By His Eminence Shaikh Ahmed al Khalili, Grand Mufti of the Sultanate — Muslims are ordered not to speak of anything before verifying the correctness of what they intend to say and making sure that they aren’t telling falsehood; otherwise dire consequences will result from the spread of unfounded rumours. Allah the Exalted has laid a strong emphasis on this matter when He said: “There is not a word man utters but an observer is ready ‘to make note of it”. The Prophet, peace be upon him, said: “A man might speak a word without thinking about its implications, but because of it, he will plunge into the Hellfire farther than the distance between the east and west.” Mu’aadh Ibn Jabal said: “I said: O Messenger of Allah tell me of a deed that will make me enter Paradise and keep me away from the Fire. The Prophet Muhammed, PBUH, then asked, ‘Should I tell you of the foundation of all that?’ I said: Yes O Messenger of Allah. He then took hold of his tongue and said, ‘Hold back this.’ I said: O Messenger of Allah, are we going to be held responsible for what we utter? He said, ‘May your mother be bereaved of you [1] does anything cast people into the Fire on their faces except what their tongues have uttered?”
Written by HE Shaikh Ahmed al Khalili in Columnists
