Speech

Growing up as an introvert child, I still had a great fascination for good speech. Eloquence always inspired me more than any other human attribute. Because in order to be a good speaker, you ought to be knowledgeable, proportionate in judgment, witty, analytical, intelligent and inspirational. In my reckoning good speakers always stood in a different league from others. Like a copycat, I started gathering bits and pieces from the good speakers and began to attract audience with lucid speech. It was like high of a drug. But when I understood first four Ayat Mubarikah of Surah Al Rehman, I felt that fallacy of good speech like my other fallibilities deceived me. Once again, I was trapped, battered and beaten by my worst enemy, my ego. Every ability that we have including speech, is a favour, an obligation. We are not good at it, it has been granted to us.

That is why Allah said in Quran;

الرَّحْمَنُ ﴿55:1﴾

(55:1) The Merciful One

 

عَلَّمَ الْقُرْآَنَ ﴿55:2﴾

(55:2) has taught the Qur’an,

 

خَلَقَ الْإِنْسَانَ ﴿55:3﴾

(55:3) has created man,

 

عَلَّمَهُ الْبَيَانَ ﴿55:4﴾

(55:4) and has taught him articulate speech.

If The Creator has to boast about three of his greatest mercies after swearing by His mercy and the gift of speech is among those three, then, it is not an insignificant happening. It must not go unnoticed. There must be a greater purpose to it. Speech in this context becomes an obligation i.e. to use our ability to speak in a well judged manner. How do we payback the greatest mercies of the Lord? Have we done justice to our ability to speak? Have we exercised due caution before speaking? Like other blessings, there will be accountability of this favour as well.

The relationship between thought, speech and actions is well sequenced. One begets the other. Our thoughts bring about speech which is translated in to actions. It all begins with the thought and ends in action, whereas, speech is an intermediary caught between the two.

Everyman is made up of his thoughts. Thought process defines a person. All five senses work round the clock to serve our thought process. Like a computer processor, we are able to sift and analyze all the information our senses feed in to it. Then the processed information is translated in to the speech. The speech, like thought is a Divine Gift. Speech is the finest yield of all five senses and the processed thought.

Finally, the relation between thought and energy also needs to be understood.  Our thoughts are susceptible to the effects of energy that surrounds our lives. Proven fact is that entire universe consists of energy in one form or the other. Our thought process is affected by negative and positive forms of energy. The equation is very simple in this context. Our approach towards life is defined by the dominant energy of these two. As much as the life of a person is dominated by negative energy like complaining, envy, doubt (shak) etc, as much he will radiate negative energy in his thought, speech and actions. Conversely, if a person is able to see the half full part of the glass like trust, patience, shukar etc, he will exude positive energy in thought, speech and actions. Hence, whichever form of energy (negative or positive) surrounds our lives; it can positively or negatively influence our thought process. Don’t worry too much about others, they just perceive your personality through your speech and actions according to the parameters of judgment set in their minds. Since no one can peep in to your mind and see exactly what is happening there, only you yourself can rid your mind of negative thought. Our ‘things to do’ list must include identification and weeding out of negative influences on our thought process. May Allah be our Guide.