The Book of Silence, by Ibn Abi Ad-dunyâ

The book of silence, by Ibn Abi Ad-dunyâ - or the rules of speech

Backbiting, lying, slandering, insulting, flattering, spreading rumors or making fun of: So many "performative" words with disastrous effects that man accomplishes through this seemingly innocuous organ: the tongue. How many hadiths warn the Muslim against excesses of language and the importance for the "itinerant" to keep his tongue and resolve to silence.

At a time when the deluge of words has emptied them of their meaning, because of the digital revolution, the Internet and its "social networks" which occupy the mental sphere of an entire generation, it becomes particularly beneficial to reread this major work of the learned master, specialist in moral rules and asceticism, that was Ibn Abî ad-Dunyâ .

Disciple of Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal, muhaddith and recognized moralist, author of nearly 170 works, Ibn Abî ad-Dunyâ gives us in this " book of silence ", an impressive compilation of more than 760 prophetic hadiths and quotations from companions, disciples (tâbi'ûn) and illustrious characters on the language rules that the believing gentleman must respect in public and in private.

It demonstrates the importance of mastering one's language, of avoiding abuse (of language), of not expressing oneself on subjects that one does not know and, more generally, of "saying good things or keeping quiet" because "the silence is golden”. Thus, silence becomes a remedy and an act of resistance, contributing to the rehabilitation of speech, the real one, synonymous with wisdom and efficient and noble verb, in the face of the stupefaction caused by ambient and dominating chatter.