Page 73 - The Muslim Way of Speaking

The Aspects of the Muslim Way of Speaking

purpose of encouraging others, and ensuring that they are strength-
ened in faith by bringing them closer to Allah.

Not speaking from the lower-self and
from personal desires

Another superior moral characteristic reflected in the speech of the
faithful is that they avoid speaking on behalf of their selves and their de-
sires. Believers know that the lower self continually seeks to incite them
to behavior of which Allah will not approve. For this reason, they speak
not in the way their lower-selves suggest, but in the way inspired by
their consciences. In the Qur'an, the behavior of the Prophet Yusuf (as) is
offered as an example of this aspect of the morality of the faithful. When
he was falsely accused, and as a result imprisoned for years in a dark
dungeon, the Prophet Yusuf (as) refrained from defending himself, but
admitted that the lower-self would always lead people into evil:
I do not say my self was free from blame. The [lower] self in-
deed commands to evil acts–except f or those my Lord has mercy
on. My Lord, He is Forgiving, Merciful. (Surah Yusuf: 53)
Speaking from one's desires is that which is done without taking
into consideration the approval of Allah, and instead thinking selfishly
only of one's own wishes. In communities which do not live by the val-
ues of the Qur'an, people speak without thinking at all; they act on the
spur of the moment and out of the feelings that arise from within them.
For example, when a person makes a mistake, another may succumb
quickly to rage, and speaking out of this rage, uses a course, critical and
inconsiderate language, whereas one who hopes for the approval of
Allah ought to use a way of speaking which deals with the mistake with
forgiveness, which explains the mistake to the other person, and shows
the way to correct it. In that case, the faithful straight away employ their
consciences and say only whatever is most appropriate in accordance
with the morality explained in the Qur'an.

71