Chapter Four (cont.)

And I know from Allaah what you know not." [AI-A'raaf (7): 61-62] Guarding the Tongue Similarly, Allaah ~ tells us that when Hud ~ ' began to call to Allaah; his people referred to him as being upon 'foolishness': "The leaders of those who disbelieved among his people said: 'Verily, we see you in foolishness, and verily, we think you are one of the liars."' [AI-A'raaf (7): 66]; so he retorted and said: "O my people! There is no foolishness in me, but (I am) a Messenger from the Lord of the 'Alameen (mankind, jinns and all that exists)! I convey unto you the Messages of my Lord, and I am a trustworthy adviser (or well-wisher) for you" [AI-A'raaf (7): 67-68] So there is no doubt that the characteristic of giving advice for the sake of Allaah - that is the characteristic of being 'Naasih' - is from the characteristics of the Prophets, just as it should be with the callers to Allaah and all of the believers. So this affair of Naseehah is Golden Advice Series 04 [2] Bukhaaree [3] Muslim something, which is fundamental and a most important characteristic for every Muslim. Jarir bin 'Abdullah ~ said: "Amma B'adu (now then), I went to the Prophet ~ and said, 'I give my pledge of allegiance to you for lslaam.' The Prophet ~ conditioned (my pledge) for me to be sincere and true to every Muslim so I gave my pledge to him for this. By the Lord of this mosque! I am sincere and true to you (Muslims)."l2l Also, Tamim Ad-Dari narrated: Allaah's Messenger ~ said three times: "The religion is Naseehah (sincere advice)." (Ad-Deen' Naseehah) The people asked, "To whom?" The Prophet ~ replied : "To Allaah and to His Book and to His Messenger and to the leaders of the Muslims and the common folk (all the Muslims).'131 Guarding the Tongue The Golden Advice Series In response to the obligation of giving Naseehah and its obvious need in our Ummah at the present time, DARUSSALAM PUBLICATIONS has come up with The Golden Advice Series which was orginally published by Deen Communications Limited, Nigeria. This series will, lnsha A/laah, contain several books; each of which is devoted to an advice given from the texts of lslaam (the Qur'aan and the Sunnah) with its explanation as provided by the esteemed scholars or people of knowledge. The advice range from the most important issue (tawhid or worshipping Allaah alone), to morals and also issues of business transactions. Each book comes in an easy-to-read size but the contents are highly beneficial, Bi lthnillaah ! In this first phase, ten pieces of advice have been treated. It is our hope that, lnsha Allaah, more will be added in the days ahead. This book centers on the Naseehah of the Prophet ~ on Guarding the Tongue! Everything that is correct in the books of The Golden Advice Series is from Allaah ~ - and to Him is all the praise; every mistake or error is from our imperfection and from Shaytaan - and we seek refuge in Allaah from him! We ask Allaah ~ to accept this effort of ours as an act done purely and sincerely for His Face and that He does not allow anyone or anything else Golden Advice Series 04 to have a share in it. The end of our dua' is that all praise is for Allaah, Lord of the worlds. And may His peace and blessings be upon the Prophet Muhammad, his family, his Companions and those who follow him till the Day of Reckoning! Aameen. DARUSSALAM PUBLICATIONS, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Ramadaan, 1428 A.H. September 2007 Guarding the Tongue Guarding the Tongue 'Uqbah bin 'Aamirr41 ~ reported: "I said: 'O Messenger of Allaah ~ . how does one attain salvation?' He responded: [4] 'Uqbah bin 'Aamir AI-Juhaanee4,accepted lslaam on the day the Messenger of Allaah :l/! arrived in Madeenah. He used to live far from the city, along with eleven others who had accepted lslaam, tending sheep and goats in the open country he decided to look after the flock of other colleagues while they go to learn from the Prophet :l/! and would on their return learn from them. One day he realised the opportunity he was missing by not being in the company of the Prophet :l/! and learning directly from him. He left his flock and went straight to Madeenah to live in the Prophet's Masjid along with the Ashaabus-Suffah. Within a decade, he had become one of the outstanding scholars among the Companions of the Prophet :l/!, a competent and beautiful reciter of the Qur'aan, a military commander and later on one of the eminent Muslim governors as Islam spread east and west with astonishing rapidity. Two objectives occupied Uqbah's attention throughout his life; the search for knowledge and Jihaad in the path of God. He applied his energies totally to these objectives.