While trying to find a title for this newsletter, I thought to confirm the meaning of the word 'quill,' and interestingly, I learned that the sharp spines of spiny mammals like porcupines and hedgehogs are also called quills.
Stay with me.
We've all probably experienced moments where words were spoken in haste, anger, or some other emotion—only to deeply regret them later. Harsh speech marked by unkindness or inconsideration can strain or even sever the connections we hold dear and hope to nurture.
Perhaps it’s a messsage that needs forthright communication, but being blunt and gentle simultaneously is not impossible, albeit a delicate balance to strike. It does not mean avoiding difficult conversations or sugarcoating the truth; it means delivering our messages uncompromisingly but with consideration for the other person's feelings and maintaining a courteous demeanor.
‘Abdullāh bin Amr reported in a hadith collected by Bukhārī and Muslim that the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said:
الْمُسْلِمُ مَنْ سَلِمَ الْمُسْلِمُونَ مِنْ لِسَانِهِ وَيَدِهِ
The Muslim is the one from whose tongue and hand the Muslims are safe.
Our tongues (or in the digital age, fingertips) are like quills; we can either use them like writing quills to make nice strokes or, like the spines on a porcupine, hurt whoever tries to come close.
What type of quill do you possess?