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. We must make sure that all of that which we speak in this world is limited to these three issues and if we fall out of this boundary, then we will incur a loss. If your words are good, you can earn rewards. But you can also utter words that make you lose the reward of your previous good deeds. Allah says:
فَإِنَّمَا يَسَّرْنَاهُ بِلِسَانِكَ لِتُبَشِّرَ بِهِ الْمُتَّقِينَ وَتُنذِرَ بِهِ قَوْمًا لُّدًّا
“We made the (Quran) easy in thine own tongue, that with it thou mayest give Glad Tidings to the righteous, and warnings to people given to contention.” (Surah Maryam 19:97)
Among the best characteristics of a Muslim is to speak only the words of goodness and reconciliation. Whoever does not keep a check on his tongue will regret it. More than anything else which is within the body of a person, it is the tongue that rules and controls one. The peculiarities that exist and which are limited to that person who has a tongue cannot be seen in any other body part nor any other creation. Allah says:
وَلَا تَقُولُوا لِمَا تَصِفُ أَلْسِنَتُكُمُ الْكَذِبَ هَٰذَا حَلَالٌ وَهَٰذَا حَرَامٌ لِّتَفْتَرُوا عَلَى اللَّهِ الْكَذِبَ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَفْتَرُونَ عَلَى اللَّهِ الْكَذِبَ لَا يُفْلِحُونَ
“And (do) not say for that which assert your tongues, the lie, “This (is) lawful and this (is) forbidden,” so that you invent about Allah the lie. Indeed, those who invent about Allah the lie, they will not succeed.” (Surah An-Nahl 16:116)
The gratitude that we should show for this great blessing should include, using it for obedience to Allah, for reading the Quran, for seeking Knowledge, to enjoin good and forbidding evil. The prohibitions of the tongue are that you do not lie, abuse, use foul language, backbite, and slander. The level of conversation judges its general standard and the extent that good virtues fuse in its environment.
Blessed is the man who speaks good and is triumphant, or keeps silent in the face of evil and is secure:
- Tongue spreading talk from one person to another
- Tongue hurting others through one’s speech
- Tongue disputes, quarrelling and arguing
- Tongue making up things while speaking
- Tongue arguing with others to find faults
- Tongue spreading secrets about others
- Tongue making others feel worthless
- Tongue picking apart a discussion
- Tongue involving himself in issues
- Tongue boasting about one’s self
- Tongue making false promises
- Tongue promote backbiting
- Tongue leads to going in lying
- Tongue speaking on vain issues
- Tongue arguing and quarrelling
- Tongue spreading evil, corruption
- Tongue hypocrisy in one’s speech
- Tongue excessively praising others
- Tongue speak what one knows with
- The tongue being side-lined in issues of life
- The tongue must be just like a drinking water
- The tongue being negligent of the specifics of an issue
We must realize through the misuse of the tongue that we can end up doing Gunaah-e-Kabira, for example lying. One of the remedies for getting rid of lying is to punish yourself whenever you utter such a statement. One needs to know the sins of the tongue could be small or enormous. Allah says:
فَإِنَّمَا يَسَّرْنَاهُ بِلِسَانِكَ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَذَكَّرُونَ
“Indeed, We have made it easy in your tongue so that they may take heed.” (Surah Ad-Dukhan 44:58 )
The tongue is a great blessing from Allah. If we look at the animals, who are unable to speak, we realize the importance of this great tool of communication. Our Holy Prophet Muhammad (s) educates us with good manners saying: Either you speak a useful and good word, or be silent which is better for you than speaking evil words. Allah says:
مَّا يَلْفِظُ مِن قَوْلٍ إِلَّا لَدَيْهِ رَقِيبٌ عَتِيدٌ
“Not a word does he (or she) utter, but there is a watcher by him ready (to record it).” (Quran 50:18)
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, the Exalted, says in The Holy Quran:
- “And untie (the) knot from my tongue.” (Surah Ta-Ha 20:27 )
- “And remove the impediment from my speech.” (Surah Ta-Ha, 27)
- “Not move with it your tongue to hasten with it.” (Surah Al-Qiyamah 75:16 )
- “Not a word is said except that there is a watcher by him ready to record it.” (Quran 50:18)
- “So have We made the (Quran) easy in thine own tongue, that with it thou mayest give Glad Tidings to the righteous, and warnings to people given to contention.” (Surah Maryam, 97)
- “It is a man that teaches him.” The tongue of him they wickedly point to is notably foreign, while this is Arabic, pure and clear.” (Surah An-Nahl, 103)
- “And this Book confirms (it) in the Arabic tongue; to admonish the unjust, and as Glad Tidings to those who do right.” (Surah Al-Ahqaf, 12)
- “And We bestowed of Our Mercy on them, and We granted them lofty honour on the tongue of truth.” (Surah Maryam, 50)
- “On the Day when their tongues, their hands, and their feet will bear witness against them as to their actions.” (Surah An-Nur, 24)
- “Verily, We have made this (Qur’an) easy, in thy tongue, so that they may give heed.” (Surah Ad-Dukhan, 58)
If a person is good, it reflects in their saying. Allah has made it very easy for the tongue to move. You are who your friends are. Surround yourself with good companies, those who won’t’ lure you to gossip about others. It’s impossible to badmouthing someone on your own, and all you need is a bad company, to begin with. Nobody knows you better than you are. Allah says:
وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا مِن رَّسُولٍ إِلَّا بِلِسَانِ قَوْمِهِ لِيُبَيِّنَ لَهُمْ فَيُضِلُّ اللَّهُ مَن يَشَاءُ وَيَهْدِي مَن يَشَاءُ وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ
“And not We sent any Messenger except with the language (of) his people so that he might make clear for them. Then Allah lets go astray whom He wills and guides whom He wills. And He (is) the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.” (Surah Ibrahim 14:4 )
You can use your tongue to show obedience to Allah, seeking knowledge, doing good deeds, and forbidding evil deeds. Do everything necessary to avoid sinning with your tongue. For example, you can set a rule for yourself. Pay a certain amount of money whenever you use your tongue badly. The money later can use for charity purposes. Allah says:
وَلَا تَقْفُ مَا لَيْسَ لَكَ بِهِ عِلْمٌ إِنَّ السَّمْعَ وَالْبَصَرَ وَالْفُؤَادَ كُلُّ أُولَٰئِكَ كَانَ عَنْهُ مَسْئُولًا
“And (do) not pursue what not you have of it any knowledge. Indeed, the hearing, and the sight, and the heart all those will be [about it] questioned.” (Surah Al-Isra` 17:36 )
The tongue is the most dangerous part of the body. You can either enter the Jannah of burning in the Hellfire through your tongue. It is said that the tongue is sharper than the blade. One thing to consider and accept is that verbal abuse is done from both sides of the relationship. Wives often are quick to verbally abuse their husbands and not only them but involve all his family in their harsh words. 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 is a great blessing from Allah. If we look at the animals, who are unable to speak, we realize the importance of this great tool of communication. We should not do what we would hate others to do against them, and we should spend our time fruitfully engaged in acts of obedience. We should regret acts of backbiting that we may have done before and repent to Allah The Almighty sincerely.
