The Silence of the Salaf

The stories of the righteous predecessors who observed silence and were renowned for that are certainly many, but sufficient for us is al-Rabee’ ibn Kaytham – a scholar from the major Tabi’een (rahimahumullah). Ibrahim al-Taymi says, “A companion of his who accompanied him for 20 years informed me that they had never heard him (al-Rabee’) err in his speech.”

He was known for his speaking little, even in the face of calamities and fitnah. Musa ibn Sa’eed narrates that when Husayn ibn ‘Ali (radhiallaahu `anhu) was killed, a man from the companions of al-Rabee’ said: “If al-Rabee’ was ever to speak, he will surely speak today!” So he went and entered in on al-rabee’ and informed him, whereupon al-Rabee’ looked to the sky and said,

“O Allâh! Creator of the heavens and the earth! All-Knower of the Ghayb (unseen) and the seen. You will judge between Your slaves about that wherein they used to differ.” [al-Zumar 39: 46]

‘Ajeeb.

May Allaah protect us and give us the strength to refrain from excessive speech and speaking about that which does not concern us. Ameen

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