Understanding The Prophet's Life
From Issue: 940 [Read full issue]
Virtuous Speech
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) gave clear instructions equating virtuous speech with faith itself: "Whoever believes in God and the Last Day, he should say something good, or remain silent." [Bukhari, Muslim]
Speech has a most powerful and direct effect on the soul, and the words said may also lead the person being spoken to down a particular path of thought and emotion. The believer's duty is to make sure that everything he or she says is both good and beneficial, not simply that it is the truth. Does it make someone happier? Does it bring two people closer together? Does it remind someone of their duty to God? If so, it is the kind of statement that is positive in its effect. The Muslim is a force of positivity to himself and others around him. Speech is the primary mode of communicating such positivity between people and spreading positive thoughts to others.
At times our egos fool us into thinking that something is worth saying even if it is hurtful, as long as it is true. But our actual motivation may be a desire to inflict pain, and the justification that our statement is "worth saying because it is true" may be pure self-delusion.
This simple yet challenging teaching of Prophet Muhammad will improve social relationships between people, while calling us to examine the things we say and the reasons why we say them.
Compiled From:
"Being Muslim: A Practical Guide" - Asad Tarsin