In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

The Tongue (In the Light of Hadith)

“Hazrat Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: From the excellence and perfection of a man is that he leaves what does not concern him.” (Jami‘ al-Tirmidhi)

“Hazrat Sahl bin Sa‘d (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: Whoever guarantees for me what is between his two jaws and what is between his two legs (that is, he will not misuse the tongue and the private parts), I guarantee Paradise for him.” (Sahih al-Bukhari)

“Hazrat Harith bin Hisham (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that he said to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ: Tell me something which I may hold firmly. He ﷺ pointed toward his blessed tongue and said: Keep this under your control.” (Tabarani)

“Hazrat ‘Uqbah bin ‘Amir (may Allah be pleased with him) says: I said: O Messenger of Allah ﷺ, what is the way to salvation? He ﷺ said: Restrain your tongue, remain in your home (do not wander outside unnecessarily), and weep over your sins.” (Jami‘ al-Tirmidhi)

To keep the tongue under control means that it should not be misused—for example, backbiting, tale-bearing, speaking obscene words, speaking unnecessarily, speaking without caution, engaging in indecent talk, quarrelling, abusing, cursing humans or animals, remaining constantly occupied with poetry, mocking others, disclosing secrets, making false promises, taking false oaths, speaking with double meaning, praising someone without reason, and asking unnecessary questions.

“Hazrat Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: The one whom Allah protects from the evils of the limbs between the two jaws and between the two legs—that is, the tongue and the private parts—will enter Paradise.” (Jami‘ al-Tirmidhi)

“Hazrat Abu Sa‘id al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: When a person awakens in the morning, all the limbs of his body humble themselves before the tongue and say: Fear Allah regarding us, for our affair is attached to you; if you remain upright, we will remain upright, and if you become crooked, we will also become crooked (and the punishment will follow).” (Jami‘ al-Tirmidhi)

“Hazrat Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was asked: Which deed will cause people to enter Paradise most frequently? He ﷺ said: Taqwa (fear of Allah) and good character. And he ﷺ was asked: Which deed will cause people to enter Hell most frequently? He ﷺ said: The mouth and the private parts.” (Jami‘ al-Tirmidhi)

“Hazrat Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) says: I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ saying: Most of a person’s mistakes occur because of his tongue.” (Tabarani)