Advice To Keep The Tongue Ever
Buzy
A Sahabi once said, "0,Rasulullah, (Sallallaho alaihe
wasallam), I know that the commandments of Shareyat are many, but of these tell me the one that I may practise
assiduously throughout my life." The Prophet, (Sallallaho alaihe
wasallam), replied, "Keep your tongue always moist (i.e. busy) with the
zikr of Allah." {Tirmizi}
According to another
hadith,
Harat Mu'aaz (Radhiyallaho anho) has said, "Once
at the time of my departure from Rasulullah
(Sallallaho alaihe wasallam), I asked him to advise me of that action which is
most pleasing to Almighty Allah: whereupon he replied, "At the time of
your death, your tongue should be busy with zikr of Almighty
Allah."
Note: By "my
departure", Hadhrat Mu'aaz (Radhiyallaho anho) refers to the occasion when
he was appointed by the Holy Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) as the Governor of
Yemen and sent there for teaching and propagating Islaam. It was at the time of
that farewell that Rasulullah (Sallallaho
alaihe wasallam) had given him some parting instructions.
By saying that "the
commandments of Sharee-at are many", the Sahabi had meant that although
observance of every commandment is imperative, to specialize and attain
perfection in each and every one is difficult; and so he wanted that Rasulullah
(Sallallaho alaihe wasallam), may recommend him something of over-riding
importance which he might hold fast to, and practise at all times and in all
conditions of sitting, standing or walking.
According to another
hadith, a person who possesses the following four things is truly blessed, from
the worldly as well as spiritual point of view:-
(i) A tongue
ever absorbed in the zikr of Almighty Allah.
(ii) A heart filled with
gratitude of Allah.
(iii) A body capable of
undergoing hardships.
(iv) A wife who does not
betray her husband's trust in respect of her chastity and his wealth.
The phrase "moist
tongue" according to some Ulama means excessive utterance (of zikr) and,
idiomatically, it is used to convey excessive glorification and praise. But in my
(the author's) humble opinion it can have another meaning as well. It is always
very sweet and pleasant to talk of one's beloved, as is the common feeling and
experience of every lover. On this basis, the phrase "moist tongue"
would, therefore mean that one should glorify with love the name of Almighty
Allah, so as to feel love's sweetness in the mouth. I have observed many times
that when some of my religious elders do zikr aloud, the flavour of the
sweetness enjoyed by them is so transmitted to the listeners that their mouths
also feel the sweetness and they share the ecstasy likewise. But this
phenomenon is possible only where there is a genuine yearning for zikr, and the tongue is accustomed to
excessive zikr. It is stated in one hadith that the proof of one's love for
Almighty Allah lies in one's love for the zikr of Allah, and in the same way
lack of zikr betrays lack of attachment with Almighty Allah.
Hadhrat Abu Darda
(Radhiyallaho anho) said that "those who keep their
tongues wet with the zikr of Allah, will enter paradise smiling."
Refrence:
Book Name: Virtues of Zikar
Author Name: Shiekh ul Hadees
Maulana Zikariya Sahab.