How Does the Tongue Fast?
The tongue has a special fast. It is well known to those believers who turn away from all that is frivolous. The fasting of the tongue is a permanent feature of both Ramadan and out of Ramadan, though in Ramadan the tongue is disciplined and curbed. The Prophet (pbuh) said: 'Control this' and pointed to his tongue. In response Mu'adh said: 'Even if we start to speak about which we should. O Messenger of Allah?' The Prophet (pbuh) replied: 'Your mother would grieve of you O Mu'adh, will people not be thrown into the fire on their faces only because of the fruits of their tongues.'
The harm of the tongue is great and its danger is huge. Abu Bakr as-Siddiq used to hold on to his tongue and say: 'This is what landed me in this position.' The tongue has seven injuries, the serpent bites and fire burns. Do not mention the faults of people with your tongues. For all of you have faults and the people have tongues.
Ibn Abbas used to say to his tongue: 'O tongue! Say something good and gain, or abstain from evil and be safe.'
Allah had shown mercy to a Muslim who restrained his tongue from treachery, averted it from backbiting, prevented it from vain talk, and barred it from prohibitions. Surely Allah will be merciful to he who checks his utterances and weighs his words. He says in the Quran:
Not even a word can he utter but there is a watcher with him, ever-present
Quran [50:18]
Every expression is recorded and every word is counted.
And never does Allah the least wrong to His creatures
Quran [41:46]
In this regard the Prophet (pbuh) said: 'Whoever can protect for me what is between his jaws and between his legs, I will guarantee for him a place in Paradise.'
When the righteous prdecessors disciplined themselves with the morality of the Quran and Sunnah, they wieghed their utterances and respected their words. Their pronouncements were the remembrances of Allah, their looks were lessons, and their silence thought. When these righteous people feared the meeting with their Lord, the One, the Subduer, they used their tongues in His remembrance and gratefulness. And they refrained from treachery, obscenity and prattle. Ibn Mas'ud said: 'By Allah, there is not anything more deserving than the extended control of the tongue.' The righteous need words, they remember its consequences and results and they keep quiet.
How can someone fast and give free rein to his tongue? How can someone fast and his tongue plays with him, his words decieve him and his logic misleads him? How can someone fast and lie, backbite, revile, abuse others, and forget the Day of Judgement? How can someone be considered to be fasting while he bears false witness and does not cease from hurting Muslims? The Prophet (pbuh) said: 'A Muslim is he from whose tongue and hands other Muslims are safe.'
Is Islam anything other than deeds, practise, methodology, submission, behaviour and application? In the Glorious Quran Allah declares:
Tell my servants that they should speak in the most kindly manner [unto those who do not share their beliefs]: verily, Satan is always ready to stir up discord between men - for, verily, Satan is man's open foe!
Quran [17:54]
Surely the 'kindly manner' encouraged here is the good word that does not hurt any individual or group. It is the excellent speech that does not violate the honour of a Muslim or the dignity of a believer.
And neither allow yourselves to speak ill of one another behind their backs.
Would any of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother?
Nay, you would loathe it!Quran [49:12]
How many fasting people spoilt their fasts when they debased their tongues, misused their reasoning and confused their words? The purpose of fasting is not hunger and thirst. It is, instead, to discipline and uplift. There are, in fact, more than ten misdeeds that may emanate from the tongue if it is not properly controlled. Among them: lying, backbiting, slander, obscenity, cursing, shamelessness, false evidence, invective, derision, scorn and others. Perhaps a word uttered by someone without any control or restraint may land them 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. And, what a disappointment it would be for those who use it to violate honour and sanctity and besmirch values. O fasting people, moisten your tongue with the remembrance of Allah, discipline it with God-consciousness and cleanse it from disobedience.
O Allah we ask of You truthful tongues, pure hearts and upright characters.
