Some Muslims use profanity a lot and see nothing wrong with it. I try to tell them that that is the way of the bible, but they don’t listen. On the other hand, when Hadith is presented to them, they get offended and call it profanity. I am very confused and troubled by this as it has gotten me into too much trouble. Please advise.
Answer:
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
Assalaamu `alaykum waRahmatullahi Wabarakatuh
In sūrat al-Mu’minūn, Allāh Ta’ālā mentions several characteristics of the believers.Amongst those characteristics, He mentions,
قَدْأَفْلَحَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ * الَّذِينَهُمْفِيصَلَاتِهِمْخَاشِعُونَ * وَالَّذِينَهُمْعَنِاللَّغْوِمُعْرِضُونَ (المؤمنون: 1-3)
Successful, indeed, are the belivers * Those who offer their prayers will submissiveness * And those who turn away from vain talk (Qur’ān 23:1-3)
One form of vain talk is profanity, and this goes against the commandments of Allāh Ta’ālā and the way of the Prophet صلىاللهعليهوسلم.The Prophet صلىاللهعليهوسلمwould neither use profanity, foul and indecent language, nor curse anyone [i].To use profanity is unbecoming of any good, well-mannered individual, let alone a Muslim.At the same time, it is not correct for you to associate profanity with the Bible.
As for calling hadīth profanity, then whoever does so should realize that they endanger their īmān by insulting the words and/or actions of the Prophet صلىاللهعليهوسلم.The hadīth of the Prophet صلىاللهعليهوسلمdeserves the greatest honor and respect.Hence, one should be extremely careful of what he/she says in regards to it.Imām Bukhārī reports in his Sahīh that the Prophet صلىاللهعليهوسلمsaid,
حدثنيعبداللهبنمنيرسمعأباالنضرحدثناعبدالرحمنبنعبداللهيعنيابندينارعنأبيهعنأبيصالحعنأبيهريرةعنالنبيصلىاللهعليهوسلمقالإنالعبدليتكلمبالكلمةمنرضواناللهلايلقيلهابالايرفعاللهبهادرجاتوإنالعبدليتكلمبالكلمةمنسخطاللهلايلقيلهابالايهويبهافيجهنم (صحيحالبخاري،كتابالرقاق،بابحفظاللسان: 5/2377؛ابنكثير)
Verily, a person will say something that pleases Allāh, without giving it any importance, due to which Allāh will raise his ranks.And, verily, a person will say something that will anger Allāh, without giving it any importance, due to which he will fall into the Hellfire.
Therefore, if your correcting such Muslims who use profanity leads them to make even worse statements, such as insulting a hadīth, and/or causes you to get into much trouble, then you may follow the commandment of Allāh Ta’ālā,
َإِذَاسَمِعُوااللَّغْوَأَعْرَضُواعَنْهُوَقَالُوالَنَاأَعْمَالُنَاوَلَكُمْأَعْمَالُكُمْسَلَامٌعَلَيْكُمْلَانَبْتَغِيالْجَاهِلِينَ (القصص: 55)
And when they hear vain talk, they withdraw from it and say, “To us are our deeds and to you are yours. Peace by upon you.We do not seek the ignorant” (Qur’ān 28:55)
[i]
حدثناأصبغقالأخبرنيابنوهبأخبرناأبويحيىهوفليحبنسليمانعنهلالبنأسامةعنأنسبنمالكرضياللهعنهقاللميكنالنبيصلىاللهعليهوسلمسباباولافحاشاولالعانا
(صحيحالبخاري،كتابالأدب،بابلميكنالنبيصلىاللهعليهوسلمفاحشاولامتفحشا: 5/2243؛ابنكثير)
And Allah knows best
Wassalaamu `alaykum
Ml. Abrar Mirza,
Student Darul Iftaa
Checked and Approved by:
Mufti Ebrahim Desai
Darul Iftaa, Madrassah In’aamiyyah