Pauses with Allah's Saying: "And say to My slaves (i.e. the true believers of Islâmic Monotheism) that they should (only) say those words that are the best."

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds [i.e., people]. And peace be upon the bearer of good news and the warner (peace be upon him).

Indeed, Allah (Blessed and exalted be He) sent down this Qur'an to us as an explanation to everything; and it contains guidance and light. Allah (Glory be to Him) said describing the Qur'an: "Verily, this Quran guides to that which is most just and right and gives glad tidings to the believers (in the Oneness of Allah and His Messenger, Muhammad peace be upon him, etc.). who work deeds of righteousness, that they shall have a great reward (Paradise)." [Surat Al Isra': 9 ].

Scholar As-Sa`dy (may Allah be merciful with him) said: (Allah (may He be Exalted) tells His Servants about the honor of the Qur'an and its augustness and that it "guides to that which is most just and right" including: Creeds, actions, and morals. So, whoever is guided by the instructions of the Qur'an shall be the most perfect of all people and the more guided in all his affairs.

"And gives glad tidings to the believers (in the Oneness of Allah and His Messenger, Muhammad peace be upon him, etc.). who work deeds of righteousness, that they shall have a great reward (Paradise)." of duties and Sunan "that they shall have a great reward (Paradise)" which Allah prepared for them in the abode of honor which He only knows its description).[1]

Allah challenged humans to bring something like the Qur'an or ten Surahs, or even to bring an Ayah, but they failed.

From among the instructions of Allah (Blessed and Exalted be He) to us is His Saying: "And say to My slaves (i.e. the true believers of Islâmic Monotheism) that they should (only) say those words that are the best. (Because) Shaitân (Satan) verily, sows a state of conflict and disagreements among them. Surely, Shaitân (Satan) is to man a plain enemy." [Surat Al Isra': 53 ].

We shall pause repeatedly with this Ayah:

The first pause is: This Qur'an comes only from Allah:

The Glorious Qur'an is the word of Allah (Blessed and Exalted be He) which He sent down to His Prophet (peace be upon him) in which He explained everything, guided people to every goodness and warned them against all evils. Moreover, He addresses them and calls them with nicest expressions and by the most honorable status which is the status of servitude as Allah said: "Glorified (and Exalted) be He (Allah) [above all that (evil) they associate with Him] Who took His Slave (Muhammad peace be upon him) for a journey by night." [Surat Al Isra': 1 ]. How great is the honor of servitude, and how great is a person when he is described by a servant or slave of Allah?

Ibn Sa`dy (may Allah bestow mercy on his soul) said: (This is the way of kindness by which Allah deals with His Servants where He commands them with good manners, actions, and words that lead to happiness in this world and in the Hereafter, He said: "And say to My slaves (i.e. the true believers of Islâmic Monotheism) that they should (only) say those words that are the best." This is a commanded to them to follow all things that lead to Allah such as reciting the Qur'an, mentioning Allah, learning, and enjoining good and forbidding evil, and using nice speech with all people no matter their classes and ranks are. If the matter is comparison between two good matters, Islam urges Muslims to prefer the best of them or combine between them if they can. Good words call to every good manner and righteous actions because the one who controls his tongue is able to control all his affairs.[2]

The second pause is: The reason of revelation:

Commentators have spoken lengthy about the reason of revealing this Ayah; Al Qurtby said: The Ayah was revealed concerning `Umar ibn Al Khattab when an Arab man insulted him and `Umar insulted him back and was about to kill him, so Allah revealed: "And say to My slaves (i.e. the true believers of Islâmic Monotheism) that they should (only) say those words that are the best." Mentioned by Ath-Tha`laby, Al Mawardy, Ibn `Atiyyah, and Al Wahidy.

It was said that the Ayah was revealed when Muslims said: O Messenger of Allah, allow us to fight those who fight us, for they have harmed us for a long time. Thereupon, he said: I have not been commanded to fight them. So, Allah revealed: "And say to My slaves (i.e. the true believers of Islâmic Monotheism) that they should (only) say those words that are the best." Mentioned by Al Kalby.[3]

The third pause is: The command with saying good speech as Allah said: "And say to My slaves (i.e. the true believers of Islâmic Monotheism) that they should (only) say those words that are the best. "

This speech is an address from Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) to His Believing Servants so as to say good words in their everyday speech and dialogues, for it brings harmony and strengthens brotherhood among them. Good speech leads to virtuous actions and manners, so a Muslim should fear Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) in all his sayings as he fears Allah in all his actions. Man shall be asked about every word he utters, so he has to choose his words that will benefit him on the Day of Recompense. Allah (Glory be to Him) says: "Not a word does he (or she) utter but there is a watcher by him ready (to record it)." [Surat Qaf: 18]. Every word shall be recorded in your sheet of records and you shall be rewarded or punished for those words. A word which man utters unintentionally Allah raises its speaker ranks in Paradise and a word which man utters unintentionally Allah would sink thereby its speaker in Hell-Fire.

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) 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]

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) also narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "Anybody who believes in Allah and the Last Day should not harm his neighbor, and anybody who believes in Allah and the Last Day should entertain his guest generously and anybody who believes in Allah and the Last Day should talk what is good or keep quiet. (i.e. abstain from all kinds of evil and dirty talk)."[5]

Tongue is one of the greatest blessings and favors of Allah which He bestowed upon man by which man glorifies and exalts Allah. As the tongue is the means by which man enters Hell, it will be the means for entering Paradise, so it is a double-edged weapon. Ali ibn Abu Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "In Paradise, there are upper chambers their exterior can be seen from their interior, and their interior from their exterior side." A villager stood up and asked, "For whom are they, O Messenger of Allah!" He said: "For those who speak a good word, feed the food, fast often, and pray by night when people are asleep."[6]

The Prophet (peace be upon him) guaranteed Paradise for those who guard their tongues as was reported by Sahl ibn Sa`d (may Allah be pleased with him) who 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."[7] He also narrated: "Whoever guarantees me (the chastity of) what is between his legs (i.e. his private parts), and what is between his jaws (i.e., his tongue), I guarantee him Paradise."[8]

The Prophet (peace be upon him) urged people as in the Hadith of `Ady (may Allah be pleased with him) to avoid Hell-Fire even by a good word for those who do not find anything to give in charity: "Save yourself from Hell-fire even by giving half a date-fruit in charity."[9]

We have to comply with the command of Allah and speak only good words and guard our tongues against foul language so that we would enjoy the pleasure of Allah (Exalted and Blessed be He) in this world as well as in the Hereafter. Moreover, if we stick to that, we shall enjoy people's love because of our kind treatment with them, but if we do not do this, we shall fall into error.

The tongue has many crimes of which we mention the following:

Backbiting which is mentioning your Muslim brother with something he hates. Tale bearing which is stirring hatred among people by mentioning their defects.[10] The Prophet (peace be upon him) explained their meanings and differentiated between the two and Buhtan in the Hadith reported by Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him): "Do you know what is backbiting? They (the Companions) said: Allah and His Messenger know best. Thereupon he (the Prophet) said: Backbiting implies your talking about your brother in a manner which he does not like. It was said to him: What is your opinion about this that if I actually find (that failing) in my brother which I made a mention of? He said: If (that failing) is actually found (in him) what you assert, you in fact backbitten him, and if that is not in him it is a slander."[11]

Allah (Glory be to Him) says: "O you who believe! Let not a group scoff at another group, it may be that the latter are better than the former; nor let (some) women scoff at other women, it may be that the latter are better than the former, nor defame one another, nor insult one another by nicknames. How bad is it, to insult ones brother after having Faith (i.e. to call your Muslim brother (a faithful believer) as: "O sinner", or "O wicked", etc.). And whosoever does not repent, then such are indeed Zalimoon (wrong-doers, etc.). * O you who believe! Avoid much suspicions, indeed some suspicions are sins. And spy not, neither backbite one another. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? You would hate it (so hate backbiting). And fear Allah. Verily, Allah is the One Who accepts repentance, Most Merciful." [Surat Al Hujurat: 11 - 12]. Ibn `Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said in his commentary to Allah's Saying "nor defame one another": Do not let one of you insult another,[12] in addition to other proofs which show the danger of backbiting to individuals and society.

Of these crimes is: Tale bearing which is conveying words from one to another with the intention of stirring disputes among people.[13] Due to the great sin to which this sin leads, it was a cause for the torment of the grave as was reported in Sahih Al Bukhari and Sahih Muslim from the Hadith of Ibn `Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said[14] in the Hadith of Hudhayfah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "A prattler shall not enter Paradise."[15] So, a Muslim should keep away from that ugly quality and bad manner.

Of these crimes also obscenity, nastiness, and cursing: It was authentically proven in the Prophetic Sunnah Hadiths about the dispraise of obscenity, nastiness, and cursing. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "O `A'ishah, (do not do that) for Allah does not like the use of harsh words, and it was at this stage that this Ayah of Allah (the Exalted and Glorious) was revealed: "And when they come to thee, they greet thee with a greeting with which Allah greets thee not" [Surat Al Mujadilah: 8] to the end of the Ayah.[16]" `Abdullah in `Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "The Prophet (peace be upon him) never used bad language neither a "Fahish nor a Mutafahish. He used to say, "The best amongst you are those who have the best manners and character.""[17] In the dispraise of cursing, it was reported the Hadith of Ibn `Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "A believer is not one who curses others."[18]

Controlling the tongue is a proof to good manners and good qualities:

The fourth pause is: If they do not comply with saying good words, Allah says: "(Because) Shaytan (Satan) verily, sows disagreements among them. Surely, Shaytan (Satan) is to man a plain enemy."

Al Qurtuby (may Allah bestow mercy on his soul) said: The meaning of Allah's Saying: "Surely, Shaytan (Satan), sows disagreements among them." Is with corruption, stirring enmity, and temptation. Others said that the meaning of sows disagreement is temptation. "Surely, Shaytan (Satan) is to man a plain enemy." i.e., is severe in enmity.

It was reported in a narration: "A group of people were sitting to mention Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) then Satan came to interrupt their assembly, but angles prevented him. So, Satan went to a nearby group of people who were sitting without mentioning Allah and stirred disputes among them. Then the people who were mentioning Allah said to one another, we should reconcile between those people for they are our Muslim brothers. They interrupted their assembly, and Satan was glad with that."[19]

Al Baghawy (may Allah bestow mercy on his soul) said: "Surely, Shaytan (Satan), sows disagreements among them" means to spread corruption and rivalry among them. The meaning of the Ayah "Surely, Shaytan (Satan) is to man a plain enemy." i.e., is clear in enmity.[20]

Ibn `Ashur (may Allah bestow mercy on his soul) said: The meaning of "sows disagreement" is quick insult which leads to corruption of quick impact that was mentioned in Allah's Saying: "After Shaytan (Satan) had sown enmity between me and my brothers." [Surat Yusuf: 100].

As for the phrase of "Surely, Shaytan (Satan), sows disagreements among them," it means causation to say what is good, and the meaning is not to belittle the bad words for they generate evil deeds.

When the pronoun in "among them" traces back to "My Servants," the meaning is warning against sowing disagreement among the believers to achieve the objectives of the Shari`ah embodied in Islamic brotherhood.[21]

A Muslim should choose good words which he should not regret when he finds them in his sheet of records. On the other hand, a Muslim should choose good words that are suitable and can strengthen and preserve brotherhood. In the meantime, he must keep away from foul language which could cause dispute and rivalries among people because the existence of dispute and disagreement among people would affect their power in the face of their enemies because of Allah's Saying: "And do not dispute (with one another) lest you lose courage and your strength departs, and be patient. Surely, Allâh is with those who are As-Sâbirûn (the patient)." [Surat Al Anfal: 46].

We ask Allah, the great, to guard our tongues and guide us to speak the truth and good words. Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds [i.e., people].

                                            

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[1] Tafsir As-Sa`dy (p. 454).

[2]Ibid. (p. 460).

[3] Tafsir Al Qurtuby (10/276). See: Causes of revelation of Al Wahidy (p. 288) and Tafsir Al Baghawy (5/99).

[4] Reported by Al Bukhari No. 6478.

[5] Reported by Al Bukhari No. 6475 and Sahih Muslim, No. 47.

[6] Reported by At-Tirmidhy No. 1984 and Al Bayhaqy in his Sunan No. 8479 with the following wordings (Allah prepared it for those who speaks nicely, feeds the poor, fasts frequently, and prays at night while people are asleep) on the authority of Abu Malik Al Ash`ary (may Allah be pleased with him). Reported by Ibn Khuzaymah in his Sahih No. 2137, and Al Albany graded it as good in Sahih Al Jami` No. 2123.

[7] Reported by Al Bukhari No. 6474.

[8] Reported by Al Bukhari No. 6807.

[9] Reported by Al Bukhari No. 6023 and Sahih Muslim, No. 1016.

[10] Lisan Al `Arab (5/425).

[11] Reported by Muslim No. 2589.

[12] Tafsir At-Tabary (22/299), Tafsir Ibn Kathir (7/376), and Tafsir Al Qurtuby (16/327).

[13] Lisan Al `Arab (11/572).

[14]Reported by Al Bukhari No. 6052 and Sahih Muslim, No. 292.

[15]Reported by Muslim No. 105.

[16] Reported by Muslim No. 2165.

[17] Reported by Al Bukhari No. 3559.

[18] Reported by At-Tirmidhy No. 2019, and Al Albany graded it as authentic in Sahih Al Jami` No. 7774.

[19] Tafsir Al Qurtuby 10/277.

[20] Tafsir Al Baghawy 5 / 99.

[21] "At-Tahrir Wal Tanwir" 15 / 132- 133.