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Thursday, September 21, 2006

Silence: The Sunnah

A good article in the Christian Scinece Monitor about silence:

In this era of audio abundance, with myriad opportunities to sound off about the latest controversy, cultural crisis, or political provocation, it's important to remember that no law says we're all required to have an opinion about every issue churning through the current news cycle.

And it says in the Quran:

"Do not pursue what of which you have no knowledge of hearing, sight, and hearts will all be questioned." (17:36)

Allah says, "He does not utter a single word without a watcher by him, pen in hand." (50:18)

And a hadith ( related in Riyad us Salihin) states:

Abu Hurayra reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Anyone who believes in Allah and the Last Day, should speak good words or be silent." [Agreed upon]

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Salaam Alaikum:
A wonderful hadith :)It also relates to an old Sufi tradition about the four gates of speech. At the first gate, we ask, it is true, at the second gate, is it necessary. At the third gate, is it beneficial, and at the fourth gate, is it kind. If the answer to any of these is no, than what was about to be said should be left unsaid.

Ya Haqq!