Afat al-Lisan fi Daw al-Kitab wa al-Sunna
- Author died
- 1440 AH
- Editions
- Matba'at Safir
Afat al-Lisan fi Daw al-Kitab wa al-Sunna (The Evils of the Tongue in the Light of the Quran and the Sunnah) is a treatise on Islamic ethics and speech conduct by the Saudi scholar Saeed bin Ali bin Wahf al-Qahtani (d. 1440 AH / 2018 CE), dedicated to identifying the spiritual and social perils of the tongue and providing scriptural guidance on guarding one's speech .
Composition and Purpose
The treatise was completed in 1405 AH (c. 1984/1985 CE) and later published as part of the author's collected series of works (entry number 90), reaching its ninth edition by Muharram 1431 AH . In the introduction, al-Qahtani explains that he compiled the work because speech offenses present a pervasive danger to individuals, communities, and the broader Muslim ummah . He observes that while believers may find it comparatively easy to avoid major physical prohibitions—such as unlawful gain, oppression, theft, fornication, and alcohol—they frequently fail to restrain their tongues, causing even outwardly devout and ascetic individuals to fall into destructive sins of speech .
Al-Qahtani outlines two major traps regarding speech: speaking falsehood (al-kalam bi-l-batil) and withholding the truth (al-sukut 'an al-haqq), noting that one who remains silent when speaking the truth is required is described as a "silent devil" (shaytan akhras), whereas one who speaks falsehood is an "articulate devil" (shaytan natiq) .
Method
The author relies exclusively on authoritative Islamic sources, drawing proofs directly from the Quran and the Sunnah . His methodological approach includes providing hadith referencing (takhrij) to primary source collections, as well as citing the evaluations of verifying hadith scholars regarding the authenticity of narrations recorded outside Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim .
Structure and Contents
The book is structured into three main parts (abwab), subdivided into chapters (fusal) and topical sections (mabahith) :
- Part One: Backbiting and Tale-Bearing (al-Ghibah wa-l-Namimah): Divided into two chapters:
- Chapter 1: Backbiting (al-ghibah), comprising nine sections covering its definition, distinction from calumny, legal ruling, scriptural warnings, and related issues .
- Chapter 2: Tale-bearing (al-namimah), comprising eight sections .
- Part Two: Speaking about Allah without Knowledge (al-Qawl 'ala Allah bi-Ghayr 'Ilm): Divided into three chapters:
- Chapter 1: Lying against Allah and His Messenger ﷺ (al-kadhib 'ala Allah wa-'ala al-Rasul), in three sections .
- Chapter 2: Lying in general (al-kadhib 'ala wajh al-'umum), in four sections .
- Chapter 3: Bearing false witness (shahadat al-zur), in three sections .
- Part Three: Slander, Disputes, and Foul Speech (al-Qadhf wa-l-Khusumat wa-Badha'at al-Lisan): Divided into four chapters:
- Chapter 1: Slander and false accusation (al-qadhf), in two sections .
- Chapter 2: Quarrels and argumentation (al-khusumat wa-l-jidal), in three sections .
- Chapter 3: Foul and vulgar language (badha'at al-lisan), comprising twenty-five detailed sections on specific verbal transgressions .
- Chapter 4: The obligation to safeguard the tongue (wujub hifz al-lisan) .
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