who had been disbelievers all their
lives and had spent days in disbelief
and sin, but once Allah blesses them
with guidance, they recite the kalima
shahada and die shortly thereafter and
are forgiven. Had they passed away
before that, their abode would have
been the eternal Hellfire. The kalima
uttered by the tongue takes them out
of the bowels of Hellfire to the highest
level of Jannah.
Therefore, if once wishes to accumulate
a large of amount of wealth
in the Akhira with their tongue, then
they should recite Quran, praise and
glorify Allah, and express gratitude to
Him. One can even give in charity by
saying a good word that brightens the
day of another Muslim.
However, if the same tongue is
misused, then it would bring great
harm. If it tells lies, backbites, or hurts
people, and utters indecent words,
it will throw a person headlong into
the Hellfire. Therefore, the path to
security and salvation lies in using the
tongue carefully and properly. Maulana
Thanawi says, “Before you speak,
think before you say anything. Ask
yourself: Would it take me to Paradise
or Hell?”
Practice of Imam Shafi‘i
It is stated about Imam Shafi‘i that
when anyone asked him a question,
he sometimes would remain quiet for
a long time and would not give an answer.
Someone asked him why it took
him so long to answer. He replied, “I
observe silence to ponder whether it
is better to stay quiet or to speak.”
In other words, he would weigh every
thought before he spoke, contemplating
whether it would be beneficial or
damaging to him.
Paradise Guaranteed on Guarding the
Tongue
The Prophet a said, “If anyone
guarantees me two things, I would
give him the guarantee of Paradise.
One is that what lies between the jaws
(the tongue) and one is that which lies
between his legs (private parts).”
If we guarantee not to misuse these
two parts, the Prophet a assures us
entry into paradise.
Therefore, we must not let the tongue
run all the time unchecked and
should not utter whatever comes to
mind. We should think before we
speak and weigh whether what we say
is beneficial or is said in vain.
The Case of Two Students
Mirza Mazhar Jane Jana was one
of the greatest Awliya of Allah who
lived in Delhi. He was known for his
sensitive nature. Two students came
from Balkh in Afghanistan to make
bay‘a to him. They had heard he was
a great shaykh and traveled all the
way to Delhi to gain from his spiritual
company. When they arrived at his
masjid, there was some time before
the prayers were to start. They sat
down at the reservoir in the masjid
to perform wudu. They started
talking and one of them said that this
reservoir was larger than the one in
Balkh, while the other argued that
the one in Balkh was actually bigger.
Shaykh Mazhar Jane Jana heard
them discussing this as he walked by.
After finishing the salat, they presented
themselves before him for
bay‘a and introduced themselves as
two travelers who came hundreds of
miles from Balkh to benefit from his
company.
The shaykh replied, “It is good that
you have traveled from Balkh to give
bay‘a, but have you decided which of
the reservoirs is larger? The one here
or the one in Balkh?” Embarrassed,
the students kept quiet. The shaykh
continued, “If you have not decided
yet, you can give bay‘a after you return
to Balkh, measure the reservoir
there, and then come back here, measure
this reservoir and then decide
which one is larger. It seems like you
are accustomed to unnecessary and
vain conversations. Even if you knew
which reservoir was larger, how would
this knowledge benefit you in this
world or the hereafter? Moreover, it
seems like you are not careful in your
speech. Without knowing the facts,
one of you claimed that this reservoir
was bigger while the other declared
that the one in Balkh is bigger. It
seems like you are not careful in what
you say. So now go back to Balkh and
measure the reservoir. I will accept
your bay‘a after that.”
These apparently bitter and harsh
ways of doing tarbiya (fostering good
habits) in earlier days would have
lasting effects on the seekers of the
spiritual path. They would not suffice
on prescribing dhikr but would put
them through strenuous exercises
and mujahada to tame their nafs and
rectify their spiritual condition.
Someone asked Maulana Thanawi
regarding the above story about these
students. Had they been perfect and
had complete control of their tongue,
www.madania.org 19