Talkativeness
Excessive speech that leads to sin, gossip, and wasted time.
Talkativeness (Fudul Al-Kalam)
Excessive speech is a disease that opens the door to nearly every other sin — gossip, lying, backbiting, argumentation, and showing off. The tongue is small but its damage is enormous.
Definition
Fudul al-kalam is speech beyond what is necessary or beneficial. It includes idle talk, gossip, excessive joking, arguing for the sake of winning, and filling silence with words that carry no benefit in this life or the next.
Signs of Talkativeness
- Inability to sit in silence comfortably
- Speaking about people when they are not present
- Regretting things you said after conversations
- Arguing to win rather than to reach truth
- Excessive joking that crosses into mockery or lying
- Sharing opinions when nobody asked
Islamic Perspective
The Prophet ﷺ said: "Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him speak good or remain silent." (Bukhari & Muslim)
And he ﷺ said: "Most of the sins of the children of Adam are from the tongue." (Tabarani)
Mu'adh ibn Jabal asked: "Will we be held accountable for what we say?" The Prophet ﷺ replied: "Is there anything that throws people into the Hellfire on their faces — or nostrils — more than the harvest of their tongues?" (Tirmidhi)
Treatment
- Practice the Sunnah of silence: Speak only when your words are better than silence
- Guard against backbiting: Before speaking about someone, ask — would I say this to their face?
- Count your words in gatherings: Consciously speak less and listen more
- Make dhikr with your tongue: Replace idle talk with remembrance of Allah
- Think before speaking: Pause. Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary?
- Fast from speech: Practice deliberate periods of silence to train the tongue