Interesting Article on Swearing and Vulgarity

[Thinkerman]

Article: Swearing more than just bad words

 

....................................By Imaad Al Islam..............

 

Words and language are not what they used to be. Slang, lingo and shortened words are now widespread in the vocabulary, whilst other common words are customised to meet current tastes. Phrases such as 'bad', 'fit' and 'gay' are not what they used to mean. Swearing as a means of communication has also become all too prevalent in society. Many public personalities are at the forefront of this, football players, Hollywood stars and rap artists all contribute their share of swear words for society to absorb. Swearing has become a standard in life that is common in most places and situations, whether one is walking in a high street, studying in a classroom or simply watching television. The level of etiquette in society has declined to such an extent that swearing is rife even amongst young children, insulting each other to the point of fighting. Despite efforts from teachers and parents alike to guide the youth towards a more civil way of expressing themselves the existing social norms continue to produce individuals who swear.

 

Swearing, however, isn't specific to Western societies. On the contrary, even in many Asian and 'Muslim' societies, swearing is common amongst all generations and stratum of society. Swear words are used to insult others and degrade their families and friends, and in many cases, even other people's sisters, parents and family. Indeed, it is extremely tragic that from the very youngest to the oldest both feel comfortable to use words and phrases of an insulting and derogatory nature.

 

Verbal Abuse is out of control

 

Earlier this year, broadcasters and film producers were accused of helping to normalise swearing in society. In a report published by Mediawatch-UK, it stated how the broadcasters and film-producers were creating a 'grunt culture'. In other words, swearing was replacing the normal use of words and phrases in conversation and dialogue. A few months later another study from a monitoring group found that television swearing in the US, on the six major networks, had risen sharply.

 

In a survey by the British Medical Association 95 per cent of GPs and hospital doctors reported that they had been verbally abused, a quarter of whom had been abused more than five times within the last year. Within institutions such as the City of London, swearing on the trading floor or in team meetings is common. Equally, the factory floor is rife with swear words and profanities. Clearly, swearing has reached a peak in society where no child, student or employee can live without hearing it.

 

"I swear because I want to swear"

 

For many amongst the youth swearing is part of the process of 'chilling' and hanging out with friends. It seems that every sentence is littered with expletives and swear words. It has become normal, in such discussions, to talk about life and work in a way pleasing to others of the same mentality. Many swear words are used to describe cars, mobile phones and inanimate objects. It seems like the trendy thing to do if one is to have a social life. In fact, many would go as far as saying that their social life wouldn't be as fun without swearing or saying what one wants, in whichever tone he or she chooses.

 

"Eminem does it. Ludacris does it. Ja Rule does it. What's your problem with swearing?"

 

The youth of today grow up in an environment where the role models offered to them have the lowest standards of behaviour and speech. Many of the music industry role models of today prefer to talk about their cars and possessions in the foulest language imaginable. Unfortunately, these are the same role models who have risen to the heights of popularity as their albums, clothes and even their way of walking is mimicked. Popular icons such as rappers, sportsmen and 'gangsters' get away with continuously swearing in front of the cameras and recording it in their music. Essentially, these role models are allowed to use expletives and words that denigrate others by the music industry and record producers. It appears there is an unwritten competition as to which rapper or artist can swear the most on each new album.

More than just bad words

 

If one were to ask a person on the street not to swear the reply would be a quick 'No' followed by a stream of expletives. People defend their right to swear as if they were protecting their freedom. They feel it as an attack on their character and a restriction of their liberty. Being told what to say and what not to say these days by another person seems unthinkable to many. This is because capitalism believes freedom of speech and freedom of expression are two of the sublime values that all human societies should aspire to. It means that humans should be able to express themselves in whatever way they feel necessary as long as their viewpoint or position is made.

 

Therefore, for the capitalists expressing oneself without limits is the optimum level of society and any restriction to this ability to express is met with resistance and opposition. Capitalists will defend the right of anyone to insult, belittle or abuse on the basis of free speech and expression. Of course, the results of such an idea can be clearly seen around us with verbal abuse, lies, gossip, rumours and swear words common in people's everyday language and behaviour.

 

If one were to think deeper about what swear words signify then it would provide a disturbing insight into the civilisation that has produced these norms. Swear words are used to describe a plethora of things; they describe immoral sexual acts, abuse of mothers, fathers, sisters, arrogance through making others look ****** , getting drunk, or high and so on.

 

The use of such words in the context of swearing actually admits that they signify something immoral or obscene. Swear words are swear words because they describe something that people know is morally wrong, so swear words are used to describe getting drunk, or high, or abusing the appearance of people (particularly women), or performing some other vulgar act.

If these words become normalised in their everyday use, surely this means that the immoral act that they signify has also become tolerated, otherwise these words would be treated with disgust. No Muslim can tolerate words used to slander Islam because they can't tolerate what those words signify, so why can a Muslim then tolerate other words which signify other obscenities. And worse than this, amongst youth, use of these words can build a certain respect in acknowledgement or even approval of such acts.

 

So clearly, swearing is something that is natural to any capitalist society which is continually pushing back the boundaries of what is immoral, and learning to accept these as norms. Muslims should never accept the immoral practices of a capitalist society as normal but should always view them as immoral practices which Islam will always consider unacceptable. So the Muslim community should not tolerate, let alone participate in the use of such words as they represent the practices of a foreign civilisation to Islam.

 

Islam regulates your thoughts, speech and actions

The Islamic system does not encourage the thoughts of individualism and arrogance. It does not believe humans have the 'freedom' to express themselves in any manner they wish. Islam is an ideology that is built upon submission to Allah I through rational thinking and recognising no authority other than He I. As a result, His I words and the words of the final messenger, Muhammad r becomes sacrosanct for Muslims.

 

Islam condemns in the severest form the type of speech associated with Western societies. Rather, it seeks to build an environment that is free from vulgar language but is characterised by etiquette, tolerance and brotherhood amongst its people.

 

 

The Prophet (saw) has outlined this in the following evidences:

 

 

"Obscene words and foul language belong to the devil. These two draw close to the fire and away from the paradise." [Tabarani]

 

Narrated Sahl bin Sa'd (ra): Allah's Messenger (saw) said,

 

"Whoever can guarantee (the chastity of) what is between his two jaw-bones (i.e. his mouth and tongue) and what is between his two legs (i.e. his private parts), I guarantee paradise for him." [sahih Al-Bukhari]

 

Narrated Abu Huraira (ra): The Prophet (saw) said,

 

"A slave (of Allah) may utter a word, which pleases Allah, without giving it much importance, and because of that Allah will raise him to degrees (of reward): a slave (of Allah) may utter a word (carelessly) which displeases Allah without thinking of its gravity and because of that he will be thrown into the Hell-fire" [sahih Al-Bukhari]

 

Narrated Abu Huraira (ra): Allah's Apostle (saw) said,

 

"Anybody who believes in Allah and the Last Day should not harm his neighbor, and anybody who believes in Allah and the Last Day should entertain his guest generously and anybody who believes in Allah and the Last Day should talk what is good or keep quiet. (i.e. abstain from all kinds of evil and dirty talk)." [sahih Al-Bukhari]

 

Abu'd-Darda (ra) reported that Allah's Messenger (saw) said,

 

"On the Day of Resurrection, nothing will weigh better in the scales for any of Allah's servants than good character. Truly Allah detests the wicked and foul-tongued." [Related by Abu Dawud and at-Tirmidhi]

 

 

 

Source: www.1924.Org