→ Guarding the Tongue

Before you is a chapter from the great book ‘Al-Adhkaar’ [Words of Remembrance] of the great scholar of the seventh century, Abu Zakariyyah Yahyaa bin Sharaf An-Nawawee. 

This is a very beneficial chapter entitled ‘Hifdh-ul-Lisaan’ [Guarding the Tongue] The original source, Al-Adhkaar, is one of the prize works of Imaam An-Nawawee in which he compiles and discusses the texts related to what is recommended and forbidden from speech, focusing on adkhaar (words of remembrance) and ad’iyyah (supplications). In the last part of the book, as he explains, Imaam An-Nawawee devotes a chapter to what is forbidden and disliked from speech, such as backbiting, gossiping, and slander, bringing the evidences from the Qur’aan and Sunnah on the obligation of guarding the tongue from evil speech. 

In recent times, this great work was verified by Saleem bin ‘Eid al-Hilaalee and printed in two volumes. For the sake of making this E-book a source for easy reading and benefit, the verifications of ahadeeth have been abridged to just the mention of their grade, source references and a brief discussion on some of them, where necessary.

We advice every sincere Muslim to read and benefit from the words on this very important topic, which many Muslims are neglectful about. And we advise them to reflect sincerely on the evidences so that they can beware of falling into sinful speech.