For the friends...

For the friends, it grows up love, perpetuates affection, and prevents devilish inspirations. For the enemies, chaste wording alleviates feelings of enmity and eases their mistreatments and trickeries. Thus, we find the great personalities practice control over their tongues so as to be protected from flaws.

It is related that four kings spoke in a meeting: The king of Persia said: “I have never felt sorry for the word that I have not said, but I have many times felt sorry for things that I have said.” King of Rome said: “I can control the word that I have not said, but I cannot control that which I have said.” King of China said: “I possess the word that I have not spoken, but the word that I have spoken possesses me.” King of India said: “How strange those who utter a word that harms them if they say it and does not benefit them if they do not say it are![^6]” Gossip, nonsense, and obscenity are the clearest evidences on stupidity.

As he passed by a man who was speaking nonsense, Amirul-Mu'minin (a) stopped and said to him: “You are dictating to the Keeping Angels[^7] a record that will be taken to your Lord. You therefore should say only that which concerns you and should leave that which does not concern you[^8].” “Much speech leads to much erring. Much erring leads to decreased prudency. Little prudency leads to decreased piety. Little piety deadens the heart.

The dead-hearted will be in Hell[^9].” Imam al-Baqir (a) said: “Abu Dharr used to say: “Seeker of knowledge! Your tongue is the key to goodness and the key to evil. Hence, seal your tongue in the same way as you seal your gold and currencies[^10].” Imam as-Sadiq (a) said: “Silence is an abundant treasure.

It is the adornment of the clement and the cover of the ignorant[^11].” It is related that Qiss Ibn Sa’ida asked Aktham Ibn Saifi[^12], “How many flaws have you found in man?” He answered, “They are too numerous to be counted. But, I found one trait that may cover all the flaws of man if only he keeps to it. It is control over the tongue.” [^1]: Quoted from Bihar ul-Anwar; 15/2/192 (as quoted from al- Imama wat Tabssira). [^2]: Quoted from al-Wafi; part 3 page 85 (as quoted from al- Kafi).

[^3]: Quoted from Bihar ul-Anwar; 15/2/192 (as quoted from al- Khissal and al-Amali). [^4]: Quoted from al-Wafi; part 3 page 85 (as quoted from al- Kafi). [^5]: Quoted from al-Wafi; part 3 page 84 (as quoted from al- Kafi). [^6]: Quoted from Mejani al-Adab.