There are seven traits of the People of Nobility (Ahl Al-Kamāl; People who possess a lofty character) listed in Sūrat Al-Qaṣaṣ. Amongst them is one contained in the following āyah:
❰وَإِذَا سَمِعُوا۟ ٱللَّغۡوَ أَعۡرَضُوا۟ عَنۡهُ وَقَالُوا۟ لَنَاۤ أَعۡمَـٰلُنَا وَلَكُمۡ أَعۡمَـٰلُكُمۡ سَلَـٰمٌ عَلَیۡكُمۡ لَا نَبۡتَغِی ٱلۡجَـٰهِلِینَ❱
❰and when they hear frivolous talk, they turn away, saying, ‘We have our deeds and you have yours. Peace be with you! We do not seek the company of ignorant people.’❱ Al-Qaṣaṣ:55
Abū Bakr al-Jazāʾirī says that frivolous talk (laghuw) is useless talk that does not bring in a dirham in this dunyā nor helps attain a good deed in the Hereafter.
Ibn ʿUthaymīn says that it is any speech that has no benefit. The People of Nobility, out of their earnestness and their desire to preserve their time, do not linger when they come across frivolous talk.
Aṭ-Ṭāhir Ibn ʿĀshūr says that this trait is representative of wisdom—because it is unbecoming of a person of intellect to occupy his mind and heart with that which has no benefit.
The next time we come across frivolous talk—be it in person, or your latest social media scandal—let us consider this Qurʾānic precept.
May Allāh allow us to inculcate a beautiful character that is befitting of the believers.
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