Etiquettes of Speech
Taken from : Al-Muwatta’ of Imam Malik
The Order to be Mindful in Speech
§ Imam Malik related to me from Muhammad ibn ‘Amr ibn ‘Alqama(Radiyallahu Anhu) from his father from Bilal ibn al-Harith al-Muzani(Radiyallahu Anhu) that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “A man says what is pleasing to Allah and he does not suspect that it will have the result that it does, and Allah will write for him His good pleasure for it until the day when he meets Him. And a man says what excites the wrath of Allah and he does not suspect that it will have the result that it does, and Allah will write His wrath for him for it until the day when he meets Him.”►{ Narrated by Imam Bukhari,Imam Muslim}
§ Malik related to me from ‘Abdullah ibn Dinar that Abu Salih as-Samman informed him that Abu Hurayra(Radiyallahu Anhu) said,
“Truly a man utters words to which he attaches no importance, and by them he falls into the Fire of Jahannam, and
truly a man utters words to which he attaches no importance, and by them Allah raises him into the Garden.“►{ Narrated by Imam Bukhari}
Disliked Speech and Speech Without the Mention of Allah
§ Malik related to me from Zayd ibn Aslam that ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar(Radiyallahu Anhu) said, “Two men from the east stood up and spoke, and people were amazed at their eloquence. The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, ‘Some eloquence is sorcery,‘ and he said, ‘Part of eloquence is sorcery.‘”►{Narrated by Imam Bukhari}
§ Malik related to me that ‘Isa ibn Maryam(Peace be upon him) used to say, “
Do not speak much without mentioning Allah because you will harden your hearts.
A hard heart is far from Allah, but you do not know.
Do not look at the wrong actions of people as if you were lords.
Look to your wrong actions as if you were slaves.
Some people are afflicted by wrong action and some people are protected from it.
Be merciful to the people of affliction and praise Allah for His protection.” ►{ Narrated by Imam Muslim}
§ Malik related to me that ‘A’isha(Radiyallahu Anha), the wife of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, sent a message to one of her family after the evening prayer, saying, “Will you not allow the recording angel to rest?” ►{ Muwatta Imam Malik}
What is feared from the tongue?
§ Malik related to me from Zayd ibn Aslam from ‘Ata’ ibn Yasar that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “Whoever Allah protects from the evil of two things will enter the Garden?“
A man said, “Messenger of Allah, do not tell us!“
The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was silent.
Then the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, repeated what he had said the first time.
The man said to him, “Do not tell us, Messenger of Allah!”
The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was silent. Then the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said the same thing again.
The man said, “Do not tell us, Messenger of Allah!” Then the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said the same thing again. Then the man began to say what he had said previously and a man at his side silenced him,
The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “Whomever Allah protects from the evil of two things will enter the Garden. They are what is between his jaws and what is between his legs, what is between his jaws and what is between his legs, what is between his jaws and what is between his legs.” ►{ Narrated by Imam Malik in Al-Muwatta}
§ Malik related to me from Zayd ibn Aslam from his father that ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab(Radiyallahu Anhu) came upon Abu Bakr as-Siddiq(Radiyallahu Anhu) pulling his tongue.
‘Umar said to him, “Stop, may Allah forgive you!“
Abu Bakr replied, “This has brought me to dangerous places.”►{Narrated by Imam Malik in Al-Muwatta}
Two People Conversing to the Exclusion of Another
Imam Malik related to me from ‘Abdullah ibn Dinar, saying, “‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar and I were at the house of Khalid ibn ‘Uqba who was away at the market. A man came who wanted to speak to ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar and I was the only other person present. ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar called another man so that we were four and said to me and the man whom he had called, ‘Go a little way off together because I heard the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, say, “Two should not converse to the exclusion of a third.” ►{ Narrated by Imam Malik in Al-Muwatta}
§ Imam Malik related to me from Nafi’ from ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar(Radiyallahu Anhu) that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “Two must not converse secretly to the exclusion of a third person.“ ►{ Narrated by Imam Bukhari,Imam Muslim}
Truthfulness and Lying
§ Imam Malik related to me that he heard that someone said to Luqman,
“What has brought you to what we see?” meaning his high rank.Luqman(Alaih Salam) replied, “Truthful speech, fulfilling the trust and leaving what does not concern me.“
§ Imam Malik related to me that he heard that ‘Abdullah ibn Mas’ud(Radiyallahu Anhu) used to say, “A slave of Allah continues to lie and a black spot grows in his heart until all his heart becomes black. Then he is written in the sight of Allah among the liars.“
§ Imam Malik related to me that Safwan ibn Sulaym said,
“The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was asked,
‘Can a believer be a coward?‘
He said, ‘Yes.‘
He was asked, ‘Can a believer be a miser?‘
He replied, ‘Yes.’
He was asked, ‘Can a believer be a liar?‘
He said, ‘No.‘”
