Speech is one of the effective modes of communication and it has the privilege to be counted as one of the greatest blessings of Allah talah on humanity as mentioned in Surah Rehman. It has the potential to influence the listener deeply. Islam puts an immense emphasis on truthful and cautious speech. Believers are required to speak with wisdom, otherwise remain silent as words lacking wisdom will cause nothing but destruction. In Islamic education, good speech is associated with strengthening the faith of Muslims. Good Speech is the prerequisite for those who believe in Allah and the Day of Judgment. Hence, speaking well or remaining silent is rewarding in Islam.
Importance of Good Speech in Islam
Speech is the medium of inviting people to Islam:
Allah Almighty has recognized the importance of good speech in inviting people to the religion of Islam. Muslims are encouraged to work on their speech so they can give the message of Islam with utmost wisdom and clarity. Speech that invites people towards Islam is best in the sight of Allah Allah says in the Quran,
وَمَنْ أَحْسَنُ قَوْلًۭا مِّمَّن دَعَآ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ وَعَمِلَ صَـٰلِحًۭا وَقَالَ إِنَّنِى مِنَ ٱلْمُسْلِمِينَ
“And who is better in speech than one who invites to Allah and does righteousness and says, ‘Indeed, I am of the Muslims.”[1]
Inviting people to the religion (Dawah) needs a conscious skill of communication. It requires knowledge and wisdom to preach to the audience. Allah says in the Quran,
ٱدْعُ إِلَىٰ سَبِيلِ رَبِّكَ بِٱلْحِكْمَةِ وَٱلْمَوْعِظَةِ ٱلْحَسَنَةِ ۖ وَجَـٰدِلْهُم بِٱلَّتِى هِىَ أَحْسَنُ ۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَن ضَلَّ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦ ۖ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِٱلْمُهْتَدِينَ
“Invite ‘all’ to the Way of your Lord with wisdom and kind advice, and only debate with them in the best manner. Surely your Lord alone knows best who has strayed from His Way and who is rightly guided.” [2]
Good speech is a charity:
Speaking good words is an act of charity. Narrated Abu Huraira:
“Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “There is a (compulsory) Sadaqa (charity) to be given for every joint of the human body (as a sign of gratitude to Allah) every day the sun rises. To judge justly between two persons is regarded as Sadaqa, and to help a man concerning his riding animal by helping him to ride it or by lifting his luggage onto it is also regarded as Sadaqa, and (saying) a good word is also Sadaqa, and every step taken on one’s way to offer the compulsory prayer (in the mosque) is also Sadaqa and to remove a harmful thing from the way is also Sadaqa.” [3]
Elevate the status of the believer and vice versa:
Islam teaches that every word spoken holds weight and must be uttered mindfully. Words can rise and fall the status of believers. Narrated Abu Huraira:
The Prophet; said, “A slave (of Allah) may utter a word which pleases Allah without giving it much importance, and because of that Allah will raise him to degrees (of reward): a slave (of Allah) may utter a word (carelessly) which displeases Allah without thinking of its gravity and because of that he will be thrown into the Hell-Fire.” [4]
In Islam, lying, backbiting, gossiping, and slander, are sins. These can lead to severe consequences in this life and the hereafter. These are the sins of the tongue which will be held accountable on Judgment Day.
The Rewards of Speaking Good in Islam
Speaking good is greatly encouraged and holds immense rewards in this life and the hereafter. We should use our words wisely and engage in speaking positively. Our words have the power to bring comfort, encouragement, and benefit to others. There are numerous rewards that are associated with good speech.
Shield against the Devil:
Good Speech protects us from the evil of the Devil. Muslims are taught to use their tongues to spread kindness, compassion and empathy. When we utter good words, we guard ourselves from the slandering of Shaitan. It reduces the chances of misunderstandings between Muslims brothers. The Quran states:
وَقُل لِّعِبَادِى يَقُولُوا۟ ٱلَّتِى هِىَ أَحْسَنُ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنَ يَنزَغُ بَيْنَهُمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنَ كَانَ لِلْإِنسَـٰنِ عَدُوًّۭا مُّبِينًۭا
“Tell My believing servants to say only what is best. Satan certainly seeks to sow discord among them. Satan is indeed a sworn enemy to humankind.” [5]
Ticket to Paradise:
The rewards of good speech are not limited to this world only. It also guarantees the ultimate success to Muslims that is not other than Jannah. Narrated Sahl bin Sa’d:
“Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “Whoever can guarantee (the chastity of) what is between his two jaw-bones and what is between his two legs (i.e. his tongue and his private parts), I guarantee Paradise for him.” [6]
A Good word is like a firm tree:
Quran uses the analogy of a tree to elucidate the importance of a good word. A tree whose roots are strong and provide people with fruits in every season. Allah says in the Quran,
”Do you not see how Allah compares a good word to a good tree? Its root is firm and its branches reach the sky, always yielding its fruit in every season by the Will of its Lord. This is how Allah sets forth parables for the people, so perhaps they will be mindful. And the parable of an evil word is that of an evil tree, uprooted from the earth, having no stability.” [7]
The Rewards of Remaining Silent in Islam
Islam where recognizes the importance of good speech, it also encourages us to remain silent in case of lacking good words. Regardless of our anger or excitement, we should recognize that there are times when staying silent is more rewarding and beneficial.
Avoidance of Sin:
Remaining silent helps individuals avoid producing bad speech that can lead them to sin. Islam prohibits backbiting, gossiping, slandering, and speaking falsehoods. Allah says in the Quran,
وَإِذَا سَمِعُوا۟ ٱللَّغْوَ أَعْرَضُوا۟ عَنْهُ وَقَالُوا۟ لَنَآ أَعْمَـٰلُنَا وَلَكُمْ أَعْمَـٰلُكُمْ سَلَـٰمٌ عَلَيْكُمْ لَا نَبْتَغِى ٱلْجَـٰهِلِينَ
When they hear slanderous talk, they turn away, saying, “We are accountable for our deeds and you for yours. Peace is our only response to you! We want nothing to do with those who act ignorantly.” [8]
By choosing to remain silent instead of participating in such negative conversations, we are protecting ourselves from the sins of the tongue and maintaining integrity.
Protect from the displeasure of Allah:
Excessive and idle speech is disliked by Allah. By remaining silent, we can protect ourselves from the strong displeasure of Allah. Abdullah ibn Amr reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said,
“Verily, Allah despises an extravagant speaker among men, who flaps his tongue about like the flapping of a cow.”[9]
Strengthen the belief in Allah and the Day of Judgment:
The Holy Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) taught us to speak well or remain silent. Narrated Abu Shuraih Al-Khuza’i:
“Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should entertain his guest generously; and whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should talk what is good (sense) or keep quiet.” [10]
Prevent regretting our words:
Silence prevents the regret that may arise from hasty or hurtful words spoken in the heat of the moment. Words once said cannot be taken back. But their impact can be long-lasting. Islam teaches us that we will be held accountable for every word we have spoken on the Day of Judgment. By maintaining silence, we save ourselves from the regret and remorseful feelings that may arise from speaking impulsively or inappropriately.
Balancing Speaking Good and Keeping Silent
Islam encourages speaking out against injustice, standing up for truth, and giving sincere advice when needed. However, we must be careful where we are using words to do so and clear our intentions. We should always ensure that our terms are for the sake of Allah and not for personal gain or harm. We should always seek Allah’s guidance before speaking, asking for wisdom and clarity in our words. There is a dua which we can supplicate to allow us to have clarity in our speech:
قَالَ رَبِّ ٱشْرَحْ لِى صَدْرِى 0 وَيَسِّرْ لِىٓ أَمْرِى 0 وَٱحْلُلْ عُقْدَةًۭ مِّن لِّسَانِى 0 يَفْقَهُوا۟ قَوْلِى 0
“Moses prayed, “My Lord! Uplift my heart for me, make my task easy, and remove the impediment from my tongue so people may understand my speech.” [11]
Conclusion
To summarize, the power of speech is recognized as a significant aspect of our character and spirituality. Speaking good or maintaining silence are both rewarded actions that can bring blessings in this life and the hereafter. We should use our words wisely, spread positivity, and abide by harmful speech. By balancing our speech and silence, we can foster stronger relationships, earn Allah’s pleasure, and promote social harmony.
Speak good or remain silent is rewarding in Islam and a part of an amazing content series. For more, you are encouraged to follow our whole series, Time to Revive, where we discuss the forgotten Sunnah or Prophet Muhammad, Peace be Upon Him, and try to revive them by considering most of the perspectives of the modern world. Reading them and making them a habit is now your choice.
By Jowairia Shahid
References
- Al-Quran 41:33
- Al-Quran 16:125
- Sahih al-Bukhari 2989: Book 56, Hadith 198
- Sahih al-Bukhari 6478: Book 81, Hadith 67
- Al-Quran 17:53
- Sahih al-Bukhari 6474: Book 81, Hadith 63
- Al-Quran 14: 24-26
- Al-Quran 28:55
- Sunan al-Tirmidhī 2853: Book 43, Hadith 128
- Sahih al-Bukhari 6476: Book 81, Hadith 65
- Al-Quran 20:25-28
