Chapter on speech in three ranks — Tuḥfat al-Mulūk

Ruling1064

2 notes

Recommended: such as glorification, praise, magnification, declaration of oneness, blessing upon the Prophet, and the like.

Ruling1065

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Permissible: people's saying to another: “Come,” “Stand,” “Sit,” and the like.

Ruling1066

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Unlawful: lying, backbiting, tale-bearing, insult, flattery, hypocrisy, and the like.

From the editors

1.

Tamalluq refers to excessive and abnormal flattery. This is mentioned in al-Minḥah (3:323). Abū Hurayrah narrated that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: “The worst people are those with two faces: he comes to some people with one face and to others with a different face.” al-Muwaṭṭa’ 2:991, Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 6:2626, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 4:2010.

2.

Namīmah is the act of carrying tales from one person to another. Allah Almighty says: {And do not obey every worthless habitual swearer, defamer, going about with malicious gossip} [Surah al-Qalam: 10-11]. It is narrated from Hudhayfah that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: “A slanderer (namām) will not enter Paradise.” (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 5:2250, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 1:101). It is also narrated from Asmā’ bint Yazīd that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Shall I not inform you of the best among you?” They said, “Yes, O Messenger of Allah.” He said, “Those who, when seen, remind you of Allah.” He then said, “Shall I not inform you of the worst among you? Those who go about with gossip, sowing discord between loved ones, and seeking faults in innocent people.” Musnad Aḥmad 6:456, graded ḥasan by al-Arna’ūt, and al-Adab al-Mufrad p.119.

3.

It is narrated from Ibn Mas’ūd that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Insulting a Muslim is fusūq (sinful) and killing him is kufr (disbelief).” Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 1:27, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 1:81. Also, Ibn Mas’ūd narrated that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: “A believer is not one who insults others, curses others, indulges in vulgarity, or is foul-mouthed.” Musnad Aḥmad 1:404, Sunan al-Tirmidhī 4:350, graded ḥasan, Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Ḥibbān 1:421. Furthermore, it is narrated from Abū al-Dardā’ that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Those who habitually curse will not be witnesses or intercessors on the Day of Judgment.” Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 4:2006, Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Ḥibbān 13:56.

4.

Allah Almighty says: {Do not backbite each other! Would any of you like to eat the flesh of his brother when dead? You would detest it!} [Surah al-Ḥujurāt: 12]. It is narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Do you know what backbiting is?” They said, “Allah and His Messenger know best.” He said, “It is to mention something about your brother that he dislikes.” It was said, “What if what I say about my brother is true?” He said, “If it is true, then you have backbitten him, and if it is not true, then you have slandered him.” Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 4:2001.

5.

Allah Almighty says: {Indeed, only those who do not believe in the signs of Allah fabricate falsehood} [Surah al-Naḥl: 105]. It is narrated from Ibn Masʿūd that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: “You must adhere to truthfulness, for truthfulness leads to righteousness, and righteousness leads to Paradise. A man will continue to speak the truth and strive for truthfulness until he is recorded with Allah as a truthful person. Beware of lying, for lying leads to wickedness, and wickedness leads to Hellfire. A man will continue to lie and strive for lying until he is recorded with Allah as a liar.” (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 4:2012).

6.

Allah said: {Indeed, the hypocrites will be in the lowest depths of the Fire, and you will not find for them a helper} [An-Nisā’: 145]. Ibn ʿUmar () narrated that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: “The example of a hypocrite is like a sheep that hesitates between two flocks, going to one at one time and to the other at another time.” Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 4:2146. As for the characteristics of a hypocrite, Abū Hurayrah narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said: “The signs of a hypocrite are three: when he speaks, he lies; when he promises, he breaks it; and when he is entrusted, he betrays.” Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 1:21.

Ruling1067

2 notes

ويستثنى من الكذب: الكذب في الحرب للخديعة، وفي الصلح بين اثنين، وفي إرضاء الرّجل أَهلَه، وفي دفعِ ظلم الظالم عن المظلوم.

Exceptions from lying: lying in war for stratagem; in reconciliation between two; in pleasing a man to his family; in repelling a wrongdoer's wrong from the wronged.

Ruling1068

فإن عَرَّضَ بالكذب لغير ضرورة، قيل: يحرم، وقيل: لا يحرم مثل: أن يقال له: كل معنا، فيقول: أكلت، ويعني به بالأمس.

If one alludes at a lie without necessity, it was said: unlawful; and said: not unlawful—like: it is said to him “eat with us,” and he says “I ate,” intending thereby [eating] yesterday.

Ruling1069

1 note

ويستثنى من الغيبة: الظالم عند الشكوى منه، وغيبة واحد لا بعينه من جماعة.

Exceptions from backbiting: the wrongdoer when complaining of him; and [mentioning] one [person] not specifying whom among a group.

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