Do not let your words be claims and baseless assertions
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“Not a word does he utter except that there is a watcher by him ready [to record it].” (Quran 50:18)
The words spoken by the tongue of a Muslim are a trust. Claims and allegations are speech whose veracity cannot be verified, and a rational Muslim, who understands the trustworthiness of speech, should refrain from uttering them, especially one who remembers that he has a vigilant recorder keeping track of what he says. Among the false claims and allegations, and some better alternatives in this context, we mention the following:
- Speech devoid of evidence and facts: Some people engage in talk based on unsubstantiated claims and allegations, either to engage in idle chatter with others, to fill spare time, or to build their statements on hypotheses that lack logical proof, sometimes leading to the spread of misinformation.
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- Backbiting: One person speaks about an absent individual, and his speech about them is often filled with false claims, allegations, and hypotheses, committing one of the major sins. He may spread gossip, deliberately incite discord among people, and tarnish the reputations of those whose faults are concealed, simply out of boredom and a refusal to occupy his tongue with what brings him forgiveness and the pleasure of Allah, the Exalted.
- Speaking about what is inappropriate: A rational person refrains from discussing others’ private affairs, doubting the intentions of the absent, and attributing false statements to them. He refuses to relay people’s words about others and is particularly careful not to repeat the words of fortune-tellers!
- Remembrance Circles (Majalis al-Dhikr): Angels surround circles of remembrance because what is said therein is speech that pleases Allah, the Exalted, whether it is studying the Holy Quran and reflecting on its noble meanings, or glorifying and praising Allah. In my opinion, this is speech free of false claims or baseless allegations, and it is among the best options for refreshing the soul by doing and saying what is good.
- False claims and allegations increase sins and diminish good deeds: Every false word uttered by a person increases his sins and reduces his good deeds, because it is a sin contrary to Islamic law. A rational Muslim should speak the truth and avoid falsehood. Claims and allegations are speech that is neither credible nor reliable. If they are merely filler words, they also hold no merit in the scale of a person’s deeds.
A Kuwaiti writer
