whoever you see that has been granted the bounty of silence, as such a person has been given wisdom.”^[1]

Imam Shāfiʿi رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه was highly skilled when it came to guarding his tongue. Perhaps this is why Allah granted him wisdom and piety. Imam Shāfiʿi رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه was once asked a question, but he remained silent and did not answer. Someone asked why he did not reply to the questioner. The great imam replied, “I was considering whether goodness was in me replying or remaining silent.”^[2]

مَا شَآء َ اللہ! What an amazingly wise statement. The summary of what Imam Ghazāli رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه said regarding this is as follows, “We learn two things from this approach of Imam Shāfiʿi رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه:

1.   Imam Shāfiʿi رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه would think before speaking.

2.   He would focus on the benefit and reward of his speech. If speaking was better and it was a means of gaining reward, he would speak. Otherwise, he would remain silent.”

If only we were to think before speaking, as this is an extremely sensitive matter. Otherwise, we go on and on; backbiting, tale-telling, lying, slandering and who knows how many other sins of the tongue we include in our daily conversations. And to top it off, we are completely unaware of what we are doing.

May Allah grant us the ability to protect our tongues.

The final Prophet of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, “Whosoever can guarantee me what is between the two jaw bones (the tongue) and what is between both legs (the private parts), I give him a guarantee of Paradise.”^[3]