THE TRIPLE FILTER TEST!!!!!

After a long sabbatical the computer seems to be fit and formatted and raring to go..(I hope?!!)and the switch from Blogger to Blogger beta was like being lost on the I-295 without directions..lol..but here I am..this is an intersting piece I read on Speech and the evil of the tongue...


The Master of the Believers Ameeral Momeneen Ali AS said "Speak so that you may be known,since man is hidden beneath his tongue" {Nahjul Balagha saying no 402}

What is meant here is that our words reflect our personality,upbringing and our character/mettle

Speech reflects our thoughts and mentality, as well as how morality, or immorality/slander is spread through society and the harm it can create amongst believing men and women..


An old Sufi tradition advises us to speak only after our words have managed to pass through four gates.
At the first gate, we ask ourselves, "Are these words true?"
If so, we let them pass on; if not, back they go.
At the second gate we ask; "Are they necessary?"
At the third gate we ask; "Are they beneficial?"
At the fourth gate, we ask, "Are they kind?"
If the answer to any of these is NO then what you are about to say should be left unsaid..
Read on for the very interesting TRIPLE FILTER TEST!!!

During the Abbasid period, one of the scholars in Baghdad, the capital of Muslim caliphate at that time, was reputed to hold knowledge in high esteem. One day an acquaintance met the great scholar and said, "Do you know what I just heard about your friend?"
"Hold on a minute," the scholar replied. "Before telling me anything I'd like you to pass a little test. It's called the Triple Filter Test."
"Triple filter?"
"That's right," the scholar continued. "Before you talk to me about my friend it might be a good idea to take a moment and filter what you're going to say. That's why I call it the Triple Filter Test.
The first Filter is Truth. Have you made absolutely sure that what you are about to tell me is true?"
"No," the man said, "actually I just heard about it and..."
"All right," said the scholar. "So you don't really know if it's true or not.
Now let's try the second filter, the filter of Goodness. Is what you are about to tell me about my friend something good?"
"No, on the contrary..."
"So," the scholar continued, "you want to tell me something bad about him, but you're not certain it's true.
You may still pass the test though, because there's one filter left: the filter of Usefulness. Is what you want to tell me about my friend going to be useful to me?"
"No, not really..."
"Well," concluded the scholar, "if what you want to tell me is neither true nor good nor even useful, why tell it to me at all?

Doesnt this sound like a very normal routine conversation which we indulge in day in and day out????

Ayatullah Khoie AR was once asked about the evils of the tongue and he is reported to have replied that he took refuge in ALLAH SWT from the guiles of the accursed Satan..indicating that it was from the great Sharr/mischief,which we commit..And this is a man who according to his honourable students.. who had never committed makrooh acts..and yet we find him seeking refuge in Allahs domain..
And we are so oblivious about this evil.. and undertake it with joy,relish it upon our tongues and spend hours indulging in it!!!

Ali AS further said "Guard your words as if you would guard your gold and silver.." {Nahjul Balagha saying 396}
We have been warned about the Yaume Hisaab when our limbs will justify against us and we shall be punished for Kufraane Nea'mah..and the Holy Qura'an is equally vocal in one of its oft refered ayats..


O you who believe! Avoid most of suspicion, for surely suspicion in some cases is a sin, and do not spy nor let some of you backbite others. Does one of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? But you abhor it; and be careful of (your duty to) Allah, surely Allah is Oft-returning (to mercy), Merciful. [Surah al-Hujurat 49:12]"

OH Muslims! People Will Judge Your Islamic Values by Your CONDUCT towards them and NOT By Your Performance of Religious Rituals (Salaah, Fasting, Hajj etc)"

Let us anaylse our words before we utter them and let us weigh them before they are weighed against us on the day when All Power and Might will belong to the Lord of the Worlds!!!!

Allahumma Swale ala Mohamad wa aale Mohammad Wa Ajjil Farajahum