The Tongue:The Organ That Makes You Or Breaks You

by Muddasir Masihuddin

In the science of Islamic spirituality, our Scholars say that the tongue is the heart's mirror. If the heart is corrupt, then the tongue will reflect this corruption in speech. And, if the tongue is pure, then the tongue will reflect this purity in speech.

Our beloved Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم said “He who believes in Allah and the Last Day must either speak good or remain silent’’. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم also said in another hadith that, “If a man avoids disputing when he is in the wrong, God builds for him a mansion in the middle part of paradise. And if a man avoids disputing when he is in the right, God builds for him a mansion in highest part of paradise’’.

SubhanAllah, this is the magnitude of importance Islam has placed on maintaining a tongue that is free of blame and falsehood.

In the light of these ahadith, it’s a moral responsibility to know how people must use their tongue,especially in this era where immorality blends in as so called "modernization".

How often do we ridicule someone without any knowledge of his/her background? And how often do we curse or use slang without even realizing that it doesn’t affect anyone but our own souls?

How many of us are guilty of imitating and mocking someone?

The tongue is the organ which can give us the utmost happiness and respect and it is the same organ which can lead to self-destruction in this world and the next. Imam Al-Ghazali, a master theologian, identifies 8 common diseases of the tongue in his book, ‘’Revival of Religious Sciences’’. They are: Lying, Breaking Promises, Backbiting, Wrangling, Self-praising, Cursing, Invoking, Ridiculing or scoffing.

Arrogance, pride, envy and jealousy are characteristics almost each and every one of us has experienced causing us to act and speak that which has grave consequences. What we must know is that the root of such immoralities dwells in a heart which has little or no Imaan (Faith).

Allah says in the Quran, "...Let not a group or a community scoff at another group, it may be that the latter are better than the former...'' (49:11).

Nowadays people assume that they will achieve a high status through criticism and foul language, but unfortunately they are losing their love in the eyes of Allah and are actually suffering from a vicious illusion of the Truth.

Let us not forget that arrogance even if it may be as tiny as the weight of a mustard-seed; will never let us even smell Paradise.

It is said that the best Muslim is the one who helps other Muslims, and the one from whom the Muslims benefit and feel protected. In this respect our beloved Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said, when he was asked which Muslim is better."One from whose tongue and hand the Muslims feel safe."

Reflecting on this hadith, how many of us can testify that we actually feel safe from one another, and how many have we saved from our bickering, mockery and criticism?

Allah says in Surah Al-Nur : "On the Day their tongues, their hands, and their feet will bear witness against them as to their actions." (24:24).

Today, in a world where we are so busy indulged in mockery, falsehood and immorality, How many of us can testify that we are the best of Muslims?

Dear Brothers and sisters in Islam, let us grab hold of our lives and change for the better, it’s never too late to change, and it’s never too late to repent.

Let us begin by being conscious of the fact that Allah (swt) sees our every thought and action. Allah has stated in the Quran, that indeed it is only in the remembrance of Him where hearts find tranquility. So let’s moisten our tongues through His remembrance, purify our hearts and be humble when we speak to one another. Let us Respect one another because we share the same kalimah, “Ashadu anna la ilaha illa Allah, wa ashadu anna Muhammad Rasuul Allah”

We are well aware that our speech and our actions is what we will be judged according to on the day of judgment. A true believer is he who uses his tongue to invite people to Islam, who speaks with love and respect, who does not backbite and criticize, and above all who speaks the truth and who guards his tongue from falsehood.

I would like to end with a dua for every Muslim brother and sister, “May Allah (swt) purify our hearts, and give us the ability to speak the best of words so that we may be successful in this world and the next, and that we may return to our Lord with bright faces and cheerful smiles, basking in the glory that awaits those who purify themselves for the sake of God”

Ameen.

Posted in: dhikr,Islam,Lifestyle,Reflections,Reminders,Spirituality