Question
Please provide the reference and explanation of the following:
البلاء موكل بالمنطق
“Calamity is commissioned/dispatched through speech”
Answer
Imams Qudhai’, Bayhaqi and others (rahimahumullah) have recorded this in their respective Hadith collections as a Hadith of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam).
(Musnadush Shihab, Hadith: 227 and Shu’abul Iman, Hadith: 4597 and 4598; Also see: Al-Maqasidul Hasanah, Hadith: 304 and Faydul Qadir, Hadith: 3217-3220)
‘Allamah Sakhawi (rahimahullah) has cited several chains as well as narrations supporting the Hadith above, and ‘Allamah Zurqani (rahimahullah) has graded it overall as sound (Hasan).
(Al-Maqasidul Hasanah, Hadith: 304 and Mukhtasarul Maqasid, Hadith: 279)
This has also been recorded as the statement of both Sayyiduna Abu Bakr and Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah bin Mas’ud (radiyallahu anhuma)
(Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah, Hadith: 26060 and Al-Maqasidul Hasanah, Hadith: 304)
Explanation
‘Allamah Munawi (rahimahullah) has mentioned many different possible meanings of this Hadith. Amongst them are the following:
He has mentioned that it could mean that a person would be at ease and peace so long as he keeps quiet. No sooner does that person speak except that he will be judged and labeled accordingly (by either staying true to his word or failing to do so).
He has also mentioned that it could be a statement to discourage the action of a person speaking before verifying, lest a mishap that he cannot prevent befalls him.
It could also be understood as a statement to deter one from picking out and/or speaking about the fault of another, for as a result of that he would be tested and afflicted with a similar calamity.
One should be very careful about what he says for it could very easily come back to haunt him.
(Faydhul Qadir, Hadith: 3217-3220)
And Allah Ta’ala knows best.
Answered by: Moulana Farhan Shariff
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar