During the golden Abbasid period, one of the scholars in Baghdad, the capital of Muslim Khilafat at that time, was reputed to hold knowledge in high esteem. One day an acquaintance met the great scholar and had a dialogue:
Man: Do you know what I just heard about your friend?
Scholar: Hold on a minute, before telling me anything I’d like you to pass a
little test. It is referred to as Triple Filter Test.
Man: Triple Filter Test?
Scholar: That’s right, 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?
Man: No, actually I just heard about it and …
Scholar: All right, 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 is something good?
Man: No, on the contrary…
Scholar: So, you want to tell me something bad about him, but you’re not
certain if it’s true. Hmm…… Let’s apply the 3rd filter.
The 3rd filter, filter of Usefulness. Is what you want to tell me
about my friend going to be useful to me?
Man: No, not really.
Scholar: Well, if what you want to tell me is neither true nor good nor even
useful, why tell it to me at all?
Quran Says: O you who believe! Avoid much suspicion, indeed some suspicions are sin. And spy not, neither backbite one another. Would one of you like to eat the flesh (meat) of his dead brother? You would hate it (so hate backbiting). And fear Allah. Verily, Allah is the One Who accepts repentance, Most Merciful. Surah 49 Al-Hujurat Ayah 12
So, before you open your mouth, think:
a- Is it True?
b- Is it Pleasant?
c- Is it Useful
If not, better keep your mouth shut. Save yourself here in this world and After.
And this equally applies on writing too, be it an email, letter or SMS.
Think Before You…..
A good reminder!
SUbhanAllah
Indeed this is the most difficult and yet the most important part of deen. Unfortunately many of our brothers consider deen to be daadi and topi. They are also an important part no doubt however the most important thing that will be the most dangerous on the day of resurrection would you our behavior with our fellow humans. Allah might (if he likes) forgive what we may have lacked with respect to his huquuq however when it comes to the huquuq of his slaves, he will make sure the person gets his due.
This is sound advice and applies to writing emails/letters and texts and all other forms of communication also I presume as they also fulfil the criteria. On the Authority of Abu Hurairah. the Messenger of Allah said: “Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should speak GOOD things or keep SILENT. [Recorded by Sahih Bukhari and Muslim] Abu Musa Al-Ash’ari (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: I asked the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ): “Who is the most excellent among the Muslims?” He said, “One from whose tongue and hands the other Muslims are secure.” Abu Hurairah (May Allah… Read more »
Jazak Allah Kharioun for sharing such a nice thought…
such a useful method it is….THE TRIPLE FILTER TEST……i wish we all think on same lines