For God’s Sake, Hold Thy Tongue 

(Abridged & Edited) 
Class 8th - English : Prose - Lesson 4

WORKING WITH TEXT

Q1. What do the Qur'an and the traditions of the Prophet (PBUH) tell us on backbiting and scandal mongering?

Ans. The holy Qur'an condemns Scandal mongering and backbiting in strongest terms. In Sahi Muslim, Prophet Muhammad (SAW) says that a person who indulges in backbiting is a man who has eaten the flesh of his elder brother.

Q2. What do the Gita and the Bible tell us on backbiting?

Ans. All the religions criticize on backbiting. The pious Gita says that a person who is free from backbiting is pure and free from fear, and the person who has a habit of backbiting is sinner and is born to demoniac endowments.

In the same way The Bible says that we all make errors in many ways, and a person who does not make an error is a perfect man and he can curb his whole body on his will.

Q3. What do the Granth Sahib and Lord Buddha tell us on backbiting?

Ans. The Guru Granth Sahib says that a backbiter carries the great burden of sins and he carries loads without any payment. Lord Buddha in his eightfold path says that one requires living a life based on right speech.

Q4. Why did the servant of Rabbi Simeon bring tongues both the times?

Ans. Rabbi Simeon’s servant brings tongues both the times because it is only the tongue that issues the good and the bad, also there is nothing better than a good tongue and nothing worse than an evil one.

Q5. Why did Rabbi Simeon invite his disciples for a meal?

Ans. Rabbi Simeon invited his disciples for a meal to tell them about the advantages of soft tongue. He conveyed a message to them that only use soft tongue in their conversation with another because soft tongue spreads sweetness.

Q6. What according to you is the moral of the lesson?

Ans. Vice offends the moral standards of the community, and scandal mongering and backbiting are vices, we should always refrain from this, so that to be pure in front of our Almighty Allah.

Q7. How does our tongue do good or bad to others?

Ans. A good tongue pleases people and makes them happy, and a bad tongue offends them and hurts them, which is a great sin in all religions.

LANGUAGE WORK

Add the correct ending to each of the following words and say what each person does or is connected with:

1. Govern               governor                  one who govern.

2. Cater                  caterer                      one who provides food or drink for a social or business function.

3. Translate            translator                  one translates text from one language to another.

4. Novel                 novelist                    one who writes novels.

5. Tour                     tourist                     one who undertakes a journey to see a place.

6. Politics                politician                 one who takes part in political activities.

7. Decorate              decorator                 one who decorates houses.

8. Art                       artist                         one who has a skill of painting etc.

9. Economics           economist                one who deals with the economy.

10. Drama               dramatist                   one makes dramas and plays.

11. Cricket              cricketer                    one who plays cricket.

12. Engine              engineer                     one who has studied engineering.

13. History              historian                    one who writes history.

14. Mountain           mountaineer             one who climbs mountains.

15. Donate              donator                      one who donates.

16. Grammar           grammarian              one who knows the rules of grammar.

17. Auction             auctioneer                  one who checks accounts in offices.

18. Science              scientist                     one who has the practical knowledge of science.

19. Teach                 teacher                       one who teaches in a classroom.

20. Electricity         electrician                   one who has the knowledge of electricity.

21. Physics              physician                    one who has the knowledge of physics.

22. Write                 writer                          one who writes.

23. Speak                speaker                        one who makes a speech.

24. Win                   winner                          one who wins.

25. Mathematics     mathematician             one who knows mathematics.

GRAMMAR WORK

Complete each sentence with an adverb. The first letters of each adverb are given.

1. We didn’t go out because it was raining heavily.

2. Our team lost the game because we played badly.

3. I had little difficulty finding a place to live. I found a flat easily.

4. We had to wait for a long time, but we didn’t complain. We waited patiently.

5. Nobody knew Atif was coming to see us. He arrived unexpectedly.

6. Zeeshan keeps fit by playing tennis regularly.

7. I don’t speak Punjabi very well, but I can understand it perfectly if spoken slowly and clearly.

Put in the correct word.

1. Two people are seriously injured in the accident. (Serious / seriously)

2. The driver of the car had serious injuries. (Serious / seriously)

3. I think you behaved very selfishly. (Selfish / selfishly)

4. Razia is terribly upset about losing her job. (Terrible / terribly)

5. There was a sudden change in the weather. (Sudden / suddenly)

6. Everybody at the marriage party was colourfully dressed. (Colourful / colourfully)

7. Aslam speaks English fluently. (Fluent / fluently)

8. Ved Sir fell and hurt himself quite badly. (Bad / badly)

9. Hafeez didn’t do well at school because he was taught badly. (Bad / badly)

10. Don’t go up that ladder. It doesn't look safe. (Safe / safely)