Chapter Four (cont.)

In the field of Jihaad, it is sufficient to know that 'Uqbah fought beside the Prophet :l/! at the Battle of Uhud and in all the military engagements thereafter. 'Uqbah was one of the commanders of the Muslim forces that liberated Egypt. For three years he was the Muslim governor of Egypt. In the field of learning, he drank deeply from the fountain of knowledge that was the Messenger of Allaah j/j:. 'Uqbah became a distinguished Qaaree (reciter of the Qur'aan), a Muhaddith (recorder and narrator of the sayings of the Prophet :l/!); a Faqeeh (jurist); an Adeeb (literati); a Faseeh (orator) and a Shaa'ir (poet). 'Uqbah bin 'Aamir Al-Ju ha nee, the Qaaree, the 'Aalim, the Ghaazee (warrior), died in Cairo and was buried at the foot of the Muqattam hills. Golden Advice Series 04 ·'Restrain your tongue, remain in your home and weep over . your sins. "'[5l "Guard your tongue O mankind And do not let it bite you, for indeed it is a snake How many people in the graveyards are there, who were killed by their tongues Whoever fears meeting Him (on the Day of Judgement) is truly the brave one."[5J [5) sahih - Reported by lbn AI-Mubaarak in az-Zuhd (134) and from him Ahmad (5/259) and At-Tirmidhee (2517 of At-Tuhfah) from the path of 'Ubaydullaah bin Zuhr from 'Alee bin Yazeed. I say: Its chain of narration is very weak, because there are two defects in it. Firstly, 'Ubaydullaah bin Zuhr has weakness in him, and secondly, 'Alee bin Yazeed is very weak. However, Ahmad (4/148) reported it from the path of Mu'aadh bin Rifaa'ah on 'Alee bin Yazeed. So the first defect is uplifted because Mu'aadh is honest. Also, At-Tabaraanee (sec. 59) reported it from the path of lbn Thawbaan from his father from AI-Qaasim from Abu Umaamah. Its chain is Hasan, so the second defect is removed. [6) AI-Usoo/ Wa AI-Futuhaat Ar-Rabaaniyyah. Guard Your Tongue Allaah ~ says: ~~ ~; ~] ~~ ~; ~ 1~1; ~~ "Not a word does one utter, except that there is an (angel) watching, ready to record it." [Qaaf (SO): 18] And He ~ says: "Verily, your Lord is Ever-Watchful.'' [AI-Fajr (89): 14] Know that every individual who falls under the category of being responsible for his actions (Mukai/a!) must guard his tongue from all types of speech, except for that speech which consists Golden Advice Series 04 predominantly of some benefit. So in the situation that speaking and refraining from speech are both found to contain the same amount of benefit within them, then the Sunnah is to refrain from it, altogether. This is because the allowable speech (equal in benefit and harm) paves the way towards that which is forbidden as well as disliked. Rather, in most cases, this will be the result, and applying safety, at that point, will not be able to soothe it in the least. Abu Hurayrah ~ reported that the Prophet ~ said: ((._:. ~ ,aJ .Ji 1:,;. JiJ; ~'11 r _,;llj ~~ ~~ 0l5 ~J)) "Whosoever believes in Allaah and the Last Day, then let him speak good or remain silent.'1.7J This hadith is a clear-cut proof that one should not talk, unless his speech is good - and that is the speech that consists predominantly of benefit. So if one has doubt as to whether or not his speech consists of benefit, then he should not speak. lmaam Ash-Shaafi'ee Ji\ ,v. .J said: "When one desires to talk, then it is upon him to think before he speaks. If there is beneficial good in what he will say, then he should speak. And if he has doubt about that, then he must not speak until he clears that doubt (by li'aking his speech good)." There are several sayings of the Prophet ~ that warn the believer or encourage him to protect or guard his tongue from any use other than speaking good. A few of such sayings are presented below: [7] Bukhaaree Guarding the Tongue The tongue controls all the actions that draw to Paradise and keeps one away from Hell Fire Mu'aadh bin Jabal ~ reported: "I said: 'O Messenger of Allaah ! Tell me of an act that will take me to Paradise and keep me away from the Hellfire.' He said: 41 ~-- .- -- ? " 1;:. ' "I ti -- r#" ? " .::iL :&ii ..r-!. 0-4 ~ .r.:-::-::' u ~ ,, :.r- ~ ,, ~ " >., .&" > o> ,,,. ' ,, ,,,. ,,,. ~~ " \'.'.o ~ ~ ~~ ') " .Jl\ ~ • ~ ~j ' ~ ~ ~ j • . --~ ((.::.;;11 ~j ,~~) r~j ,gl5j-ll 'You have asked me about a major matter. But it is easy for he whom Allaah, may He be Exalted, makes it easy for. You must worship Allaah, associating nothing with him. You must perform the prayers and pay the Zakaat.