As you walk down a hallway at school, someone hurls an insult at you. Turning to respond, you think of the best comeback you can give – one that will floor the person who just dared to pick a fight with you, that too in public. You get into a shouting match full of the most obscene words ever invented – every insult getting more vulgar with each round as you try to top each other – and a crowd gathers to cheer you two on. Of course, once the bell rings for the next class, the audience leaves, and your two minutes of fame are over. What did you achieve?
It is an unfortunate occurrence – and yes, it occurs among Muslims too – to easily slip into dirtying the tongue which Allah has blessed us with. It starts off with using what is considered "low-key" foul language only during moments of anger. Then it escalates to moments of sadness and happiness, and eventually daily conversation is naturally peppered with dirtiness. This escalation is tragic in itself, but what is even more tragic is that sometimes this escalation starts when we are mere children!
Foul language is now considered normal and is used even when the context makes no sense! Having questioned some youth about why they feel the "need" to use foul language or raise their voices, they replied with causes such as problems of anger and frustration; they go on to say that it is a habit which will "wear off" eventually. Yet so often, habits such as these get even stronger with age unless there is a will to change oneself.
Whenever we hear the justifications for vulgarity, we are led to wonder – what problems do we face in life that lead to anger and frustration being expressed by swearing and shouting? Have humans not been facing difficulties since the time of Prophet Adam (peace be upon him)? Do we not have examples of how to speak decently, even when we are troubled?
Having graced this earth with such an inspiring infallible as the Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him) – the one whose words are known as The Peak of Eloquence – the Almighty also blessed humanity with the eloquent personality of the Lady of the Women of the Universe (peace be upon her). Having been born into such a noble household as that of the Prophet and Lady Khadija, Lady Fatima had a most sweet upbringing filled with pure words. However, she saw and heard of the atrocities committed against her father, and there came times in her life when she was displeased with others – what was her speech like then? How did she express herself?
Lady Fatima always maintained self-control and self-respect. Rather than resort to expressing herself by using vulgar words or by shouting, she turned towards Allah to ask for His help. Even during her last moments in this world, Lady Fatima was reciting the praise of her Creator. Likewise, rather than using foul language when in moments of anger, sadness or happiness, we should be praising Allah!
If we take the route of disrespecting our tongues, then we achieve nothing in this world or the next: we say things which we will regret later, we turn ourselves into pieces of entertainment for others who gather to "watch the show", we earn a poor reputation, we lose our own self-respect, and to top it all off, we have compromised our hereafter. There is no benefit whatsoever.
On the topic of rights of the tongue in the Treatise on Rights, Imam Zainul Abideen (peace be upon him) has said: "It is the right of your tongue that you should consider it too respectable to utter obscene language; and you should accustom it to good [speech], and discipline it with good manners, and keep it silent except in time of necessity and for spiritual or material bene
source : abna.ir
