The beginning of Egyptian actor Anwar Wagdy was difficult — he suffered from poverty, hardship, and ongoing problems. One day, actress Zainab Sidqi, the star of the National Theatre, invited him to a feast she hosted for actors and journalists. He went happily, knowing a free meal awaited him.
During the meal, Zainab Sidqi wondered aloud: “Is wealth the secret to success and peace in life — or health?” Anwar Wagdy jumped up in protest and asked: “What health, Madame Zainab?!” He then sat down and said: “O God, give me half a million pounds and cancer — and I will be satisfied.” Zainab Sidqi shouted at him: “What are you saying, you madman? Shut up!” But he didn’t — he kept repeating and adding: “What health, Madame Zainab? Money is the most important thing!”
She asked him: “And what good would money do you if you were ill?” He replied: “I would spend some of it on the illness, and enjoy the rest.” His wife later wrote in her memoirs: “God accepted Anwar Wagdy’s prayer, and he had millions and more — but God tested him with liver cancer. He spent all his money, but the illness didn’t leave — and he remained in misery.”
The proverb is true: “Affliction is tied to the tongue.” And it is said: “The tongue brings trials.”
A person should not rush to speak words that could become their ruin — especially if they coincide with a moment of divine response, and their words meet a destiny already written in God’s knowledge. As the Prophet ﷺ said: “Do not pray against yourselves, nor against your children, nor against your servants, nor against your wealth — lest you coincide with a moment of divine response, and your prayer is answered.” (Narrated by Abu Dawood with a sound chain)
We also recall the story of Prophet Yaqub (Jacob), when he said to his sons about Joseph: “It grieves me that you should take him, and I fear that a wolf may devour him while you are unaware of him.” (Quran 12:13) They came to him in the evening and said: “The wolf has devoured him.” So he was tested from that very word.
And when he said to them about Benjamin, before their journey to Egypt: “I will not send him with you until you give me a solemn oath by Allah that you will bring him back to me, unless you are surrounded.” (Quran 12:66) He was surrounded and overcome — and they returned without him.
And Prophet Yusuf (Joseph), when he said during the trial with the wife of Al-Aziz: “My Lord, prison is more beloved to me than what they invite me to.” (Quran 12:33) — he was imprisoned for years.
The Prophet ﷺ visited a sick Bedouin and said: “No harm — it is purification, if Allah wills.” The man replied: “No! It is a burning fever, upon an old man — who is soon to visit the graves.” The Prophet ﷺ said: “Then so be it.” And the next morning, the Bedouin was found dead.
Ibn Al-Qayyim said: “I have seen many wishful people — their wishes, or part of them, came true.”
Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet ﷺ said: “There is no contagion, nor superstition — but I love good omens.” He was asked: “What is a good omen?” He replied: “A good word.”
So let your words be good — flowing from your tongue like those of one who trusts in Allah and what He holds. Do not attract evil with your words, as Yaqub and Yusuf did — and beware of what your tongue utters.
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