Helpful Note: Blameworthy and Praiseworthy Silence

assalamu alaikum

Ok this is another reading I wanted to share with you guys. It's related to extreme actions, if not curtailed and corrected, may lead to a weakness by which the shaitan will lead a person to first believe his or her opinion supercedes the Sunnah, and then later on, justify actions such as creating images and statues, as a means to get closer to Allah. (I hope I kinda make some sense)

Blameworthy and Praiseworthy Silence

The prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said in two saheeh hadith, "Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day then let him speak good or remain silent."

Speaking good is better than remaining silent concerning it and refraining from speaking evil is better than speaking it.

However for perpetual silence, this is considered a bida'a that has been prohibited and the same applies to staying away from a Muslim staying away from meat all together for religious reasons.

Ibn Abbas narrated that the prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) saw a man standing in the sun. He (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) asked them "What is this?". They replied, "He is abu Israa'il who has promised to stand in the sun, not to see shade, not to speak and to fast." The prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said "Order him to sit, seek the shade, and complete his fast."

The prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) did not make this man's standing and exposure to the sun as means of getting close to Allah even if the man made an oath. Even though in other instances these actions such as standing and exposure to the sun are a means of getting close to Allah (ie. prayer, or standing making dua to Allah on the day of Arafah, or for a person who is in ihraam) on specific occassions, it means these acts are not a means to get close to Allah on "all" occassions.

Anas narrated that some people asked about the worship of the prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam). When they were answered they asked "Which of us is like the prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam)?" One of them said, "As for me I will fast without ever breaking it." Another one said, "As for me I will stand for prayer and not sleep." Another one said, "As for me, I will not eat meat." and the last one said, "As for me, I will not marry."

When the prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) heard this, he said, "What is the matter with some people, one of whom says such and such. Indeed If ast and break my fast, I stand for prayer and I sleep, I eat meat and I marry women. So whoever turns away from my Sunnah is not of me."

It is obligatory upon every Muslim to believe that the best of speech is the speech of Allah and the best of guidance is the guidance of the prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam).