Silence is Golden

Silence is Golden and as the well known saying goes " khairul kalaam ma qaala wa daal" (the best of speech is that which is short and leads to meaning). Idle talk, it is what usually gets most of us in trouble, and beyond that it will gradually harden your heart and become a distasteful habit, and unfortunately, habits do die hard.

Be wise and guard your tongue... use it to bring joy to your family, your neighbours, and your brothers and sisters... use it proudly to spread the message of Islam and to elevate the cause.

Don't let it misguide you, overwhelm you and later haunt you..."May your mother be berieved of you, O Mu'aadh ! Is there anything which topples people on their faces - or he said : On their noses - Into Hell-Fire other than the harvests of their tongues" [Narrated by Al-Tirmidhi].

 

Umar Ibn al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, said: "A person who talks too much is a person who often makes mistakes, and someone who often makes mistakes, often has wrong actions. The Fire has a priority over such a frequent sinner".

It has also been related by Abu Huraira, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Prophet (pbuh), said: "Let whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day either speak good or remain silent".

In Tasawwuf, the practice of silence (besides the five pillars of islam) is heavily emphasized in order to cleanse the soul of the influence of the ego. Hence the famous sufi sayings:

"When the external tongue is silent, the tongue of the heart begins to speak",

"The carnal soul is disciplined by silence, for this carnal soul is an idle talker",

"If speech is silver, silence is gold" and

"In silence, there is a continuous recollection of God by heart."

Take the initiative today! And think carefully before you speak and before everything, ask Allah for help, before you know it, you'll be bringing smiles to people's faces if not already!