1540 – ʿAbd Allah narrated to us; my father narrated to me; ʿAbd al-Rahman narrated to us; Abu al-Ashhab narrated to us, from al-Hasan, who said:

“They used to say: The tongue of the wise man is behind his heart. When he wishes to speak, he first consults his heart; if the matter is in his favor, he speaks, but if it is against him, he holds back. By contrast, the ignorant person’s heart is on the tip of his tongue: whatever comes out of his mouth he utters, without ever referring it back to his heart.”

Abu al-Ashhab added, “They used to say: No one has truly grasped his religion if he does not guard his tongue.”