Good speech

Islam exhorts to high moral standards and rewards for them and gives excellence to the people who have theses good manners to others. Of these good manners with which we were commanded is addressing people with good speech because of the good and useful impact good word leaves in the thoughts, behavior, and psychology of the speaker and the listener to the extent that some of the people of knowledge counted good manners half of Islam. `Amr ibn `Absah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "I came to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) then I asked: What is Islam? He said: Good speech and serving food [to the needy]."[1]

Harshness and strength may be used for disciplining, forcible prevention, or to deter those who may violate the limits of Allah or other reasons which entail that according to the rule of benefit and corruption. Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "O Prophet (Muhammad peace be upon him)! Strive hard against the disbelievers and the hypocrites, and be severe against them; their abode will be Hell, and worst indeed is that destination." [Surat At-Tawbah: 73].

However, the general rule in addressing people is good speech in religious and worldly affairs. Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "And speak good to people (i.e. enjoin righteousness and forbid evil, and say the truth about Muhammad peace be upon him)." [Surat Al Baqarah: 83].

This includes all human beings: Believers and disbelievers, pious or not even if he is not a Muslim. Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "And argue not with the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians), unless it be in (a way) that is better (with good words and in good manner, inviting them to Islamic Monotheism with His Verses)." [Surat Al `Ankabut: 46] i.e., with nice words and calling them to Allah (may He be Glorified and Exalted) with argumentations and signs[2], and this is confirmed in the field of calling to Allah (may He be Glorified and Exalted). Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "Invite (mankind, O Muhammad peace be upon him) to the Way of your Lord (i.e. Islâm) with wisdom (i.e. with the Divine Revelation and the Qur'ân) and fair preaching, and argue with them in a way that is better. Truly, your Lord knows best who has gone astray from His Path, and He is the Best Knower of those who are guided." [Surat An-Nahl: 125]. Whoever needs debate and convicing, we should use gentleness, softness, and good speech with him.[3]

Addressing people with the best words, nicest phrases, and best sentences are the features of the believers about whom Allah (may He be Exalted) said: "And they are guided (in this world) unto goodly speech (i.e. La ilaha ill-Allah, Alhamdu lillah, recitation of the Quran, etc.)." [Surat Al Hajj: 24] because it is emerged from a good person. Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "Good statements are for good people (or good women for good men) and good people for good statements (or good men for good women)." [Surat An-Nur: 26].

Ibn `Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "Good words are for good people and good people are for good speech."[4]

Therefore, that good manner which is one of the actions of goodness indicates good characteristics and high manners. The Messenger (peace be upon him) said: "The meaning of Al Bir is good manners."[5]

Ibn Battal (may Allah bestow mercy on his soul) said: "Good speech is one of the sublime actions of goodness."[6]

Al Mawardy (may Allah bestow mercy on his soul) numerated the types of goodness and mentioned of them good speech then said: "The meaning is good speech, smile, and showing intimacy nicely which are resulted from good manners and soft temper. These qualities should be limited such as generosity, because the one who shows extravagance in generosity shall be dispraised, but if he becomes moderate, he shall be known for goodness and shall be praised."

The people of knowledge mentioned that one of the characteristics of good manners is good speech. Al Mawardy (may Allah bestow mercy on his soul) said: "The meaning of good manners is that a Muslim should be mild-mannered, complaisant, bright-faced, less averse, and of good words." [7]

Ibn Al Qayyim (may Allah bestow mercy on his soul) said: "The chivalry of the tongue is represented in its sweetness, goodness, softness, and taking fruits from it easily."

So, whoever accustomed himself to good speech, his soul gives every type of goodness because it is a charity from him by which his soul is purified. The Messenger (peace be upon him) said: "Every good word is a charity."[8]

Ibn Battal (may Allah bestow mercy on his soul) said: "The reason for making a good word a charity is: Giving money makes the heart happy and removes harm from his heart, likewise good speech, so they both look alike from this regard." [9]

How many people whose lives changed by a good word to the better and the most perfect, moreover some of them have become affecting model examples in their communities and history recorded their biographies. The Messenger (peace be upon him) said: "There is no `Adwa, nor Tiyarah, but I like Fa'l. People said: What is the Fa'l? He said: "A good word." [10]

A believer turns away from idle talks and turns away from every word that has a bad effect. So, he only speaks with what is useful for himself and for others because this is part of faith. The Messenger (peace be upon him) said: "Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day let him speak with good or remain silent."[11]

An-Nawawy (may Allah bestow mercy on his soul) said: "The one who wants to utter [a word] should ponder over what he says before he speaks, and when there is an interest in his speech, he should speak otherwise he should remain silent."[12]

Whoever has enmity between himself and someone else, by kind words enmity disappears and is replaced by love and brotherhood. Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "Repel (the evil) with one which is better (i.e. Allah ordered the faithful believers to be patient at the time of anger, and to excuse those who treat them badly), then verily! he, between whom and you there was enmity, (will become) as though he was a close friend." [Surat Fussilat: 34].

Ibn `Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "Allah commanded the believers with patience at the time of anger and forbearing and pardon at offence, and when they do that, Allah protects them from Satan and their enemy shall subject to them as if he is an intimate friend."[13]

If people act according to this manner, it will remove many problems and friendships, and peace prevails because Satan is working hard to spread corruption among people and stirring enmity among them. Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "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].

As-Sa`dy (may Allah bestow mercy on his soul) said: "This is a command with every good and nice speech along with good manners according to their different ranks and degrees. Good speech requires every good manner and righteous work because the one who controls his tongue controls his entire affairs."[14]

By good words, the love of people and the pleasure of the Creator (Glory be to Him) are achieved. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Indeed one of you speaks a word pleasing to Allah and he cannot imagine (how high) a rank it attains. Allah records for him thereby His pleasure till the day He meets Him."[15]

If good speech is said in a soft manner, it will add beauty and goodness to it and will be more likely to accept advice because style affects in oneself more than the effect of the word itself. Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "Go, both of you, to Fir'aun (Pharaoh), verily, he has transgressed (all bounds in disbelief and disobedience and behaved as an arrogant and as a tyrant). * And speak to him mildly, perhaps he may accept admonition or fear (Allâh)." [Surat Taha: 43 - 44].

Ibn Kathir (may Allah bestow mercy on his soul) said: "Their call to him should be with soft speech to be more effective perhaps the Pharaoh would stop his error and destruction he was doing."[16]

If addressing the Pharaoh, who was the most lewd person on earth, was with that manner, so what about the less lewd or what about addressing the believers?

A good word benefits its sayer and raises his status in the world and protects him from Hell-Fire in the Hereafter. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Save yourself from Hell-fire even by giving half a date-fruit in charity. He who has not got even this, (should do so) by (saying) a good and pleasant word."[17] A good word shall admit a person into Heaven by the permission of the Most Generous. The Messenger (peace be upon him) said: "There are rooms in paradise whose outer can be seen from the inside and outside can be seen from inside. which Allah (Glory be to Him) prepared to whoever feeds the poor, speaks softly and nicely, continues to observe (voluntary) fasting, and performs Salah at night while people are asleep."[18]

And may Allah send peace and blessing on our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and all his Companions.