Source: Sermons of Hafiz Muhammad Ishaq Zahid, compiled by: Tauheed.com
Language is one of the great blessings of Allah Almighty. Man has been bestowed with countless blessings, but the blessing that most affects a person’s personality, actions, morals, character, and outcome is the “tongue.” A person’s success and failure, honor and disgrace, good and evil often originate from this organ. In this article, the reality of the tongue, its responsibilities, and the harms caused by its misuse will be explained in detail.
Allah, the Lord of Glory, has given man the best creation, provided eyes for seeing, a tongue for speaking, and lips for expression. The Holy Quran describes this blessing as follows:
﴿اَلَمْ نَجْعَلْ لَّـهٗ عَيْنَيْنِۙ٭ وَلِسَانًا وَّشَفَتَيْنِۙ﴾
Translation:
“Did We not make for him two eyes, a tongue, and two lips?”
The proper use of the tongue is a requirement of faith. Allah Almighty has commanded the believers to speak straight, truthful, and correct words:
﴿يٰٓاَيُّهَا الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللّٰهَ وَقُوْلُوْا قَوْلًا سَدِيْدًاۙ٭ يُّصْلِحْ لَكُمْ اَعْمَالَكُمْ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوْبَكُمْۗ﴾
Translation:
“O you who have believed! Fear Allah and speak words of appropriate justice. He will amend your deeds and forgive your sins.”
This verse states two commands:
➊ Fear Allah
➋ Speak straight and truthful words
And their two great fruits:
➊ Correction of deeds
➋ Forgiveness of sins
The Tongue — The Center of Reform and Corruption
The Holy Prophet ﷺ explained the importance of the tongue and its effects in a very comprehensive manner. He ﷺ said:
( إِذَا أَصْبَحَ ابْنُ آدَمَ فَإِنَّ الْأَعْضَاءَ كُلَّهَا تُكَفِّرُ اللِّسَانَ… )
Translation:
“When the son of Adam wakes up in the morning, all his limbs humbly say to the tongue: Fear Allah concerning us, for we are tied to you. If you are straight, we will be straight, and if you are crooked, we will be crooked.”
From this hadith, it is understood that the reform of the entire body is connected to the tongue.
Words from the Tongue — Cause of Paradise or Hell
The Prophet ﷺ said:
( إِنَّ الْعَبْدَ لَيَتَكَلَّمُ بِالْكَلِمَةِ… )
Translation:
“A person utters a word seeking Allah’s pleasure, which he does not even care about, yet Allah elevates his ranks because of it. And a person utters a word that displeases Allah, which he also does not care about, and because of it, he falls into Hell.”
In another hadith with the same meaning:
( إِنَّ أَحَدَکُمْ لَیَتَکَلَّمُ بِالْکَلِمَۃِ مِنْ رِضْوَانِ اللّٰہِ مَا یَظُنُّ أَنْ تَبْلُغَ مَا بَلَغَتْ ، فَیَکْتُبُ اللّٰہُ لَہُ بِہَا رِضْوَانَہُ إِلٰی یَوْمِ یَلْقَاہُ ، وَإِنَّ أَحَدَکُمْ لَیَتَکَلَّمُ بِالْکَلِمَۃِ مِنْ سَخَطِ اللّٰہِ مَا یَظُنُّ أَنْ تَبْلُغَ مَا بَلَغَتْ ، فَیَکْتُبُ اللّٰہُ عَلَیْہِ بِہَا سَخَطَہُ إِلٰی یَوْمِ یَلْقَاہُ )
Translation:
“A person sometimes utters a word that pleases Allah, not realizing how far it reaches; Allah records His pleasure for him until the Day of Judgment. And sometimes a person utters a word that displeases Allah, and Allah records His displeasure upon him until the Day of Judgment.”
One Word — Leading to Paradise or Hell
The Prophet ﷺ said:
( إِنَّ الْعَبْدَ لَیَتَکَلَّمُ بِالْکَلِمَۃِ ، مَا یَتَبَیَّنُ مَا فِیْہَا ،یَہْوِیْ بِہَا فِی النَّارِ أَبْعَدَ مَا بَیْنَ الْمَشْرِقِ وَالْمَغْرِبِ )
Translation:
“A person utters a word whose consequence he is unaware of, yet it throws him into Hell deeper than the distance between the east and the west.”
That is why Abdullah ibn Mas’ud رضي الله عنه used to hold his tongue and say:
“O tongue! Speak good and you will gain benefit, and remain silent from evil and you will find safety.”
Then it is said:
The Prophet ﷺ said:
( أَكْثَرُ خَطَايَا ابْنِ آدَمَ فِي لِسَانِهِ )
Translation:
“Most of the mistakes of the son of Adam are from his tongue.”
The First Calamity of the Tongue
➊ Speaking words of polytheism
The gravest sin is that a person calls upon anyone other than Allah with his tongue, seeks help from them, or attributes qualities to them that Allah has not given to anyone. This is shirk (polytheism), and shirk destroys all good deeds.
The Second Calamity of the Tongue
➋ Lying about Allah
The Holy Quran says:
﴿وَلَا تَقُولُوا لِمَا تَصِفُ اَلْسِنَتُكُمُ الْكَذِبَ…﴾
Translation:
“Do not say about what your tongues assert falsely, ‘This is lawful and this is unlawful,’ to invent a lie against Allah. Those who invent lies against Allah will not succeed. They will have little benefit in this world, but a painful punishment in the Hereafter.”
Similarly, He said:
﴿…وَأَنْ تَقُولُوا عَلَى اللّٰهِ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ﴾
Translation:
“And that you say about Allah what you do not know.”
The Third Calamity of the Tongue
➌ Mocking Allah, the Messenger ﷺ, or the Quran
The Quran states:
﴿قُلْ أَبِاللّٰهِ وَآيَاتِهِ وَرَسُولِهِ كُنْتُمْ تَسْتَهْزِئُونَ…﴾
Translation:
“Say: Did you mock Allah, His verses, and His Messenger? Make no excuse; you have disbelieved after you had believed.”
The Fourth Calamity of the Tongue
➍ Lying about the Messenger of Allah ﷺ
The Prophet ﷺ said:
( إِنَّ کَذِبًا عَلَیَّ لَیْسَ کَکَذِبٍ عَلٰی أَحَدٍ ، مَنْ کَذَبَ عَلَیَّ مُتَعَمِّدًا فَلْیَتَبَوَّأْ مَقْعَدَہُ مِنَ النَّارِ )
Translation:
“Whoever lies about me, let him prepare his place in Hell.”
Another hadith:
( مَن یَّقُلْ عَلَیَّ مَا لَمْ أَقُلْ ، فَلْیَتَبَوَّأْ مَقْعَدَہُ مِنَ النَّارِ )
Translation:
“Whoever attributes to me something which I have not said, let him prepare his place in Hell.”
The Prophet ﷺ said:
( مَنْ حَدَّثَ عَنِّي… )
Translation:
“Whoever narrates a hadith which he knows to be false is one of the liars.”
The Fifth Calamity of the Tongue
➎ Swearing by anything other than Allah
Oaths can only be sworn by Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. Swearing by anything other than Allah is religiously forbidden.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
( لَا تَحْلِفُوا بِآبَائِكُمْ وَلَا بِأُمَّهَاتِكُمْ… )
Translation:
“Do not swear by your fathers, nor by your mothers, nor by partners. Swear only by Allah, and swear by Allah only when you are truthful.”
The Sixth Calamity of the Tongue
➏ Lying in general conversation
Lying is one of the great calamities of the tongue, and it is also a sign of hypocrisy.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:
( عَلَيْكُمْ بِالصِّدْقِ… )
Translation:
“Always speak the truth, for truth leads to righteousness, and righteousness leads to Paradise. A person continues to speak the truth until he is recorded with Allah as a truthful one.”
Then he said:
Translation:
“Avoid lying, for lying leads to sin, and sin leads to Hell. A person continues to lie until he is recorded with Allah as a liar.”
The Prophet ﷺ described the signs of a hypocrite as:
( آيَةُ الْمُنَافِقِ ثَلَاثٌ… )
Translation:
“A hypocrite has three signs:
When he speaks, he lies,
When he makes a promise, he breaks it,
And when he is entrusted, he betrays.”
Punishment for Spreading Lies — Prophetic Hadith ﷺ
Samrah bin Jundub رضي الله عنه narrated a long hadith in which the Prophet ﷺ described an incident of a dream and said:
( فَإِنَّہُ الرَّجُلُ یَغْدُوْ مِنْ بَیْتِہٖ فَیَکْذِبُ الْکِذْبَۃَ تَبْلُغُ الْآفَاقَ )
Translation:
“This is the person who leaves the house in the morning, lies, and that lie spreads throughout the world. He will be punished with this until the Day of Judgment.”
In today’s era, spreading lies on social media has become extremely common, while its warning is very severe.
The Seventh Calamity of the Tongue
➐ Giving False Testimony
The Prophet ﷺ counted it among the major sins.
Hazrat Abu Bakrah رضي الله عنه narrates:
( أَلَا أُنَبِّئُكُمْ بِأَكْبَرِ الْكَبَائِرِ؟ )
Translation:
“Shall I not tell you about the greatest of the major sins?
Associating partners with Allah and disobedience to parents.”
Then the Prophet ﷺ sat up straight and said three times:
Translation:
“Beware! Avoid false speech and false testimony.”
The Eighth Calamity of the Tongue
➑ Selling goods by swearing falsely and showing off favors
The Prophet ﷺ said:
( ثَلَاثَةٌ لَا يُكَلِّمُهُمُ اللّٰهُ… )
Translation:
“There are three types of people from whom Allah will neither speak on the Day of Judgment, nor look at them, nor purify them, and for them is a painful punishment:
① One who lets his garment hang below the ankles,
② One who shows off his favors,
③ One who sells goods by swearing falsely.”
Ninth Calamity of the Tongue
➒ Lying to make people laugh
Nowadays this calamity is common — lying in the name of humor, jokes, and entertainment.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
( وَیْلٌ لِلَّذِیْ یُحَدِّثُ بِالْحَدِیْثِ لِیُضْحِکَ بِہِ الْقَوْمَ فَیَکْذِبُ ، وَیْلٌ لَہُ ، وَیْلٌ لَہُ )
Translation:
“Destruction is for the person who tells lies to make people laugh. Destruction, destruction is for him.”
Tenth Calamity of the Tongue
➓ Mocking or calling by bad nicknames
The Holy Quran says:
﴿لَا يَسْخَرْ قَوْمٌ مِّنْ قَوْمٍ…﴾
Translation:
“O believers! Let no people ridicule another people; perhaps they may be better than them. Nor let women ridicule other women; perhaps they may be better than them. Do not defame one another, nor call each other by offensive nicknames.”
Eleventh Calamity of the Tongue
⑪ Backbiting
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ described backbiting as follows:
( إِنْ کَانَ فِیْہِ مَا تَقُولُ فَقَدِ اغْتَبْتَہُ ، وَإِنْ لَّمْ یَکُنْ فِیْہِ فَقَدْ بَہَتَّہُ )
Translation:
“To mention your brother in a way that he dislikes. If there is truth in it, then it is backbiting, and if not, then it is slander.”
The Holy Quran states:
﴿أَيُحِبُّ أَحَدُكُمْ أَنْ يَأْكُلَ لَحْمَ أَخِيهِ مَيْتًا…﴾
Translation:
“Would any of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? You would hate it.”
The Prophet ﷺ said:
Translation:
“Whoever eats the flesh of his brother in this world (i.e., backbites), on the Day of Judgment he will be commanded to eat dead flesh.”
The Prophet ﷺ further said:
( یَا مَعْشَرَ مَنْ آمَنَ بِلِسَانِہٖ وَلَمْ یَدْخُلِ الْإِیْمَانُ قَلْبَہُ ! لَا تَغْتَابُوا الْمُسْلِمِیْنَ ، وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوْا عَوْرَاتِہِمْ ، فَإِنَّہُ مَنِ اتَّبَعَ عَوْرَاتِہِمْ یَتَّبَعِ اللّٰہُ عَزَّوَجَلَّ عَوْرَتَہُ ،وَمَنْ یَّتَّبِعِ اللّٰہُ عَوْرَتَہُ یَفْضَحْہُ فِیْ بَیْتِہٖ )
Translation:
“O you who have believed with your tongues but faith has not entered your hearts! Do not backbite the Muslims, nor seek out their faults. Whoever seeks out the faults of Muslims, Allah will expose his faults and disgrace him at home.”
In another hadith, it is stated:
Translation:
“I passed by some people whose nails were made of copper and they were scratching their faces and chests. Jibreel informed me: These are the ones who used to backbite people.”
The Twelfth Calamity of the Tongue
⑫ Backbiting (Gossiping)
Backbiting causes discord, fights, and hatred.
The Prophet ﷺ passed by two graves and said:
(إِنَّہُمَا لَیُعَذَّبَانِ ، وَمَا یُعَذَّبَانِ فِیْ کَبِیْرٍ وَإِنَّہُ لَکَبِیْرٌ ، أَمَّا أَحَدُہُمَا فَکَانَ یَمْشِیْ بِالنَّمِیْمَۃِ ، وَأَمَّا الْآخَرُ فَکَانَ لَا یَسْتَنْزِہُ مِنْ بَوْلِہٖ )
Translation:
“Both of them are being punished. One used to backbite, and the other did not keep himself clean from urine.”
The Prophet ﷺ said:
( لَا یَدْخُلُ الْجَنَّۃَ قَتَّاتٌ )
Translation:
“A backbiter will not enter Paradise.”
The Thirteenth Calamity of the Tongue
⑬ Using Abusive Language and Cursing
In Islam, it is strictly forbidden to abuse a Muslim. This is a calamity of the tongue that creates hatred, resentment, and enmity in hearts.
The Noble Prophet ﷺ said:
( سِبَابُ الْمُسْلِمِ فُسُوقٌ، وَقِتَالُهُ كُفْرٌ )
Translation:
“Abusing a Muslim is wickedness, and fighting with him is disbelief.”
In another hadith, he said:
( لَيْسَ الْمُؤْمِنُ بِالطَّعَّانِ، وَلَا اللَّعَّانِ، وَلَا الْفَاحِشِ، وَلَا الْبَذِيءِ )
Translation:
“A believer is neither excessively abusive, nor one who curses, nor shameless, nor obscene.”
The Fourteenth Calamity of the Tongue
⑭ Cursing
Cursing means invoking a prayer for being distanced from Allah’s mercy. The Prophet ﷺ declared cursing to be an extremely severe sin.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:
( وَمَنْ لَعَنَ مُؤْمِنًا فَهُوَ كَقَتْلِهِ… )
Translation:
“Whoever curses a believer, it is as if he has killed him. And whoever accuses a believer of disbelief, it is also like killing him.”
In another hadith, he said:
( إِنَّ الْعَبْدَ إِذَا لَعَنَ شَیْئًا صَعِدَتِ اللَّعْنَۃُ إِلَی السَّمَائِ ، فَتُغْلَقُ أَبْوَابُ السَّمَائِ دُوْنَہَا ، ثُمَّ تَہْبِطُ إِلَی الْأرْضِ فَتُغْلَقُ أَبْوَابُہَا دُوْنَہَا ، ثُمَّ تَأْخُذُ یَمِیْنًا وَشِمَالًا ، فَإِذَا لَمْ تَجِدْ مَسَاغًا رَجَعَتْ إِلَی الَّذِیْ لُعِنَ ، فَإِنْ کَانَ لِذَلِکَ أَہْلًا وَإِلَّا رَجَعَتْ إِلٰی قَائِلِہَا )
Translation:
“When a person curses something, the curse ascends to the sky, but the gates of the sky are closed. Then it comes down to the earth, but the gates of the earth are also closed. Then it wanders around; if it finds no way, it goes to the one who was cursed. If he deserves it, then it is accepted; otherwise, it returns to the one who cursed.”
Cursing Parents is a Major Sin
The Prophet ﷺ said:
( یَسُبُّ الرَّجُلُ أَبَا الرَّجُلِ فَیَسُبُّ أَبَاہُ ، وَیَسُبُّ أُمَّہُ فَیَسُبُّ أُمَّہُ )
Translation:
“One of the greatest major sins is that a person curses his parents.”
It was asked: How does a person curse his parents?
He ﷺ said:
Translation:
“When he insults someone’s father, in response, that person insults his father. When he insults someone’s mother, that person insults his mother.”
The Fifteenth Calamity of the Tongue
⑮ Slander
Accusing someone without evidence is called slander, and it is a major sin.
Allah Almighty says:
﴿اِنَّ الَّذِيْنَ يَرْمُوْنَ الْمُحْصَنٰتِ الْغٰفِلٰتِ الْمُؤْمِنٰتِ…﴾
Translation:
“Those who accuse chaste, innocent believing women are cursed in this world and the Hereafter, and for them is a great punishment.”
Similarly, He said:
﴿وَالَّذِيْنَ يَرْمُوْنَ الْمُحْصَنٰتِ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَأْتُوْا بِاَرْبَعَةِ شُهَدَآءَ…﴾
Translation:
“And those who accuse chaste women and do not bring four witnesses, lash them eighty lashes and never accept their testimony; indeed, they are the defiantly disobedient. Except for those who repent thereafter and reform, for Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.”
Conclusion — Why is it necessary to protect the tongue?
The Prophet ﷺ prayed that Allah protect us from the calamities of the tongue. This is also our prayer that Allah save us from all those slips mentioned in the verses and hadiths.
Second Sermon — Further Commands on Protecting the Tongue
The Holy Prophet ﷺ said:
( مَنْ كَانَ يُؤْمِنُ بِاللّٰهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ فَلْيَقُلْ خَيْرًا أَوْ لِيَصْمُتْ )
Translation:
“Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should speak good or remain silent.”
The Best Use of the Tongue is the Remembrance of Allah
A companion said that the commands of Shariah have become too many for me; please tell me an act that I can firmly hold onto.
You ﷺ said:
( لَا يَزَالُ لِسَانُكَ رَطْبًا بِذِكْرِ اللّٰهِ )
Translation:
“Let your tongue always be moist with the remembrance of Allah.”
The Prophet ﷺ said:
( مَنْ صَمَتَ نَجَا )
Translation:
“He who remains silent is saved.”
The Treasure of Good Deeds and the Destruction Caused by the Tongue
The Prophet ﷺ was informed that a woman performed many good deeds — Tahajjud, fasting, charity — but caused harm to her neighbors with her tongue.
He ﷺ said:
Translation:
“There is no good in her; she is among the people of Hell.”
Whereas another woman performed fewer good deeds but did not harm anyone.
He ﷺ said:
Translation:
“She is among the people of Paradise.”
The Standard of Excellence in Islam
The Holy Prophet ﷺ said:
( الْمُسْلِمُ مَنْ سَلِمَ الْمُسْلِمُوْنَ مِنْ لِسَانِهِ وَيَدِهِ )
Translation:
“A Muslim is one from whose tongue and hand other Muslims are safe.”
The Tongue — The Greatest Cause of Being Thrown into Hell
The famous incident of Hazrat Mu’adh bin Jabal (RA):
The Prophet ﷺ said:
( ثَكِلَتْكَ أُمُّكَ يَا مُعَاذُ! وَهَلْ يَكُبُّ النَّاسَ فِي النَّارِ عَلَى وُجُوهِهِمْ إِلَّا حَصَائِدُ أَلْسِنَتِهِمْ؟ )
Translation:
“O Mu’adh! May your mother weep for you! People are thrown onto their faces into Hell solely because of what their tongues have earned.”
The Prophet ﷺ said:
( مَنْ وَقَاهُ اللّٰهُ شَرَّ مَا بَيْنَ لَحْيَيْهِ… )
Translation:
“Whoever Allah protects from the evil of the tongue and the private parts, he will enter Paradise.”
❀ Conclusion
The tongue is both a means of good and a gateway to evil. A person can become deserving of Paradise through his tongue or fuel for Hell. Therefore, it is necessary that:
◈ A person protects his tongue
◈ Speaks truthfully and straightforwardly
◈ Avoids unnecessary talk
◈ Completely refrains from backbiting, gossip, lying, slander, and cursing
◈ Avoids every word that wounds hearts or harms someone’s honor
◈ Speaks only words that please Allah
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“He who guarantees protection of his tongue and private parts, I guarantee Paradise for him.”
In the end, we pray to Allah Almighty to grant us the ability to protect our tongues, use them correctly, and save them from all harms.
Ameen, O Lord of the Worlds.
