Question:
Assalamualaikum ustaz. Is it permissible for me to swear at a person who drives recklessly on the road like they have lost their minds? Driving as if the road is just for them, changing lanes without signalling. Sometimes I got angry with such people. Is it permissible for me to rebuke them? Hope for an explanation from you.
Answer:
Waalaikumussalam wrt. wbt,
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his wives, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
Among the purpose the Prophet PBUH is sent to us is to perfect good character in accordance with the commandments of Allah SWT. This can be seen in a hadith narrated by Abu Hurairah RA, where the Prophet PBUH said:
بُعِثْتُ لأُتَمِّمَ صَالِحَ الأَخْلاَقِ
"I was sent to perfect good character."
Narrated by al-Baihaqi (7609) in Syu’ab Al-Iman
Al -Tahawi state that the meaning of the hadith is Allah SWT sent the Prophet PBUH to perfect this religion. This is also included in the statement of Allah SWT:
ٱلْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ
“This day I have perfected for you your religion…”
Surah al-Maidah (3)
The word أكملت in the verse can be understood with the meaning of أتممت which is to perfect. The Prophet PBUH said “I was sent to perfect good character” means I was sent to perfect the religion. (Refer Syarh Musykil Al-Athar, 11/262)
This means good character is a part of the teachings of religion. If a person acts badly, then he has less appreciation in religion.
Prof Falih Muhammad bin Falih al-Soghir a professor from the Kuliyyah of Sunnah and Ulum, University Imam Muhammad bin Saud in Riyadh state, the hadith showed the purpose of dakwah of the Prophet PBUH is to perfect the good character of people as well as doing the best we can.
Furthermore, good character is the manifestation of faith in one’s heart. Good character is also the result of worship a person has performed.
The Prophet PBUH reminded every Muslim to protect their tongues from saying bad words. From Abu Hurairah, Abu Ayub al-Ansari and others, the Prophet PBUH said:
وَمَنْ كَانَ يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ فَلْيَقُلْ خَيْرًا أَوْ لِيَسْكُتْ
“And whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should talk what is good (sense) or keep quiet.”
Sahih al-Bukhari (6476) and Sahih Muslim (4610)
Syeikh Badruddin al-‘Aini said the hadith is an explanation regarding the obligation of protecting one’s tongue from saying bad and impermissible things according to syarak. Most people end up in hell because of their tongues. As for the truth, it is obligatory to be stated. One is prohibited from keeping the truth. (Refer ‘Umdah Al-Qari Syarh Sahih Al-Bukhari, 23/70)
He further states, in the hadith, the Prophet PBUH only mentioned whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day without mentioning other pillars of faith. This means whoever believes in Allah and that everything that we do in this world will be accounted for in the hereafter, whether the deed is good or bad. If he believes in these two matters, then he will not hurt his neighbours, say bad things and others. (Refer ‘Umdah Al-Qari Syarh Sahih Al-Bukhari, 22/110)
This is the commandment of the Prophet PBUH, which is for every Muslim to protect his tongue from saying things that are unbeneficial, or even sinful. In another hadith, the Prophet PBUH explained the attributes of a Muslim is those who protect their tongue and hands from hurting others. The Prophet PBUH said:
الْمُسْلِمُ مَنْ سَلِمَ الْمُسْلِمُونَ مِنْ لِسَانِهِ وَيَدِهِ
“A Muslim is the one who avoids harming Muslims with his tongue or his hands.”
Sahih al-Bukhari (6484) and Sahih Muslim (170,171,172)
Ibnu Hajar al-Asqalani cite the opinion of al-Khattabi regarding the meaning of this hadith. He said, what is meant by the best of Muslim is a person who fulfils his responsibilities to Allah SWT as well as his responsibilities to other people. (Refer Fath Al-Bari Syarh Sahih Al-Bukhari, 1/53)
What a waste it would be if we did so much good deeds, but always utter bad words. Our tongue is able to increase our rewards and also abrogate our deeds.
Answering the question presented, we would like to state that it is best to not swear or insult others although those who were driving recklessly not considering the safety of others, which is an offence according to the law. The reason is, we as Muslims are taught to always say good things and not bad words. The Prophet PBUH once said:
مَنْ يَضْمَنْ لِي مَا بَيْنَ لَحْيَيْهِ وَمَا بَيْنَ رِجْلَيْهِ أَضْمَنْ لَهُ الْجَنَّةَ
"Whoever can guarantee (the chastity of) what is between his two jaw-bones and what is between his two legs (i.e. his tongue and his private parts), I guarantee Paradise for him."
Sahih al-Bukhari (6474)
Syeikh Mustafa al-Bugha, Syeikh Mustafa Khin, Syeikh Muhyiddin Misto and others state that the wisdom from the hadith is to be careful of our speech and to restrain from saying bad and prohibited things. It could be the reason we enter Paradise and being saved from hell. (Refer Nuzhah Al-Muttaqin Syarh Riyadh Al-Salihin, 1/1036)
Avoid from saying or using harsh words and language. Try to give advice politely. Remember that every single thing that we utter are all recorded. If we say good things then rewards are written for us. If we utter bad words, then our sins are also recorded. This is seen through Allah SWT’s statement:
مَّا يَلْفِظُ مِن قَوْلٍ إِلَّا لَدَيْهِ رَقِيبٌ عَتِيدٌ
Man does not utter any word except that with him is an observer prepared [to record].
Surah Qaf (18)
The Prophet PBUH also reminded us in a hadith regarding the effects from the words that we uttered. The Prophet PBUH advised us in a long hadith narrated by Muaz bin Jabal, who was at the time travelling with the Prophet PBUH. He said:
يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ ، أَخْبِرْنِي بِعَمَلٍ يُدْخِلُنِي الْجَنَّةَ ، وَيُبَاعِدُنِي مِنَ النَّارِ ، قَالَ : لَقَدْ سَأَلْتَ عَظِيمًا ، وَإِنَّهُ لَيَسِيرٌ عَلَى مَنْ يَسَّرَهُ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ ، تَعْبُدُ اللَّهَ لاَ تُشْرِكُ بِهِ شَيْئًا ، وَتُقِيمُ الصَّلاَةَ ، وَتُؤْتِي الزَّكَاةَ ، وَتَصُومُ رَمَضَانَ ، وَتَحُجَّ الْبَيْتَ ثُمَّ أَلاَ أَدُلُّكَ عَلَى أَبْوَابِ الْخَيْرِ ؟ الصَّوْمُ جُنَّةٌ ، وَالصَّدَقَةُ تُطْفِئُ الْخَطِيئَةَ كَمَا يُطْفِئُ النَّارَ الْمَاءُ ، وَصَلاَةُ الرَّجُلِ فِي جَوْفِ اللَّيْلِ ، ثُمَّ قَرَأَ {تَتَجَافَى جُنُوبُهُمْ عَنِ الْمَضَاجِعِ} حَتَّى بَلَغَ {جَزَاءً بِمَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ}.
ثُمَّ قَالَ : أَلاَ أُخْبِرُكَ بِرَأْسِ الأَمْرِ ، وَعَمُودِهِ ، وَذُرْوَةِ سَنَامِهِ ؟ الْجِهَادُ ثُمَّ قَالَ : أَلاَ أُخْبِرُكَ بِمِلاَكِ ذَلِكَ كُلِّهِ ؟ قُلْتُ : بَلَى ، فَأَخَذَ بِلِسَانِهِ ، فَقَالَ : تَكُفُّ عَلَيْكَ هَذَا قُلْتُ : يَا نَبِيَّ اللهِ وَإِنَّا لَمُؤَاخَذُونَ بِمَا نَتَكَلَّمُ بِهِ ؟ قَالَ : ثَكِلَتْكَ أُمُّكَ يَا مُعَاذُ هَلْ يُكِبُّ النَّاسَ عَلَى وُجُوهِهِمْ فِي النَّارِ ، إِلاَّ حَصَائِدُ أَلْسِنَتِهِمْ ؟.
‘O Messenger of Allah, tell me of an action that will gain me admittance to Paradise and keep me far away from Hell.’ He said: ‘You have asked for something great, but it is easy for the one for whom Allah makes it easy. Worship Allah and do not associate anything in worship with Him, establish prayer, pay charity, fast Ramadan, and perform Hajj to the House.’ Then he said: ‘Shall I not tell you of the means of goodness? Fasting is a shield, and charity extinguishes sin as water extinguishes fire, and a man’s prayer in the middle of the night.’ Then he recited: “Their sides forsake their beds” until he reached: “As a reward for what they used to do.”[32:16-17] Then he said: ‘Shall I not tell you of the head of the matter, and its pillar and pinnacle? (It is) Jihad.’ Then he said: ‘Shall I not tell you of the basis of all that?’ I said: ‘Yes.’ He took hold of his tongue then said: ‘Restrain this.’ I said: ‘O Prophet of Allah, will we be brought to account for what we say?’ He said: ‘May your mother not found you, O Mu’adh! Are people thrown onto their faces in Hell for anything other than the harvest of their tongues?’”
Sunan Ibnu Majah (3973)
Thus, try to restrain ourselves from saying anything that is bad, even when we are angry with the action of others. May Allah SWT grant us goodness to us all. Wallahua’lam.
End note:
[1] Surah Al-Sajadah : 16-17