The power of words
EVERY organ of the human body is valuable but the tongue, through which we speak, is the most important in the whole scheme of our relationship with the society around us.
It is a medium through which we interact with the outside world. We converse with others and form opinions regarding their character, rectitude, trustworthiness, seriousness, pretentiousness etc.
Similarly, in every vocation one can be successful through the proper use of words. One can leave a lasting imprint of his or her personality on others through the decent use of words.
Yet not all people are successful in society and many face difficulties in dealing with others. Among the reasons for this may be the rough use of words. If one’s speech is filled with invective, it not only creates hatred and hostility in society but also displeases Allah. Therefore, Islam is quite particular in asking believers to be extra conscious while using language.
The Quran says “O you who believe! Keep your duty to Allah and fear Him and speak (always) the truth” (33:70). At another place Allah says that “On the day when their tongues, their hands and their feet will bear witness against them as to what they used to do” (24:24).
It is said that an injury by a sword can be healed, yet an injury inflicted by words remains incurable.
The tongue can break a heart, while it can also console a broken heart. It can establish peace, create friends, impact others, win hearts and minds and also leave long-lasting memories in others’ hearts.
Conversely, the tongue, if used negatively, can hurt people, create foes, establish animosity and above all destroy the peace of society. Therefore, all world religions, including Islam, urge us to be aware of our language.
Islam, being a religion of peace, is very emphatic that one should be mindful of his or her daily utterances. It even declares in the Quran that “Kind words (spoken) and forgiving of faults are better than sadaqa (charity)….” (2:263).
The human being is the crown of creation, endowed with intellect. He is usually called a speaking animal as he can speak his mind and thoughts through his tongue. Every word spoken or written consciously or unconsciously has a tremendous impact.
This is a distinctive feature that marks us out from all other species.
The Holy Quran refers to the covenant made with the Children of Israel. Among the conditions set forth include the use of the tongue. For example the holy book says “…Speak good to people….” (2:83). When Hazrat Musa was ordered to visit Pharaoh, he was directed to “Speak to him mildly; perhaps he may accept admonition…” (20:44).
This elaborates clearly the importance of tone and tenor through which one speaks to family, friends and society at large. Our words should be appropriate to make statements civilised and decent. Also, words once uttered cannot be taken back.
Islam has endowed us with an excellent value system which has been instrumental in impacting the lives of people of all cultures. The mystics and scholars who served Islam by spreading its message to every nook and corner of the world used language filled with love, persuasion and appeal.
However, our present-day society is extremely polarised. We have drifted away from Islam’s perennial message. It can easily be observed that many people are involved in gossiping, backbiting, loose talk and character assassination. These are negative traits which are detrimental to society.
It is time to look within and reflect on the state of our society, which needs overhauling. In order to refine society, the Islamic message regarding the proper use of words needs to be highlighted.
The very first step needed is to teach people to avoid diseases of the tongue which include lying, backbiting, mudslinging, rumour-mongering etc. Like the diseases of the body, diseases of the tongue can do major damage. Allah says in the Quran that “…Man was created weak” (4:28). Therefore, every one of us is prone to illnesses of various kinds. Similarly, our egoistic nature is also weak and attracts various forms of negativity.
The life pattern of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) is worth emulating for all of us. In the Quran Allah refers to those who used to hurt the Prophet with malicious remarks, which the Prophet would hear without uttering a word. This indicates that the Messenger was listening much more than speaking. Those who listen and reflect without uttering too many words tend to have a greater understanding of issues.
Every child learns language in his or her home environment. He or she also acquires basic traits from the home. In nurturing the future generations, all parents should take special care. They should create a spiritual environment, where a strict regimen for physical, social and spiritual wellbeing should be the order of the day. Abusive words should have no room in any corner of the home.
Institutions which are directly or indirectly linked to the development of the new generation, such as schools and colleges, teach subjects regarding the correct use of language. Yet they pay more attention to syntax rather than to the social use of language.
In order to create a peaceful, loving society, children need to be taught interactive skills coupled with the temperate use of words.
The writer is an educationist.
amin.valiani@itrebp.org
When my mother was a little schoolgirl, she kept a scrapbook of favorite sayings clipped from newspapers and magazines. Here’s one page:
“Loving words will cost but little,
Journeying up the hill of life;
But they make the weak and weary
Stronger, braver for the strife.
Do you count them only trifles?
What to earth are sun and rain?
Never was a kind word wasted;
Never was one said in vain.”
Thanks for such a valuable piece of advice. In the world of miss-communication (through media), blame-gaming, back-biting, lying, hurting, abusing etc, we seem to drop the ball on the basics of healthy nourishment of our generations!
Tongue and through it the “words” thus spoken in any language, is surely a power ful weapon, so says the author of this interesting article. From amongst the human species, “woman” uses this very efficiently. Her tongue can be sharper than the sword and sweeter than the honey. It all depends how conscious is the woman, specially when she becomes the “mother”. From that point onwards, the future generations will be influenced by their mothers’ tongue and the words which she uses – will that be like the sword or like the honey.
The status of woman in an Islamic society has been put on a high pedestal – that of the Mother. And the mother has been given the free gift of a part of “Rahmaniyyat”, an attribute of God. That puts a great respnsibility on the society, whether Muslim or otherwise, to extend all the respect to their mothers which “motherhood” deserves. Any society which does not do that will start suffering from all the “diseases of the tongue” as the author puts it, – back biting, slandering etc.
Unfortunately, the disease has spread in Pakistan like a plague. One of the core reason is that we have not taken care of our “mothers” and have kept them ensalved in many ways.
The recent tragedy of shooting the 14 year old Malala tells us how future mothers of Pakistan are treated by the twisted mindset of this society. Time to wake up and appreciate the real Islamic values.
MAV
You had to bring in politics and untruths into the present discussion. First: I am indeed sorry and sad that you have not taken care of your mother.
Second: bringing up the well know and established western ploy to use and entangle a young girl from the age of 10 years to their own ends and defame Pakistan and Islam with it has no place here.
Exploiting her further as a future mother is obscene to say the least. What about the other 110million women and girls in Pakistan…have they any value in your eyes? Will the west set their value for you?
The central point of a verse of Holy Quran says that when you come across with an Ignorant say may you have peace.
An excellent piece of advice. Indeed, correct use of words can cure a number of ills of our society. It is our primary responsibility to teach to our new generation about moderate use of language. It will be imperative for creating a loving and peaceful soceity.
It is written well, emphasising the usage of tongue. it is true, it is the tongue that puts you in shadow or in scorching sun. By using good words we can create a heatly and peaceful environment which is intense need of our society. when sit in gatherings; don’t have other topis but to make backbiting. an injury by a sword can healed, incjury inflicted by workds remains incurable. so we must be conscious while talking because the words spoken/uttered can not be taken back.
In 2013, we might be better off if we could not speak.
nice effort for society
your effort is appreciable. I would like this