weapon with which he could ward her off.
But wait, he did have a weapon: the truth.
Adressing her with a resolute tone, Rabi' said, "what will you do if you are afflicted with disease and your body and beauty take a turn for the worse?
What will you do when the angel of death comes to take your soul? Or what will you do when Munkar and Nakir test you in your grave?"
He continued in this manner until the woman let out a shrill scream and fainted. When she regained consciousness, she repented for her past sins, and until the very end of her life, dedicated her days and nights to the worship of Allah.

I find it a very nice and easy way of trying to stand against wrong when you see it happening in front of your eyes. The major wrong which I see most of the time in my surrounding is the use of bad language amongst people. I've tried stopping them so many times but they never listen. So I thought if I could get the Ahadeeth which talk about the punishment for misusing the tongue then I could use it in my life. Not just for me, I hope that this thread helps all of us.

If you know of any such Hadeeth then please post them here. JazakAllah Khair.

P.S. - I don't intend to make people faint like the story, I just want them to know what they're getting into.

 

[Misz_Muslimah]

brother, hope this is what you're looking for..
Allah, the Exalted, says:

"And backbite not one another. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? You would hate it (so hate backbiting). And fear Allah. Verily, Allah is the One Who forgives and accepts repentance, Most Merciful.'' (49:12)

"And follow not (O man, i.e., say not or do not or witness not) that of which you have no knowledge. Verily, the hearing, and the sight, and the heart, of each of those ones will be questioned (by Allah).'' (17:36)

"Not a word does he (or she) utter, but there is a watcher by him ready (to record it).'' (50:18)

1511. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (PBUH) said, "He who believes in Allah and the Last Day must either speak good or remain silent.''
[Muslim].

1512. Abu Musa Al-Ash`ari (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: I asked the Messenger of Allah (PBUH): "Who is the most excellent among the Muslims?'' He said, "One from whose tongue and hands the other Muslims are secure.''
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

1513. Sahl bin Sa`d (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "Whosoever gives me a guarantee to safeguard what is between his jaws and what is between his legs, I shall guarantee him Jannah.''
[Al-Bukhari].

1514. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: I heard the Prophet (PBUH) saying, "A person utters a word thoughtlessly (i.e., without thinking about its being good or not) and, as a result of this, he will fall down into the fire of Hell deeper than the distance between the east and the west.''
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Commentary: This Hadith shows the disadvantages which can be caused by the improper use of the tongue. It is, therefore, essential that one should think before he speaks.

1515. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (PBUH) said, "A man utters a word pleasing to Allah without considering it of any significance for which Allah exalts his ranks (in Jannah); another one speaks a word displeasing to Allah without considering it of any importance, and for this reason he will sink down into Hell.''
[Al-Bukhari].

1523. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "Do you know what is backbiting?'' The Companions said: "Allah and His Messenger know better.'' Thereupon he said, "Backbiting is talking about your (Muslim) brother in a manner which he dislikes.'' It was said to him: "What if my (Muslim) brother is as I say.'' He said, "If he is actually as you say, then that is backbiting; but if that is not in him, that is slandering.''
[Muslim].

1529. `Itban bin Malik (May Allah be pleased with him) said in his long Hadith cited in the Chapter entitled `Hope' reported: When the Prophet (PBUH) stood up to offer As-Salat (the prayer) he asked, "Where is Malik bin Ad-Dukhshum?'' A man replied: "He is a hypocrite. He does not love Allah and His Messenger.'' The Prophet (PBUH) said, "Do not say that. Do you not know that he said: La ilaha illallah (there is no true god except Allah),' seeking His Pleasure. Allah has made the fire of Hell unlawful for him who affirms that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah.''
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Commentary: "Allah has made the fire of Hell unlawful'' means that a Muslim will not abide in Hell for ever. The reason is that if a Muslim has committed some major sin and Allah has not pardoned it, then he will certainly suffer its punishment in Hell. He will stay there as long as Allah will. However, he will be later on shifted to Jannah. This Hadith also leads us to the conclusion that the backbiting of a Muslim is forbidden.

And Allah knows best..
:wa: