MDF English Corner (15/12/2021) - The Importance of Saying Kindly and The Story Retelling Award

Assalamualaikum

Welcome to another edition of English Corner, my name is Rifki Kusmana. An inspirational article about saying kindly came out in Indonesian so I decided to translate it to English, there’s also the annoucement of the winner of the Story Retelling Award, I translated that as well.

The Importance of Saying Kindly and Keeping Vocals

Vocals determine safety. The hardest thing for the tongue is guarding it. Kind words include speaking for oneself and speaking well for others. Saying good to himself when someone makes remembrance of Allah, glorifies Him, praises Him, including reading the Koran, teaching knowledge, and admonishing good and evil, then this is all good for him. As for saying good to others, it is in the form of words that make his seatmate happy, even though it is not necessarily good for himself.

سَلَامَةُ اْلإِنْسَانِ فِي حِفْظِ اللِّسَانِ

Man’s salvation depends on his ability to guard his tongue. (Narrated by Al-Bukhari).

The tongue will testify on the Day of Judgment.

As the word of God in Surah An-Nur verse 24 as follows:

يَّوْمَ تَشْهَدُ عَلَيْهِمْ اَلْسِنَتُهُمْ وَاَيْدِيْهِمْ وَاَرْجُلُهُمْ بِمَا كَانُوْا يَعْمَلُوْنَ

Which means “On the day (when), their tongues, hands and feet will bear witness against them against what they used to do.” (Q.S. An Nur: 24).

Woe (go to hell) because of the tongue.

Be careful with words because a word can plunge us into hellfire. If we don’t know something for sure, it’s best if we stay silent. And let’s not say words that hurt other people’s hearts, even if it’s just a joke. Because in the hereafter, everything we say verbally will definitely be held accountable.

The words of Rasulullah SAW …most people fall to hell as a result of their verbal actions. (HR. Tirmidhi).

Meanwhile, another hadith says about the virtue of being silent rather than speaking.

انَ اللَّهِ الْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ، لْيَقُلْ ا لِيَصْمُتْ

Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him speak good or remain silent. (Narrated by Bukhari and Muslim).

This hadith is the main reference for a Muslim to behave and build social relations. Therefore, this hadith deserves to be memorized, repeated, pondered, and practiced in everyday life. Although the editorial is very short, its impact is extraordinary, especially for the creation of harmonious relations in society.

There are three important things that the Prophet SAW stated in this very noble hadith. First, the must keep the mouth. Second, the obligation to respect neighbors. And third, must honor guests. God willing, in this paper the author will only discuss the first point.

لَا خَيْرَ فِيْ كَثِيْرٍ مِّنْ نَّجْوٰىهُمْ اِلَّا مَنْ اَمَرَ بِصَدَقَةٍ اَوْ مَعْرُوْفٍ اَوْ اِصْلَاحٍۢ بَيْنَ النَّاسِۗ وَمَنْ يَّفْعَلْ ذٰلِكَ ابْتِغَاۤءَ مَرْضَاتِ اللّٰهِ فَسَوْفَ نُؤْتِيْهِ اَجْرًا عَظِيْمًا

There is no good in their many secret talks, except the secret talk of those who command (people) to give charity, or do good, or make peace between people. Whoever does this seeking the pleasure of Allah, then We will give him a great reward. Q.S An-Nisa Verse 114.

مَنْ يَضْمَنَّ لِي مَابَيْنَ لِحْيَيْهِ وَمَا بَيْنَ رِجْلَيْهِ أَضْمَنْ لَهُ الْجَنَّةَ

Whoever can guarantee me (to protect) what is between his two beards and his two legs, then I give him a guarantee of entering Paradise. HR. Bukhari

Best Story Retelling Award

In this era of globalization, it has become easier to access whatever we want with just one click. This makes people always want things that are instant. Including in terms of searching for information, for example, a student is given an assignment by a teacher to search for certain literature. Most students will search for literature from the internet rather than from a printed book, even though the accuracy of printed book literature is more reliable than from an internet. However, the power of practical thinking has been imprinted on the souls of today’s students.

From this situation, the SMPIT MD Fatahillah library tries to continue to inspire students’ reading enthusiasm to love literature in the form of printed books more than internet literature. One of the monthly programs for the SMPIT MD Fatahillah library is to hold a Story Retelling program for library members who actively visit the library.

Story Retelling is a program to retell books that have been read in a narrative with a book review format. The purpose of the program is to foster the reading and writing spirit of library visitors and to attract the attention of other library visitors to be interested in the books that have been retold by the Retelling’s Author.

Alhamdulillah, on December 6, 2021, the best Story Retelling award has been awarded, which was won by Nisa Sri Nurazizah, hopefully this award can increase the enthusiasm for reading and continue to work in the author’s field of writing and can inspire the spirit of reading and writing for other library members.

By Susi Susanti

And that’s it for today’s English Corner, I hope you have enjoyed this article and I hope to see you again, someday, Thank you for reading.

Editor: Rifki Kusmana