What Islam Says about the Tongue
So like other parts of the body, we should take care of the tongue to avoid committing sins. It is no different from other parts of the body in this regard, except for that most people do not take the sins of the tongue seriously while the negative effects of the sins committed by the tongue can be even more harmful than those committed by other parts.
The tongue is a divine blessing given to us by God, like other divine blessings, so that we may use it on the path of growth and perfection. A wise person makes the best use of this blessing, which, according to Verses 1-4 of Surah Ar-Rahman, is the highest blessing given to mankind by God after teaching the Quran and creation of mankind: “The Beneficent (God) has taught the Quran. He created the human being, and has taught him intelligible speech.”
As a powerful means of communication and conveying messages, the tongue plays a pivotal role in formation of social and moral relationships. But if it is not used properly, it can become a means of harm and damage social relationships.
The dangers and harms of the tongue, that is, the harms caused by the misuse of the tongue, can damage social morality in various ways and lead the society to disorder.
The tongue is not only a means of conveying messages but also a reflection of one’s thoughts, feelings and intentions. Words can be both a healing and a deadly poison. The choice of words, the tone of voice and the way the words are articulated can all affect the recipient’s understanding of our message. Misuse of the tongue can lead to misunderstanding, discord, hatred and even violence.
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The harms of the tongue are not limited to lying but include a wide range of behaviors such as slander, backbiting, gossip, insult, contempt, provocation, etc. Each of these behaviors somehow undermines the moral foundations of the society and damages relationships between people.
In a healthy society, the proper use of the tongue means sincere expression of thoughts and feelings, respecting the rights of others, avoiding any ugly and improper words, and striving to create understanding and sympathy.
When people, instead of using the tongue for constructive and effective communication, use it as a means of destruction and harm to others, social morality is endangered and the society faces serious challenges.
Therefore, being aware of the dangers and harms of the tongue and making efforts to correct one’s words is one of the main responsibilities of every person in society. By training the tongue as a means of goodness and virtue, we can help build a healthier and more humane society. In the following articles, some of the sins related to the tongue according to the Islamic thought are introduced.
