General Rule of Silence except in the case of Ma’roof

Abu Hurayrah reported that Nabi (saw) said “He who believes in Allah and the Last Day should speak good or remain silent.” (BUKHAARI [8/42], MUSLIM [1/75]) and A’bdullah ibn A’mru reported that Nabi (saw) said “He who keeps silent remains safe” (AHMAD, TIRMIDHI)

Ibn U’mar reports that Nabi (saw) said “Do not speak much without the remembrance of Allah, for much talk without the remembrance of Allah is hardness of the heart. The most distant of men from Allah is the one with a hardened heart.” (TIRMIDHI kitabuz Zuhd [7/92] MAALIK relates it as a saying of I’sa ibn Maryam (as) [56/8]) and Abu Hurayrah reported that Rasool Allah (saw) said “Verily, a man utters words to which he attaches no importance and by them he falls into the Fire of Jahannam…” (MAALIK [56/6] BUKHAARI, MUSLIM and others)

Mu’adh asked Nabi (saw) ‘O Prophet of Allah (saw) are we accountable for what we say?’ He (saw) replied, “May your mother be bereft of your loss! Is there anything more than the harvest of the tongues that throws people on their faces (or noses) into the Fire.” (TIRMIDHI, AL HAAKIM) and Umm Habeebah reported that Nabi (saw) said “Every saying of the children of Adam is cursed except for commanding ma’roof and forbidding munkar or the remembrance of Allah.” (TIRMIDHI, IBN MAAJAH kitabul Fitaan [4112]) This is similar to the hadeeth reported by Abu Hurayrah that Nabi (saw) said “The world and all its contents are accursed except the remembrance of Allah and what supports it, the a’lim and the student of knowledge.” (TIRMIDHI, IBN MAAJAH, BAYHAQI) Silence or good speech must therefore be the safe road as bad speech will lead to so much regret on the Last Day. A’ta ibn Yaasir reported that Nabi (saw) said “Whoever Allah protects from the evil of two things will enter the Garden.” A man said ‘Rasool Allah, do not tell us.’ Nabi (saw) was silent. Then Nabi (saw) repeated what he had said the first time. The man said ‘Do not tell us Rasool Allah.’ Rasool Allah (saw) was silent. Rasool Allah (saw) said the same thing again. The man said, ‘Do not tell us, Rasool Allah.’ Then the man began to say what he had said previously and a man at his side silenced him. Rasool Allah (saw) said “Whoever Allah protects from the evil of two things will enter the Garden. They are what is between his jaws and what is between his legs, what is between his jaws and what is between his legs, what is between his jaws and what is between his legs!” (MAALIK [56/11] similar reported from Sahl ibn Sa’d in BUKHAARI [8/481] TIRMIDHI) This is similar to the hadith of Abu Hurayrah that Nabi (saw) said “What mostly causes people to be sent to the Fire are the two openings – the mouth and the private parts.” (AHMAD, TIRMIDHI, AL HAAKIM, IBN MAAJAH)

Prohibition of Argumentation

Abu Umaamah reported that Nabi (saw) said “No one who has once found the right way, ever goes astray except through dispute” Then Nabi (saw) recited the verse “They set it forth to you only by way of disputation. Nay! But they are a contentious people.” [az Zukhruf 43:58] (TIRMIDHI, IBN MAAJAH) and Aishah narrated that Nabi (saw) said “The most hated person in the sight of Allah is the most quarrelsome person.” (BUKHAARI [3/637]) and A’bdullah ibn U’mar said ‘I went to Rasool Allah (saw) in the morning and he heard the voice of two people who had an argument with each other about a verse. Rasool Allah (saw) came to us, the anger could be seen on his face. He (saw) said, “Verily, those before you were ruined because of their disputation in the Book.” (MUSLIM[6443])

Not to use bad language

“And say to My slaves that they should say those words that are best. Verily Shaytaan incites discord between them. Verily, Shaytaan is a plain enemy to man.” (al Israa’ 17:53)

Causing unjustified Divorce

Abu Hurayrah said “Rasool Allah (saw) forbade a towner to sell for a man from the desert, one to bid against another, a man to buy in opposition to his brother, to propose to a woman after his brother has done so or a woman to ask to have her sister divorced in order to deprive her of what belongs to her” (MUSLIM, BUKHAARI)

Spreading the Secrets of Husband and Wife

Abu Sa’eedul Khudri reports that Nabi (saw) said “Verily, the worst of people in the Sight of Allah on the Day of Resurrection is the man who has intercourse with his wife and then spreads her secrets” (MUSLIM)

The Consequences of Jokes

Abu Hurayrah reported that nabi (saw) said “There are three things which whether taken seriously or in jest are treated as serious – marriage, divorce and taking back a wife after a divorce which is not final” (ABU DAWOOD, IBN MAAJAH, TIRMIDHI and graded ‘saheeh’ by AL HAAKIM) this has another version “…Divorce, emancipation and marriage” (IBN A’DI) This is also affirmed by the general implication of the hadeeth of Abu Hurayrah(BUKHAARI, MUSLIM) Bahz bin Hakeem reported that Nabi (saw) said from his father from his grandfather “Allah ta A’la has exempted from my ummah what they contemplate on within themselves so long as they do not act upon that speak about them” “Woe to him who tells lies to make people laugh, woe to him, woe to him!” (AHMAD, TIRMIDHI)

Prohibition of Obscene talk and language

A’bdullah ibn A’mru ibn al A’ss said “Rasool Allah (saw) never used to use obscene talk nor did he listen to it” (BUKHAARI, MUSLIM) and Abu Darda’a reports that Nabi (saw) said “Allah (swt) hates the profligate and the obscene” (TIRMIDHI who said ‘saheeh’)

The Obligation to avoid the un-necessary affairs and speech

A’li ibn al Hussayn reported that Nabi (saw) said “It is part of the excellence of a man’s Islam that he leaves that which does not concern him” (MAALIK, AHMAD)

The Prohibition to Spy and Find Faults

A’bdullah ibn U’mar reported that Nabi (saw) said “If anyone looks for fault in another person Allah (swt) finds faults in him and shames him although he may have done the wrong in his own home” (TIRMIDHI, IBN HIBBAAN, Mishkaatul Masaabih) and A’bdullah ibn U’mar reported that Nabi (saw) said “…And when anyone conceals the secrets of another Allah (swt) will conceal his faults on Yawmil Qiyaamah” (BUKHAARI, MUSLIM) and U’qbah bin Amir reported that Nabi (saw) said “He who sees something that should be kept hidden and so conceals it is like one who brings to life a girl buried alive” (AHMAD, TIRMIDHI) and Anas reported that Nabi (saw) said “Blessed is he who is pre-occupied with his defects rather than those of other people” (AL BAZZAAR) and Ibn A’baas reported that Nabi (saw) said “If anyone listened to the talk of some people, when they do not like him to do that, then molten lead will be poured into his ears on the Day of Resurrection” (BUKHAARI and Bulooghul Maraam [no.1304]) and Mua’dh ibn Jabal reported that Nabi (saw) said “If anyone disgraces his brother for a sin he will not die before committing it himself” (TIRMIDHI who said ‘hasan but munqati’)

Verification of News and Warning of Nameemah [Harmful Gossip]

We also remind the Muslims that it is haraam to carry these tales and rumours and that if any news comes to the Muslims which may be of a detrimental nature then they have a duty to verify it, Allah (swt) says “O you who believe! If a faasiq comes to you with any news verify lest you harm people unknowingly and afterwards come to regret what you have done.” (al Hujuraat 49:6)

As for the rumours and stories that come to a Muslim about his Muslim brothers and sisters then these doubts should be investigated and verified as Allah (swt) says “If a faasiq comes to you with some news, verify it, lest you should harm people in ignorance and afterwards you become regretful of what you have done.” (al Hujuraat 49:6) and “O you who believe! Avoid much suspicion indeed some suspicion is sin…” (al Hujuraat 49:12) and Abu Hurayrah reported that Nabi (saw) said, “Avoid suspicion for suspicion is lying in speech.” (BUKHAARI, MUSLIM) And with regards to backbiting Allah (swt) says “…neither backbite one another, would one of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? You would hate it…” (al Hujuraat 49:12) and Hudhayfah narrated that Nabi (saw) said “A backbiter will not enter paradise” (BUKHAARI, MUSLIM) Additionally, it is prohibited to spread the stories and this is even more severe if they are preventing people from listening to evidence which will lead them to the truth and it is severe if this hinders the unity of the ummah. This nameemah (harmful tale carrying) is a waste of time and leads to the harm of its carriers and those whom are its subject, all of this is severely prohibited Ibn A’bbaas reported that once the Prophet (saw) while passing through one of the graveyards of Madeenah or Makkah heard the voices of two persons who were being tortured in their graves. The Prophet said, "These two persons are being tortured not for (what is thought to be) a major sin." The Prophet then added, "Yes! (they are being tortured for a major sin). Indeed, one of them never saved himself from being soiled with his urine while the other used to go about with nameemah (detrimental gossip).” The Prophet then asked for a green leaf of a date-palm tree, broke it into two pieces and put one on each grave. On being asked why he had done so, he replied, "I hope that their torture might be lessened, till these get dried." (BUKHAARI Eng/Arabic [vol.1 no.215 and similar narration in vol.8 no.878] MUSLIM)
“And obey not every one who swears much and is considered worthless [maheen], A slanderer [hamaazin] going about with calumnies [nameem]” (al Qalam 68:10-11)

Prohibition of Mocking

“O you who believe! Let not some men among you scoff at others, it may be that the latter are better than the former… ” (Al Hujuraat 49:11)

Protecting the Honour of Muslims

From various chains it was reported that Nabi (saw) said at the farewell Hajj “Verily your Blood, wealth and honour are as sacred among you as the sanctity of this day of yours in this month of yours in this land of yours.” (BUKHAARI, MUSLIM from Abu Bakrah and others) and Abu Hurayrah reported that Nabi (saw) said “All of the Muslim is sacred to a Muslim his wealth, honour and his blood. It is evil enough for someone to belittle his Muslim brother.” (ABU DAWOOD, TIRMIDHI who said ‘hasan ghareeb’) and Abu Darda’a reports that nabi (saw) said “If a Muslim defends his brothers honour in his absence, Allah will protect his face from the Fire of Hell on Yawmil Qiyaamah” (TIRMIDHI who said ‘hasan’ similar from AHMAD from Asmaa bint Yazeed)

Obligation to Protect the Muslims from Harm

Abu Sirmah reported that Nabi (saw) said “He who causes harm to a Muslim will be harmed by Allah (swt) and he who acts in a hostile manner against a Muslim will be treated in a hostile manner by Allah” (ABU DAWOOD, TIRMIDHI who said ‘hasan’)

Prohibition of Exclusive Conversation

A’bdullah ibn Masoo’d reported that Nabi (saw) said “When you are three together, two must not converse privately without the third until you are in the company of other people, because it makes him sad” (BUKHAARI, MUSLIM)

Obligation of non-Conveyance of Private Conversations

Jaabir bin A’bdullah reports that Nabi (saw) said “When a man talks of something and leaves then it is a trust” (TIRMIDHI) and Jaabir reported that Nabi (saw) said “Meetings are like trusts except three meetings – shedding prohibited blood, or committing fornication and taking property without right” (ABU DAWOOD)

Obligation of Concealment of Faults

Ibn Masoo’d reports that Nabi (saw) said “None of my companions should tell me anything about anyone for I like to meet any one of you with a tranquil heart” (ABU DAWOOD) The exception to that is for naseeha, security, da’wah and commanding ma’roof and forbidding munkar. The point is that people should not convey peoples faults and past sins but rather they should have the opportunity for good relations with new people and opportunity for reform and just treatment.