Think Before You Speak

Choose Your Words Wisely

Words of the Prophetﷺ

A person may say a single word without thinking about it, and because of that word alone, they may be thrown into Hell as far as the distance between east and west.

Book82Ch.13No.6477
Al-Bukhari, M. (2020) Sahih Al-Bukhari. Compiled by M. Mohee Uddin.

How often do we find ourselves regretting what we’ve said, only after it’s too late? If we took even a moment to pause and think before speaking, countless misunderstandings and unnecessary conflicts could have been avoided, and relationships might have remained stronger.

Illustration of speech planning process, revising words in thought.

Well-chosen words don't just come out of nowhere. There's a process behind them, thinking it through, choosing the right words, making sure the message actually lands the way it's meant to. Some people even "rehearse" in their head before they actually speak. And that's not a weakness, it's actually a sign that they value the quality of every word that comes out of their mouth.

Illustration of the information verification process to determine the truth.

Verify Facts to Prevent Misinformation

Sharing information without checking if it's actually true can cause problems you never expected. False information is like a small spark that, if you let it spread, can turn into a wildfire. The consequences? People make the wrong moves, which triggers negative assumptions, create conflict within society, and spread hatred with no real or valid reason behind it.

For example: Imagine a viral video on social media accusing someone of wrongdoing. Without fact-checking, hundreds or even thousands of people immediately share it, leave harsh comments, and even curse that person. Yet, after investigation, it turns out the video was edited or manipulated. But what happens? That person's reputation is destroyed, their good name is tarnished, and they receive threats from people who don't even know them. Therefore, don't blindly follow the crowd in spreading negative stuff about people. Just because many people are talking about it doesn't mean it's true.

Setiap kali kita share sesuatu, kita ikut bertanggung jawab atas dampaknya. Kalau informasi itu ternyata salah dan udah menyebar kemana-mana, kita nggak bisa cuci tangan begitu saja dengan bilang "gue kan cuma share." Dalam Islam pun, kita akan dimintai pertanggungjawaban atas setiap kata yang kita ucapkan dan sebarkan.

Narrated by Abu Shuraih Al-Adawi: Rasulullah (ﷺ) said: “Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should speak good or remain silent."

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