How Does the Tongue Fast?
الحمد لله رب العالمين والصلاة والسلام على سيد المرسلين وعلى آله وأصحابه أجمعين
The topic of tonight’s reflection is about fasting of the tongue. How does the tongue fast? The fasting of the tongue is an important feature of Ramadan, meaning that the tongue is disciplined during Ramadan. How should we use this amazing instrument and organ of speech?
It is the capacity to speak that allows us to communicate with our Creator through our prayers, supplications, repentance, and constant remembrance of Him. It allows us to recite the Quran, to communicate with each other, to give good advice, to soothe and comfort those in pain, to urge people to do good and forbid them from doing evil. It is through our ability to speak that we greet each other, thank each other, disseminate knowledge and engage in da’wah activities.
We are responsible for what we look at, what we listen to, what we say, and what we do, for Allah has shown us the two paths of good and evil. Allah reminds us in the Qur’an,
أَلَمْ نَجْعَلْ لَهُ عَيْنَيْنِ () وَلِسَانًا وَشَفَتَيْنِ () وَهَدَيْنَاهُ النَّجْدَيْنِ
‘Have We not given him two eyes, and a tongue, and a pair of lips, and shown him the two paths?
However, just as one may get inclined to misuse one’s eyes to look at something that is undesirable, misuse one’s ears to listen to something that is not right, one may also tend to misuse one’s tongue to utter something that is blameworthy.
Irresponsible speech like lying, backbiting, using vulgar language, bragging and boasting, making fun of others, and falsely accusing others can cause great harm and pain. Just as we’ll be held accountable for all our actions, big or small, so too we’ll be held accountable for each and every word that comes out of our mouths. There is a stern warning in the Qur’an regarding this,
مَا يَلْفِظُ مِنْ قَوْلٍ إِلاَّ لَدَيْهِ رَقِيبٌ عَتِيدٌ
“Not a single word is uttered by anyone except that there is an observer near him, ready to record” (Qaf, 50:18).
This is a frightening prospect. During the course of the day, people say so many things without realizing how harmful they are. They pass remarks about people’s looks; about people’s negative traits. So and so is ugly, fat, stupid, lazy, worthless, and so on. They use abusive language. There are many Prophetic traditions on the issue of guarding and controlling one’s tongue.
The Prophet (SAW) said, “Whosoever gives me a guarantee to safeguard what is between his jaws (meaning the tongue), and what is between his legs (meaning the private parts), I shall guarantee him paradise.” We have to remember that on the Day of Judgment our physical organs will stand as witnesses against us if we use them in the wrong way. As Allah says in Surat al-Nur,
يَوْمَ تَشْهَدُ عَلَيْهِمْ أَلْسِنَتُهُمْ وَأَيْدِيهِمْ وَأَرْجُلُهُم بِمَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ
“On the Day when their own tongues, hands and feet shall bear witness against them about what they did” (al-Nur, 24:24).
According to a hadith, the Prophet (SAW) said, “Whoever believes in Allah and the last day let him either speak good or keep silent.” He also said, “The Muslim is the one from whose tongue and hand the Muslims are safe, and the emigrant (muhajir) is the one who abandons what Allah has forbidden.” On one occasion he also said, “Most of the sins of the children of Adam are on their tongues.”
One of the hallmarks of righteous behavior is good speech. We should guard our speech and choose our words carefully. The ultimate success for a Muslim is to be admitted into Paradise. Good speech plays a role in earning that reward. Surat al-Mu’minun begins with the words,
قَدْ أَفْلَحَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ () الَّذِينَ هُمْ فِي صَلَاتِهِمْ خَاشِعُونَ () وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ عَنِ اللَّغْوِ مُعْرِضُونَ
“Successful indeed are the believers; those who are humble in their prayers, and who avoid vain talk” (al-Mu’minun, 23:1-3).
A person who is mindful of Allah will want to refrain from sins of the tongue. Sins of the tongue can lead one to hell. The Prophet (S) said: “A man may be so close to paradise such that the distance between him and paradise is one arm’s length and he speaks a word and he becomes distant from it further than Sana.” (i.e., he goes very far away from paradise). He also said, “The faith of a servant is not put right until his heart is put right, and his heart is not put right until his tongue is put right.”
A companion (sahabi) asked the Prophet (S): “O Messenger of Allah, what action will save us?” He replied, “Control your tongue, let your house be sufficient for you, and weep for your sins.” We have become so accustomed to speaking without thinking that words just seem to fly out of our mouths before we even know it. While some of us can talk well, we should also train ourselves how not to talk. Indeed the prophetic teachings tell us that we should remain silent, especially if we do not have anything good to say.
How can a Muslim fast and give free rein to his tongue? How can a Muslim fast and lie, backbite, abuse others and does not cease to hurt others? How can someone be considered to be fasting while he bears false witness and accuses others falsely? How many fasting people spoil their fasts when they debase their tongues? As we saw in a hadith mentioned earlier, a word uttered by someone without any control or restraint may even land him on his face in the fire.
The tongue is a means to good or evil. What a delight it would be for those who remember Allah, seek His forgiveness, praise Him, glorify Him, give thanks to Him, and repent with their tongues, especially while fasting. And what a disappointment it would be for those who abuse their tongues. We should make our tongues moist with the remembrance of Allah (SWT). Without this there is little protection from falling into the traps of Satan and losing control of our tongues. Every word we say will be held to account. Let our speech not be the source of regret in the Hereafter. O Allah, we ask of you truthful tongues, pure hearts and upright characters.
أَقُولُ قَوْلِي هَذَا وَأَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ لِي وَلَكُمْ وَلِسَائِرِ المُسْلِمينَ وَالمُسْلِمَاتْ فَاسْتَغْفِرُوهْ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ
وَصَلَّ اللهُ عَلَى خيرِ خَلقِهِ مُحمَّدٍ وعَلَى آلِه وأصْحَابِه أجْمَعِين- بِرَحْمَتِكَ يا أرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِين
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Some passages have been excerpted and paraphrased from the book “Thirty Lessons for Those Who Fast” by Aa’id Abdullah al-Qarni.
