Chapter IV: Dangers of the Tongue
Hazrat Ibn Abbas said : To me, five things are dearer than saving money. (1) I give up such talk as is of no use to me as it is unnecessary and I am not safe from the fear of its sin. (2) I don't utter such word as is not useful to me until I find suitable place for it as there is harm in many useful talks if they fall in improper places. (3) I don't argue with the man who is patient and with the fool, because if I argue with the patient man, it incites him to anger, and if I argue with a fool, he gives me trouble, (4) As I like that my friend will speak of me in my absence, so I like that I shall speak of him when he remains absent from me. As I like that my friend should forgive me, so I like that 1 should treat well with him. (5) I should do an action like the action of the man who knows that he will get rewards for good deeds and punishment for sins. Loqman was once asked : What is you wisdom. He said :
I don't ask what I know and I don't utter what does not do me any benefit.
Hazrat Omar said : Don't dispute about what is unnecessary.
Keep your enemy distant from you and be careful of all persons, except faithful friends. Without God fear, nobody can become a faithful friend. Don't keep company with the sinners as there is fear that you may commit sins. Let them not enquire about your secrets. Consult with the God fearing people in all your affairs.
Useless talks are such talks which, if uttered, donot cause any benefit and do not do harm in this world and in the next.
There are three reasons for not holding useless talks — (1) to be eager to know of which there is no necessity, (2) to enjoy talk with one with the object of loving him and (3) to pars time with useless talks. The remedies of these three things are the following. The remedies are based on knowledge and action. It must be understood that death is standing in front and that every word uttered will be accounted for. Every breath is a valuable asset.
This is the medicine based on knowledge. The remedy based on action is to adopt silence.
(2) Second Harm of Tongue: The second harm is excessive talk. This means to utter such words as are of no use and to hold such talks as are of no use. Necessary talks can he held in short. If
Uli
96 The Book of Destructive evils Vol-III