يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَقُولُوا قَوْلًا سَدِيدًا
“Believers! Have conciousness of Allah and say ‘qawlan sadeeda‘” (33:70)
These are the words we listen in every Friday khutbah from the khateeb.
SubhanAllah! In this ayah, Allah Subhaanahu wa ta’aala has commanded us first to be conscious of Allah (having taqwa), and to speak
qawlan sadeeda.
Ever wondered what is qawlan sadeedah?
سَدِيدًا is from root words seen-daal-daal (س د د), which literally means wall, that has no space in it, or gaps or holes.
SubhanAllah! Allah is
Ar-Rahman, Who taught us bayaan (speech) as mentioned in Surah Rahman –
عَلَّمَهُ ٱلْبَيَانَ
˹and˺ taught them speech.
He taught us speech and also taught us how to speak– qawlan sadeedah, speaking in a way that is straight which has no confusion, no ambiguity, no holes, no gaps to fill in by shaytan through assumptions at the receiving end (listener’s side).
Interestingly! After being commanded on how to speak (qawlan sadeedah), we are told that how this amanah (trust of fulfilling Allah’s command) was offered to even mountains, heavens and earth, but they denied, because of the severe consequences of not fulfilling Allah’s obligations, but when offered to man, he accepted.
SubhanAllah! If we connect the dots – our Rabb has not only taught us speech, but He has also taught us how to speak by leaving no ambiguity behind, no holes in between, straight and clear unadulterated truth, and has told us how it is an amanah (entrusted by Allah) whose consequences, if not fulfilled, are so severe that even the heavens, earth and mountains denied, but man has accepted to abide by.
SubhanAllah! We hear these profound words of being straight on truth every friday in khutbah, and Allah Subhaanahu wa ta’aala further mentions right after the ayah of qawlan sadeedah that
يُصْلِحْ لَكُمْ أَعْمَـٰلَكُمْ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ ۗ وَمَن يُطِعِ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ فَقَدْ فَازَ فَوْزًا عَظِيمًا
“He will bless your deeds for you, and forgive your sins. And whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger, has truly achieved a great triumph.”
All in all point is that –
being conscious of Allah will enable one to go for qawlan sadeedah which will earn Allah’s blessings, forgiveness and fawzan azeema (great triumph).
May Allah Subhaanahu wa ta’aala enable us, our minbars to imbibe this. May we convey clearly, which is now a forgotten collective obligation of the revival of Islam as a deen – a complete way of living life, covering all aspects of life be it socio, political, economic systems which is maghloob right now but will again prevail, inshaAllah.
Ameen.