Protecting the Tongue and the Nature of Gossiping
One of the most dangerous traps encountered on a person’s spiritual journey is failing to control their tongue and speaking behind others’ backs. Gossip is not merely a social impropriety but a terrible illness that darkens the soul and nullifies worship. Feriduddin Attar (q.s.) advises his brothers to keep their tongues imprisoned, noting that excessive talk kills the heart and that mentioning God for frivolous purposes is detrimental. The destructiveness of gossip is so great that Yunus Emre described it as “the menstrual impurity in a person’s mouth” and stated that those who gossip are deprived of divine mercy. Therefore, it is essential for true dervishes and those seeking God to extinguish the fire of gossip and animosity within their hearts.
The Evil of Gossiping Even When True
One of the biggest misconceptions people fall into is thinking that if what they say is “true,” it doesn’t constitute gossip. However, as Shiekh Sadi stated in his wise sayings: when you gossip about someone, even if what you say is true, you put yourself in a bad situation. Gossip is transferring your own spiritual gain (rewards) to another. A thoughtful statement from a virtuous saint states, “If I were going to gossip about people, I would only gossip about my mother; for intelligent people know that giving one’s worship and obedience to one’s mother is the most appropriate thing.” This clearly demonstrates how gossip gifts your own capital to others. When someone denigrates another, they are actually revealing the darkness within themselves 13, 14.
Fitna (Discord), Carrying Words, and the Golden Rule of Silence
A step beyond gossip is being a carrier of words, which is *nemimelik* (gossiping/backbiting). Those who carry words refresh old animosities between people and rekindle extinguished fires. Quarrel is a fire burning between two people; the person carrying words is like a woodcutter constantly bringing wood to keep that fire burning. Therefore, spiritual masters state that remaining silent when one should speak and speaking unnecessarily when one should remain silent is a great lack of wisdom. When a person focuses on their own flaws instead of seeking out the faults of others with frivolous pursuits, they attain true spiritual power. Whoever protects their tongue has protected their faith, cleanses their heart from envy and gossip, truly attains peace.