GOSSIP is the art of saying nothing in a way that leaves practically nothing unsaid. This is in reference to “We love gossiping and spreading rumours” (NST, Dec 12) by Muhamad Solahudin Ramli.
What is gossip? It has been defined as ear pollution, pieces of information that tell you everything you suspected.
It travels fastest through grapevines that are slightly sour, creates the smoke in which other people assume there’s a fire and is a form of crime for which the law provides no punishment.
The four sins of the tongue are lying, scandalising, gossiping and fault-finding. Yet, gossipers do not ever consider themselves as sinners. They claim to be straightforward people who want to tell what’s on their mind.
This is a common defence where the notion of straightforwardness is abused. Most people do not approve of gossip but they enjoy it. Some find much pleasure in such cheap thrills. Some gossipers say they are just conversing but there is a difference. A conversation is an exercise of the mind, but gossip is an exercise of the tongue.
Society today has forgotten to love God and has lost the fear of sin. They do not strive for social morality. Gossip is anti-love. In Islam, gossip and slander are strictly forbidden.
According to Surah Al-Hujurat 49:6: “Oh you who believe! If a wicked person comes to you with any news, ascertain the truth, lest you harm people unwittingly, and afterwards become full of repentance for what you have done.”
The Buddha stated: “Where disorder develops, words are the first steps. If the prince is not discreet, he loses his servant. If the servant is not discreet, he loses his life. If germinating things are not handled with discretion, the perfecting of them is impeded” and “If speech has five marks, O monastics, it is well spoken, not badly spoken, blameless and above reproach by the wise. What are these
five marks? It is speech that is timely, true, gentle, purposeful and spoken with a mind of loving kindness”.
All religions view gossip as destructive. So how do we stop it? We must strive against evil thoughts, evil looks, vicious speech and the greed to give ear to evil advice and slanderous gossip.
Falsehood is the work of the devil that overpowers the weak-minded. First, we must purify our vision. When vision is good, it leads to good thoughts which result in good action and speech.
By being constantly aware that God is all seeing and all knowing, we will speak well of others or be silent.
The Prophet Muhammad once said: “One can greatly beautify himself with two habits — good manners and lengthy silence” and “Let the one who believes in Allah and the Hereafter utter good words or let him be silent.”
In situations where one is caught in a gossip, strive for compassion and remind the gossipers to stop and walk away as stated in the Holy Quran at Surah Al-Qaşaş 28:55: “And when they hear ill speech, they turn away from it and say, ‘For us are our deeds, and for you are your deeds. Peace will be upon you; we seek not the ignorant’.”
Ariff Shah R.K., Penang