The tongue plays a more important part in your success than you can ever imagine. You can use your tongue to show obedience to Allah, seek knowledge, do good deeds, and forbid evil deeds. It is better to remain silent if you cannot speak the word of goodness. The tongue is a great endowment of Allah which may be used to praise and thank Him for which one earns a reward. We ask Allah to make us among those who deliver what is best and change our reality with kindness. Allah says:
وَلَقَدْ نَعْلَمُ أَنَّهُمْ يَقُولُونَ إِنَّمَا يُعَلِّمُهُ بَشَرٌ لِّسَانُ الَّذِي يُلْحِدُونَ إِلَيْهِ أَعْجَمِيٌّ وَهَٰذَا لِسَانٌ عَرَبِيٌّ مُّبِينٌ
“And certainly We know that they say, “Only teaches him a human being.” (The) tongue (of) the one they refer to him (is) foreign while this (is) a language Arabic clear.” (Surah An-Nahl 16:103 )
The tongue has a similar structure to the heart, which is only a small part, boneless flesh. However, the tongue is very dangerous as it kills harder than the blade. You are in full liberty on how would you use your tongue for. You can speak the blessing of Allah or else badmouthing someone through it. It will show your quality as a Muslim to others. The wounds of a sword may heal one day; the wounds of the tongue, they never may. Allah says:
فَإِنَّمَا يَسَّرْنَاهُ بِلِسَانِكَ لِتُبَشِّرَ بِهِ الْمُتَّقِينَ وَتُنذِرَ بِهِ قَوْمًا لُّدًّا
“So, only We (have) made it easy in your tongue, that you may give glad tidings with it (to) the righteous and warn with it a people hostile.” (Surah Maryam, 19:97)
The tongue is the mirror of your heart. Who you truly are is expressed through the tongue. You can either show yourself as a good or bad person. Indeed, every part of our body contains the blessing of Allah, and you must show your gratitude by using it well. The tongue can be used for many good deeds and for seeking the blessing of Allah.
Here is some importance of Tongue in Islam:
- Tongue spreading talk from one person to another
- Tongue hurting others through one’s speech
- Tongue disputes, quarrelling and arguing
- Tongue arguing with others to find faults
- Tongue spreading secrets about others
- Tongue making others feel worthless
- Tongue picking apart a discussion
- Tongue boasting about one’s self
- Tongue making false promises
- Tongue promote backbiting
- Tongue leads to going in lying
- Tongue arguing and quarrelling
- Tongue speaking on vain issues
- Tongue spreading evil, corruption
- Tongue hypocrisy in one’s speech
- Tongue involving himself in issues
- Tongue excessively praising others
- Tongue speaks what one knows with
- The tongue is a great blessing from Allah
- Tongue making up things while speaking
A tongue can create many sins, among them could be hard to be forgiven. When you use your tongue wrongly, not only you will commit sins but also cause harm to others. A tongue can either cause a Muslim to be burned in Hellfire or enter the Jannah with ease. A person with a sharp tongue can easily hurt you with a few words, which leave your heart scarred. You might remember those words two decades later. Allah says:
إِذْ تَلَقَّوْنَهُ بِأَلْسِنَتِكُمْ وَتَقُولُونَ بِأَفْوَاهِكُم مَّا لَيْسَ لَكُم بِهِ عِلْمٌ وَتَحْسَبُونَهُ هَيِّنًا وَهُوَ عِندَ اللَّهِ عَظِيمٌ
“When you received it with your tongues and you said with your mouths whatnot for you of it any knowledge, and you thought it (was) insignificant, while it (was) near Allah great.” (Surah An-Nur 24:15)
If a person is good, it reflects in their saying. Allah has made it very easy for the tongue to move, and it is not difficult to realize that a person’s tongue moves much more as if compared to the limbs. So if a person is not careful about what he says, even a single saying of his can invalidate his actions. It is for this reason that the whole body warns the tongue.
Allah Almighty says in The Holy Quran:
- “And a tongue, and a pair of lips?” (Al-Balad, 9)
- “In the perspicuous Arabic tongue.” ( Quran 195)
- “And untie (the) knot from my tongue.” (Quran 20:27)
- “Not move with it your tongue to hasten with it.” (Quran 75:16)
- “And remove the impediment from my speech.” (Surah Ta-Ha, 27)
- “Indeed, We have made it easy in your tongue so that they may take heed.” (Dukhan 44:58)
- “Not a word is said except that there is a watcher by him ready to record it.” (Quran 50:18)
- “Verily, We have made this (Qur’an) easy, in thy tongue, so that they may give heed.” (Surah Ad-Dukhan, 58)
Thinking before speaking is the wisest advice a Muslim can get. It has become a very bad habit for anyone to snap quickly whenever others speak, not knowing whether something they’re going to speak is the appropriate one or not. If you have a sound heart your words will be full of goodness and kindness. If your heart is full of sins and grudges, then your words are bitter and sharper than a knife. If your words are good, you can earn rewards.
Controlling the Tongue – the Mirror of your Heart:
- The tongue is a flame of fire, you will be responsible for every word
- The tongue is a tiny spark that can set a great forest on fire
- The greatest danger of a human being lies in his tongue
- The tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches
- The tongue is restless and evil, keep yourself reminded
- The tongue is the reflection of your heart
- Apologize when you make a mistake
- Careful in speaking and using his tongue
- Speak only the words of goodness and reconciliation
- Every word is recorded, you spoke through your tongue
- No one can tame the tongue that is a tool to harm others
- Keep yourself reminded not to commit sin through your tongue
- Do everything necessary to avoid committing sin with your tongue
The tongue has either power of good or bad. Allah has ordained Muslims not to belittle the value of his words, and not to utter words of no use or have no control over his speech or his ability to foresee the repercussions of his saying. Islam gave attentive care to the manner of speech and the way it functions, as the word coming out indicates an individual’s level of intellect and manners. Allah says:
وَيَجْعَلُونَ لِلَّهِ مَا يَكْرَهُونَ وَتَصِفُ أَلْسِنَتُهُمُ الْكَذِبَ أَنَّ لَهُمُ الْحُسْنَىٰ لَا جَرَمَ أَنَّ لَهُمُ النَّارَ وَأَنَّهُم مُّفْرَطُونَ
“And they assign to Allah what they dislike and assert their tongues the lie that for them (is) the best. No doubt that for them (is) the Fire and that they (will) be abandoned.” (Surah An-Nahl, 5:62)
The importance of the tongue is really high in Islam since it may bring big consequences when you can’t use your tongue wisely. If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honourable life, and doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. As the tongue possess a big power with it, use your tongue only for good and when doing good. Allah says:
وَأَخِي هَارُونُ هُوَ أَفْصَحُ مِنِّي لِسَانًا فَأَرْسِلْهُ مَعِيَ رِدْءًا يُصَدِّقُنِي إِنِّي أَخَافُ أَن يُكَذِّبُونِ
“And my brother Harun, he (is) more eloquent than me (in) speech, so send him with me (as) a helper, who will confirm Indeed, I fear that they will deny me.” (Surah Al-Qasas 28:34)
Blessed is the man who speaks good and is triumphant, or keeps silent in the face of evil and is secure. We should use our speech in useful ways; not to speak but goodness. Hence your words will be acceptable to Allah and the people because your speech is beneficial in guiding towards goodness or reconciling people, or teaching useful knowledge, and will increase the love of people for each other. Keep your tongue busy with the remembrance of Allah.
