Peoples' gatherings

All praise be to Allah and peace be upon His Messenger. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone who has no partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His Servant and Messenger.

Al Bukhari and Muslim reported in their books of authentic Hadiths from the Hadith of Al Mughirah ibn Shu`bah (may Allah be pleased with him) who narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Allah has hated for you three things: 1. Vain talks, (useless talk) that you talk too much or about others. 2. Wasting of wealth (by extravagance). 3. And asking too many questions (in disputed religious matters) or asking others for something (except in great need)."[1]

Al Qady `Iyad said: The meaning of "vain talks" is indulging into people's news and narrating their conditions, such as so and so said such and such.[2]

This Hadith applies to a group of people who have no job but to speak about others, their conditions, and their details. The one who ponders over peoples' gatherings and their meetings finds that many of them speak about different topics such as political, economical, Shari`ah-based matters which are not fit to speak about except by grand Muslim scholars. Moreover, indulging into peoples' honors, conveying rumors and false jokes, and indulging into peoples' conditions and living such as so and so divorced his wife, so and so was expelled of his job, and so and so lost his trade, and thus time is passed in vain talks.

There is no doubt that the mentioned items make a Muslim fall into a number of Shari`ah-based violations, such as:

First, this is part of idle talks which we must turn away from and engaging oneself in what is useful. Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "And those who turn away from Al-Laghw (dirty, false, evil vain talk, falsehood, and all that Allâh has forbidden)." [Surat Al Mu'minun: 3].

Sheikh Ash-Shanqity (may Allah bestow mercy on his soul) said: Allah (Glory be to Him) commented on this Ayah that one of the qualities of successful believers is turning away from idle talks which are not useful and what is desired to be left. Allah praised successful believers in another position such as Allah's Saying: "And if they pass by some evil play or evil talk, they pass by it with dignity." [Surat Al Furqan: 72]. The meaning is not participating in it and turning away from it. Allah (Glory be to Him) says: "And when they hear Al-Laghw (dirty, false, evil vain talk), they withdraw from it." [Surat Al Qasas: 55].[3]

Ibn Hazm (may Allah bestow mercy on his soul) said: I saw people regarding their talks which is the distinction between them and donkeys, dogs, and insects, are of three types:

1- Those who do not care about their speech, so they speak of anything comes on their tongues without achieving a benefit or denouncing falsehood; and this is the type of most people.

2- Those who speak of what they think to be the truth and repelling what they deem to be falsehood without searching for the truth but you find them where they committed themselves to do; this type is widespread but less than the first type.

3- Those people who place words in their proper positions; and this type is dearer than red Sulphur.[4]

Second, exhortation was reported from the Pious Predecessors to leave what is not useful and reported a Hadith attributed to the Prophet (peace be upon him), however, some people of knowledge graded it as weak, whereas others graded it as good stating: "It is enough for a man to be an excellent Muslim that he gives up things that do not concern him."[5]

Ibn `Abbas, the Interpreter of the Qur'an said: Do not speak about things that do not concern you until you put words in their proper positions.

Abu Sulayman Ad-Darany said: Whoever busies himself with his defects, he shall overlook peoples' defects.

`Umar ibn `Abdul-`Aziz said: Whoever counts his speech as part of his action, his speech becomes less except in things that do not concern him.

Ibn Rajab (may Allah bestow mercy on his soul) said: Many people do not count their speech part of their actions, so they risk and do not investigate. This was hidden to Mu`adh ibn Jabal until he asked the Prophet (peace be upon him) about it: "Shall we really be accounted for what we talk about? He said: May your mother lose you, O Mu`adh! People will be thrown on their faces into the Hell on account of their tongues."[6]

Furthermore, Allah negated that most peoples' talks contain goodness where Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "There is no good in most of their secret talks save (in) him who orders Sadaqah (charity in Allâh's Cause), or Ma'rûf (Islâmic Monotheism and all the good and righteous deeds which Allâh has ordained), or conciliation between mankind." [Surat An-Nisa': 114].[7]

Ibn Rajab (may Allah bestow mercy on his soul) said: People came to one of the Companions during his death sickness and his face was cheery. When they asked him about the reason of his cheery face, he said: There is no action more confirmed to me than two things: I used not to speak about things that do not concern me and my heart was free of hatred toward all Muslims.

Al Hasan said: Of the signs of Allah's turning away from His Servant is to make him busy with things that do not concern him.

Sahl ibn `Abdullah At-Tastury said: Whoever speaks about things that do not concern him shall be deprived of truthfulness.

Ma`ruf said: A person's speech in things that do not concern him is an abandonment from Allah (may He be Glorified and Exalted) to His Servant.[8]

`Abdullah ibn Mas`ud said: I warn you of excessive speech, it is enough for a person to speak to fulfill his need.[9]

It was reported in Sahih Al Bukhari and Sahih Muslim from the Hadith of Abu Shurayh Al `Adawy (may Allah be pleased with him) who narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "He who believes in Allah and the Last Day let him speak good or remain silent."[10]

Imam Ahmad reported in his Musnad from the Hadith of `Abdullah ibn `Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) who said that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "Whoever keeps silent shall survive."[11]

At-Tirmidhy reported in his Sunan from the Hadith of `Uqbah ibn `Amir (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: "I said: O Messenger of Allah, how can salvation be achieved? He replied: Control your tongue, keep to your house, and weep over your sins."[12]

Imam An-Nawawy said: Know that every person should guard his tongue against all talks except those which bring about benefit. When speaking and remaining silent are equal, it is part of the Sunnah to abstain from it because permissible speech may turn to be forbidden or reprehensible in most cases, and safety is incomparable.[13]

Third, these news which spread among people are not free of lying and rumors. Imam Muslim reported in his Sahih from the Hadith of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "It is enough for a man to prove himself a liar when he goes on narrating whatever he hears."[14]

Fourth, vain talks may be included in the prohibition of follow-up Muslims' defects and slips which is forbidden. Imam Ahmad reported in his Musnad from the Hadith of Abu Barzah Al Aslamy (may Allah be pleased with him) who narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "O community of people who believed by their tongue, but belief did not enter their hearts, do not back-bite Muslims and do not search for their faults, for if anyone searches for their faults, Allah will search for his fault, and if Allah searches for the fault of anyone, He disgraces him in his house."[15]

Vain talks may also lead to backbiting, for most people hate to circulate their news and secrets except the good of them. It was narrated that a man spoke about his Muslim brother, so his friend asked to him: Did you fight the Romans? The man replied: No. The man said: The Christians are safe of you while Muslims are not!

It was reported in Sahih Al Bukhari and Sahih Muslim from the Hadith of Abu Musa (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "A Muslim is the one who avoids harming Muslims with his tongue and hands."[16]

Fifth, excessive talks without mentioning the name of Allah is cruelty to the heart. Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "So, woe to those whose hearts are hardened against remembrance of Allah!" [Surat Az-Zumar: 22].

At-Tirmidhy reported in his Sunan from the Hadith of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "As for those people who sit together but do not remember Allah in their assembly and do not invocate blessings on their Prophet, they are at a loss,[17] thus, if He will Allah may punish them or if He will, He may forgive them." [18]

Sixth, this is part of wasting time in futile issues and a person shall be asked about each moment in his life as it is one of the four questions shall be directed to a person on the Day of Recompense. At-Tirmidhy reported in his Sunan from the Hadith of Abu Barzah Al Aslamy (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "(On the Day of Resurrection) the feet of a slave will not move till he is asked about four things: (of which he mentioned:) About his life, how he spent it?" [19]

Summary:

A believer should be serious in his life, preserving to his time, and caring for what is useful to him as was reported in the following Hadith: "Be keen to things that may benefit you." [20]

A person should keep away from trivial matters, keeping a loaf from vices and things that violate chivalry.

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds [i.e., people]. And peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and all his Companions.