We all need this advice.
How badly we need sound hearts. Soundness as defined by Sharia.
Neither blameworthy recklessness nor blameworthy passivity.
Cold scrupulousness.
When something is put in the wrong place.
Neither required nor praiseworthy.
And excessive rashness.
When a person also puts something in the wrong place.
Neither praiseworthy nor blameworthy.
A person should be keen to keep his heart sound.
He should possess sound, disciplined Sharia-based zeal.
Then he speaks when Sharia requires him to speak.
And stays silent when Sharia deems silence praiseworthy.
And let him fear Allah in his speech.
For a word is easy but its consequences are grave.
Beware of speaking about anyone because people are speaking about him.
Unless you know.
that speaking about him is permissible in Sharia and needed.
By Allah, it won't help you in your grave that those around you maligned so-and-so.
Rather, what will benefit you is that Allah knows what is in your heart.
that you knew the Sharia required you to speak
so you spoke.
Speaking because of one's surroundings is dangerous to a person.
But if you know that Sharia requires you to speak.
Or if you are permitted to speak, then speak.
And do not hesitate. This is jihad in the path of Allah.
But do not take pleasure in dishonoring people.
Stop.
Within Sharia's limits.
Someone may speak about a person you hate for Allah's sake.
Because of his innovation for which he should be hated.
He speaks against his honor, so defend his honor.
Allah has not permitted us to speak about opponents' women.
Rather, we speak of violating the Sharia.
We endure, seek reward, persist, and strive.
Women's tongues are swifter to do harm than men's tongues.
So a woman should strive for righteousness and reform.
For if the woman is righteous, the Ummah is righteous.
And if she is corrupt, it causes much corruption.
So the Prophet ﷺ said, "I have not left..."
After me, there is no trial for men more harmful than women.
Her body may be a temptation.
Her speech may be a temptation.
She may be a temptation through unsound religiosity.
If a woman belongs to a partisan group.
This is a grave innovation that may cause most of the family to join it.
A woman's righteousness is a great good.
And a woman should strive to avoid.
Whatever Allah ﷻ has forbidden, she should strive to avoid.
Three grave matters.
They are: ingratitude to one's husband and frequent complaining.
And frequent cursing.
For these are among women's downfalls.
The Prophet ﷺ preached to the men on Eid then went to the women and said.
Give in charity, for I saw you make up most of the people of Hellfire.
Or he said, "Most of you are the fuel of Hell."
We said, “Why, O Messenger of Allah?”
He said: Because you complain often and are ungrateful to your husbands.
And in another narration.
Because you curse often and are ungrateful to your husbands.
This hadith indicates that women should give charity often.
She should also pay heed to what the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
If a woman prays her five prayers and fasts the month of Ramadan,
"and guarded her chastity— or protected it—and obeyed her husband."
"She will be told: Enter any gate of Paradise you wish."
So with her zeal for goodness she should hold to these four and charity.
Being keen on the obligatory prayers.
This is among the signs of a servant's success, man or woman.
And being keen on obligatory fasting. And being keen on chastity.
And its means, such as hijab and the like.
And being keen on obeying one's husband.
Along with charity. And then, how beautiful it is!
For a woman, in light of this, to seek knowledge and spread good.
Holding fast to what we mentioned without neglecting any of it.
Knowing the Sunnah, mindful of Allah ﷻ.
Fearing her Lord, guarding her tongue, and watching it.
Fearing that her tongue may lead her to destruction.
So I ask Allah ﷻ.
May He honor our women and Muslim women with taqwa.
And make them a means of righteousness for their families and those around them.
And put goodness and blessing in them.
And protect them from their own evil.
And the evil of their tongues, and the devils of mankind and jinn.
And keep us and them away from innovated factionalism.
And from groups that split into parties.
And make us follow the way of the righteous Salaf, RA.
Which is all mercy and goodness.
All of it: all gentleness, all justice, and all reform.
Mercy to the person himself; Mercy to those around him; ruler's safety.
and the governed.
So I ask Allah ﷻ to honor us with it and keep us firm on it.
And if we err.
Regarding anything in it, may He make us among those who return and repent.
And may He honor us with brothers of ours.
who advise us and help us be patient.
and help us stay firm upon this noble way. And Allah Most High knows best.