Source: Fatāwā Amanpuri by Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amanpuri
Some Sufis say that speaking to anyone is a waste of time. What is the reality of this claim?
Good conversation can be held at any time, and it is not a waste of time. However, prohibited and unlawful speech is always forbidden. Idle talk and foul speech must be avoided at all times, as these corrupt the heart.
① Narration of Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (RA):
من كان يؤمن بالله واليوم الآخر فليقل خيرا أو ليصمت، ومن كان يؤمن بالله واليوم الآخر فلا يؤذ جاره، ومن كان يؤمن بالله واليوم الآخر فليكرم ضيفه.
Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should speak good or remain silent. Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should not harm his neighbor. And whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should honor his guest.
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 6475, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 47)
② Within the Shar‘i framework, it is permissible to converse with one’s wife, friend, son, or any other person. This is part of good social conduct. Declaring it a waste of time is a notion held by some ignorant Sufis who imagine that their words should only be directed towards Allah, and that speaking to people causes distraction from Allah. This is clear exaggeration and contrary to Shar‘i requirements.
③ Narration of Sayyiduna Abdullah bin ‘Abbas (RA):
بت عند خالتي ميمونة، فتحدث رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم مع أهله ساعة، ثم رقد
I spent the night with my maternal aunt Maymūnah (RA). The Messenger of Allah ﷺ spoke with his family for a while, and then he slept.
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 4569)
Conclusion: Speaking to people is not a waste of time when kept within Shar‘i limits. It is part of noble conduct, and the Prophet ﷺ himself engaged in such conversations. The Sufi claim is an exaggeration with no basis in Sharī‘ah.
❖ Question:
Some Sufis say that speaking to anyone is a waste of time. What is the reality of this claim?
❖ Answer:
Good conversation can be held at any time, and it is not a waste of time. However, prohibited and unlawful speech is always forbidden. Idle talk and foul speech must be avoided at all times, as these corrupt the heart.
✿ Evidences from Hadith
① Narration of Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (RA):
من كان يؤمن بالله واليوم الآخر فليقل خيرا أو ليصمت، ومن كان يؤمن بالله واليوم الآخر فلا يؤذ جاره، ومن كان يؤمن بالله واليوم الآخر فليكرم ضيفه.
Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should speak good or remain silent. Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should not harm his neighbor. And whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should honor his guest.
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 6475, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 47)
② Within the Shar‘i framework, it is permissible to converse with one’s wife, friend, son, or any other person. This is part of good social conduct. Declaring it a waste of time is a notion held by some ignorant Sufis who imagine that their words should only be directed towards Allah, and that speaking to people causes distraction from Allah. This is clear exaggeration and contrary to Shar‘i requirements.
③ Narration of Sayyiduna Abdullah bin ‘Abbas (RA):
بت عند خالتي ميمونة، فتحدث رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم مع أهله ساعة، ثم رقد
I spent the night with my maternal aunt Maymūnah (RA). The Messenger of Allah ﷺ spoke with his family for a while, and then he slept.
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 4569)
Conclusion: Speaking to people is not a waste of time when kept within Shar‘i limits. It is part of noble conduct, and the Prophet ﷺ himself engaged in such conversations. The Sufi claim is an exaggeration with no basis in Sharī‘ah.