Let Us Be Careful With What We Lend an Ear To, What We Convey, and How We Describe Others

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: “It is enough of a lie for a man to narrate everything he hears”. [1]

Imam Abu Hatim (Imam Ibn Hibban) – may Allah have mercy upon him – said:

This narration contains a rebuke that a person should not speak about everything he hears until he knows whether it is authentic or not, then he speaks about it. He should not speak about that which is not authentic. [2]

Allāh, The Most High, said:

وَإِذَا قُلۡتُمۡ فَٱعۡدِلُواْ وَلَوۡ ڪَانَ ذَا قُرۡبَىٰ‌ۖ

And when you testify, be just, even if (it concerns) a near relative.

When you testify by way of a statement to judge between people, differentiate between them in a discourse, and speak regarding matters and circumstances, be just in your speech, adhere to truthfulness regarding those you love and those you hate, be fair and do not conceal what needs to be made clear because it is forbidden and tantamount to injustice to divert (from justice and fairness) when speaking against the one you hate. [3]

Shaikh Al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah – may Allah have mercy upon him – stated:

The objective is not to transgress against anyone – not the adversary or anyone else; not to disregard their rights or label them with specific descriptions which apply to both them and others. Instead, the objective is to speak based on the virtues of sound knowledge, justice, and religion, just as Allah – The Most High- says:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُونُوا قَوَّامِينَ لِلَّهِ شُهَدَاءَ بِالْقِسْطِ ۖ وَلَا يَجْرِمَنَّكُمْ شَنَآنُ قَوْمٍ عَلَىٰ أَلَّا تَعْدِلُوا ۚ اعْدِلُوا هُوَ أَقْرَبُ لِلتَّقْوَىٰ

O you who believe! Stand out firmly for Allah and be just witnesses and let not the enmity and hatred of others make you avoid justice. Be just: that is nearer to piety. [5:8]

Allah – The Most High – said:

وَقُل لِّعِبَادِي يَقُولُوا الَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ ۚ إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ يَنزَغُ بَيْنَهُمْ ۚ إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ كَانَ لِلْإِنسَانِ عَدُوًّا مُّبِينًا

And say to My slaves that they should (only) say those words that are the best. (Because) Shaitan (Satan) verily, sows disagreements among them. Surely, Shaitan (Satan) is to man a plain enemy.

Allah – The Blessed and Most High – commanded His slave and Messenger to command Allah’s believing slaves that they speak to one another in their conversations and discussions with what is better and good, for if they do not do that, shaytaan will initiate a state of conflict between them and speech will lead to actions, and thus evil, [blameworthy] argumentation and fighting will arise; for indeed shaytaan is an enemy of Aadam and his children since [the time] he refused to prostrate to Aadam. His enmity is clear and manifest, so because of this it Is prohibited for a man to point at his Muslim brother with an iron [instrument], for indeed shaytaan [can entice an evil action] in his hand and he may strike [ his Muslim brother] with it. [5]

Imam Sadi, may Allah have mercy upon him, stated that this command [i.e. in Surah Al-Israa 53] is related to every speech that will bring a person close to Allah, such as recitation [of the Qur’aan], remembrance of Allah, enjoining good and forbidding evil, [to address the people] with good and gentle speech in accordance with their different social statuses and positions. If something resolves around two good affairs, then Allah commands that the better of the two is chosen if it is not possible to combine both of them. Good speech leads to every beautiful mannerism and righteous deed, for indeed the one who controls his tongue will be able to take control of his affairs.

Shaytaan wants to cause disagreements between you. He hastens towards that which will corrupt the religious and worldly affairs of the slaves. Therefore, the remedy for this is that he is not to be followed when he incites you to utter statements that are not good in order to cause enmity and disagreements between you. He is your real enemy and it is incumbent upon you to wage war against him because he calls you to be among the people of the hell fire. [6]

[1] Sahih Muslim 5

[2] Muqaddimah Kitaab Al-Majrooheen Minal Muhadditheen’ page 6064

[3] An Excerpt from Tafseer as-Sadi.

[4] An Excerpt from “Ar-Radd Alal Ikhnaa’ee”. page 110

[5] ource: An Excerpt from Al-Misbaah Al-Muneer Fee Tahdheb Tafseer Ibn katheer’ Surah Al-Israa 17: 53

[6] An Excerpt from Tayseer Al-kareem ar-Rahmaan Fee Tafseer Kalaam al-Mannaan