Tongue and speaking ability is a blessing of Allah SWT for mankind and it differentiates human beings from the animals. Allah swt discusses this blessing in his book holy Quran in the following way:
Have We not made for him a pair of eyes? And a tongue and a pair of lips? (Al-Balad 90:8-9)
This tongue should always be used for good purpose with good intentions.A person is accountable before Allah swt for the blessing He has bestowed upon him.
Allah swt says:
Then, on that Day, you shall be asked about the blessings(you were given in this world)! (At-Takathur 102:8)
Some of the good deeds which can be done with the tongue are :
1 preaching /inviting to right path
2 Intercession
3 Consoling/kind words
4 words of wisdom
Positive saying is a very beneficial deed .A person who uses his tongue in a positive way gets reward from Allah swt for his good deed.
There are many verses of Quran highlighting importance of good sayings:
Some of the verses highlighting importance of preaching are as follows:
And who is better in speech than he who [says: "My Lord is Allâh (believes in His Oneness)," and then stands straight (acts upon His Order), and] invites (men) to Allâh's (Islâmic Monotheism), and does righteous deeds, and says: "I am one of the Muslims." (Fussilat 41:33)
You [true believers in Islâmic Monotheism, and real followers of Prophet Muhammad SAW and his Sunnah (legal ways, etc.)] are the best of peoples ever raised up for mankind; you enjoin Al-Ma'rûf (i.e. Islâmic Monotheism and all that Islâm has ordained) and forbid Al-Munkar (polytheism, disbelief and all that Islâm has forbidden), and you believe in Allâh. And had the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians) believed, it would have been better for them; among them are some who have faith, but most of them are Al-Fâsiqûn (disobedient to Allâh - and rebellious against Allâh's Command). (Aali Imran 3:110)
Let there arise out of you a group of people inviting to all that is good (Islâm), enjoining Al-Ma'rûf (i.e. Islâmic Monotheism and all that Islâm orders one to do) and forbidding Al-Munkar (polytheism and disbelief and all that Islâm has forbidden). And it is they who are the successful. (Aali Imran 3:104)
Another verse highlighting importance of intercession is as follows:
Whosoever intercedes for a good cause will have the reward thereof, and whosoever intercedes for an evil cause will have a share in its burden. And Allâh is Ever All-Able to do (and also an All-Witness to) everything. (An-Nisa 4:85)
Similarly another verse highlighting importance of kind words is as follows:
Kind words and forgiving of faults are better than Sadaqah (charity) followed by injury. And Allâh is Rich (Free of all wants) and He is Most-Forbearing. (Al-Baqarah 2:263)
Similarly there are some of the verses highlighting importance of wisdom:
Invite (mankind, O Muhammad SAW) to the Way of your Lord (i.e. Islâm) with wisdom (i.e. with the Divine Inspiration and the Qur'ân) and fair preaching, and argue with them in a way that is better. Truly, your Lord knows best who has gone astray from His Path, and He is the Best Aware of those who are guided. (An-Nahl 16:125)
He grants Hikmah to whom He pleases, and he, to whom Hikmah is granted, is indeed granted abundant good. But none remember (will receive admonition) except men of understanding. (Al-Baqarah 2:269)
And indeed We bestowed upon Luqmân Al¬Hikmah (wisdom and religious understanding, etc.) saying: "Give thanks to Allâh," and whoever gives thanks, he gives thanks for (the good of) his ownself. And whoever is unthankful, then verily, Allâh is All¬Rich (Free of all wants), Worthy of all praise. (Luqman 31:12)
There are also many hadiths which highlight importance of good sayings:
Sayyidina Abu Mas’ud Badri (RA) reported that a man came to the Prophet (SAW) asking for a riding beast pleading that his animal had died. Allah’s Messenger (SAW) said to him, “Go to so-and-so.” He went and he gave him the beast. So, Allah’s Messenger (SAW) said, “He who guides to what is good has a reward like the reward of the doer.”
(Bukhari 142, Muslim 1893,Tirmidhi,book 44,chapter 14, 2680, Abu Dawud 5129,Ahmed 17083)
Sayyidina Abu Musa Ash’ari (RA) reported that the Prophet (SAW) said, “Do make a recommendation that you may be rewarded. Allah brings on His Prophets tongue what He wills.”
(Bukhari 1432,Muslim 2127, Tirmidhi,book 44,chapter 14, 2681, Abu Dawud 5131,Nisai 2555, Ahmed 1960)
The above mentioned two hadiths highlight the importance of intercession .One who intercedes with good intentions will get reward like the person who does good on his recommendation.
Here are some other hadiths highlighting importance of preaching and inviting to right path:
Sayyidina Abu Huraira (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (SAW) said, “One who invites people to guidance will get a reward like the rewards of those who follow himwithout anything being taken away from their rewards. And he who invites to a wrong will get a sin like the sins of those who obey him without their sins being diminished inany way.”
(Muslim 2674,Abu Dawud 4609,Ibn Majah 206, Tirmidhi,book 44,chapter 14, 2683 , Ahmed 9171)
Sayyidina Jarir ibn Abdullah (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (SAW) said, “If anyone initiated a good prauice0 and is followed therein then he has a reward for it which is equal to the rewards of those who follow him without reducing anything from their rewards. And if anyone initiates an evil practice and is followed therein then he has a sin for it like the sins of those who followed him without reducing anything from their sins.”
(Muslim 1017,Ibn Majah 203,Nisai 2553, Tirmidhi,book 44,chapter 14, 2684, Ahmed 19177)
These two hadiths highlight the reward of preaching that whosoever guides to the right path and people start following his advise he earns the rewards till the people are acting on his advise.
Another hadith highlighting obligation of preaching is as follows:
Tariq ibn Shihab reported that the first man to deliver the sermon (of eid) before the salah was Marwan. A man stood up and said to Marwan, “You have contravened the Sunnah.” He replied, ‘O so-and-so, what you search for is abandoned.” Abu Sa’eed (RA) said, “As for him, indeed, he did what was due of him. I had heard Allah’s Messenger say: If anyone sees a wrong, he must prevent it with his hand. But, if he is not able then with his tongue, and if he is unable then with his heart and that is the weakest (degree of) faith.”
(Muslim 49 Tirmidhi,book 36,chapter 11, 2179)
This hadith clearly indicates that every Muslim should preach the right and abstain from wrong according to his ability.
There is another hadith which clarifies the fact that the people will face destruction if they will abstain from preaching:
Sayyidina Numan ibn Bashir (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (SAW) said, “The example of those who abide by the limits of Allah and those who do not observe them is like that of a people who cast lots to sail on a ship. Some of them take the upper deck and some the lower deck. Those in the sea in the lower deck would ascend (to theupper) to get water and (in the process) would drop water on those in the upper deck.So these people who were in the upper deck said, ‘We will not allow you to climb up for you hurt us.” So, those in the lower deck responded, “Well we shall bore a hole in the lower portion and fetch water from here.” Thus, if they hold their hands and prevent them then all of them will be saved, but if they leave them to themselves then all of them would drown.”
(Bukhari 2493, Muslim 1599, Tirmidhi,book 36,chapter 11, 2180)
Similarly following hadith highlights the importance of words of wisdom:
Sayyidina Abu Huraira (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (SAW) said, “The words of wisdom are the lost possession of a believer. So, wheresoever he finds them, he has more right over them.”
(Tirmidhi,book 44,chapter 14, 2696, Ibn e Majah 4169)
This hadith clearly indicates that wisdom is a great gift of Allah swt and a true believer is always after the words of wisdom and he takes it from every one without prejudice.
Conclusion:
1 Tongue is a blessing of Allah and it should not be misused.
2 A man will be accountable before Allah swt for misuse of blessings.
3 The good uses of tongue are: preaching /inviting to right path, Intercession, Consoling/kind words and words of wisdom.
4 A Muslim should always try to talk good according to the best of his ability.
5 Good speech is a sustaining source of reward till the people get benefit from it.
Have We not made for him a pair of eyes? And a tongue and a pair of lips? (Al-Balad 90:8-9)
This tongue should always be used for good purpose with good intentions.A person is accountable before Allah swt for the blessing He has bestowed upon him.
Allah swt says:
Then, on that Day, you shall be asked about the blessings(you were given in this world)! (At-Takathur 102:8)
Some of the good deeds which can be done with the tongue are :
1 preaching /inviting to right path
2 Intercession
3 Consoling/kind words
4 words of wisdom
Positive saying is a very beneficial deed .A person who uses his tongue in a positive way gets reward from Allah swt for his good deed.
There are many verses of Quran highlighting importance of good sayings:
Some of the verses highlighting importance of preaching are as follows:
And who is better in speech than he who [says: "My Lord is Allâh (believes in His Oneness)," and then stands straight (acts upon His Order), and] invites (men) to Allâh's (Islâmic Monotheism), and does righteous deeds, and says: "I am one of the Muslims." (Fussilat 41:33)
You [true believers in Islâmic Monotheism, and real followers of Prophet Muhammad SAW and his Sunnah (legal ways, etc.)] are the best of peoples ever raised up for mankind; you enjoin Al-Ma'rûf (i.e. Islâmic Monotheism and all that Islâm has ordained) and forbid Al-Munkar (polytheism, disbelief and all that Islâm has forbidden), and you believe in Allâh. And had the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians) believed, it would have been better for them; among them are some who have faith, but most of them are Al-Fâsiqûn (disobedient to Allâh - and rebellious against Allâh's Command). (Aali Imran 3:110)
Let there arise out of you a group of people inviting to all that is good (Islâm), enjoining Al-Ma'rûf (i.e. Islâmic Monotheism and all that Islâm orders one to do) and forbidding Al-Munkar (polytheism and disbelief and all that Islâm has forbidden). And it is they who are the successful. (Aali Imran 3:104)
Another verse highlighting importance of intercession is as follows:
Whosoever intercedes for a good cause will have the reward thereof, and whosoever intercedes for an evil cause will have a share in its burden. And Allâh is Ever All-Able to do (and also an All-Witness to) everything. (An-Nisa 4:85)
Similarly another verse highlighting importance of kind words is as follows:
Kind words and forgiving of faults are better than Sadaqah (charity) followed by injury. And Allâh is Rich (Free of all wants) and He is Most-Forbearing. (Al-Baqarah 2:263)
Similarly there are some of the verses highlighting importance of wisdom:
Invite (mankind, O Muhammad SAW) to the Way of your Lord (i.e. Islâm) with wisdom (i.e. with the Divine Inspiration and the Qur'ân) and fair preaching, and argue with them in a way that is better. Truly, your Lord knows best who has gone astray from His Path, and He is the Best Aware of those who are guided. (An-Nahl 16:125)
He grants Hikmah to whom He pleases, and he, to whom Hikmah is granted, is indeed granted abundant good. But none remember (will receive admonition) except men of understanding. (Al-Baqarah 2:269)
And indeed We bestowed upon Luqmân Al¬Hikmah (wisdom and religious understanding, etc.) saying: "Give thanks to Allâh," and whoever gives thanks, he gives thanks for (the good of) his ownself. And whoever is unthankful, then verily, Allâh is All¬Rich (Free of all wants), Worthy of all praise. (Luqman 31:12)
There are also many hadiths which highlight importance of good sayings:
Sayyidina Abu Mas’ud Badri (RA) reported that a man came to the Prophet (SAW) asking for a riding beast pleading that his animal had died. Allah’s Messenger (SAW) said to him, “Go to so-and-so.” He went and he gave him the beast. So, Allah’s Messenger (SAW) said, “He who guides to what is good has a reward like the reward of the doer.”
(Bukhari 142, Muslim 1893,Tirmidhi,book 44,chapter 14, 2680, Abu Dawud 5129,Ahmed 17083)
Sayyidina Abu Musa Ash’ari (RA) reported that the Prophet (SAW) said, “Do make a recommendation that you may be rewarded. Allah brings on His Prophets tongue what He wills.”
(Bukhari 1432,Muslim 2127, Tirmidhi,book 44,chapter 14, 2681, Abu Dawud 5131,Nisai 2555, Ahmed 1960)
The above mentioned two hadiths highlight the importance of intercession .One who intercedes with good intentions will get reward like the person who does good on his recommendation.
Here are some other hadiths highlighting importance of preaching and inviting to right path:
Sayyidina Abu Huraira (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (SAW) said, “One who invites people to guidance will get a reward like the rewards of those who follow himwithout anything being taken away from their rewards. And he who invites to a wrong will get a sin like the sins of those who obey him without their sins being diminished inany way.”
(Muslim 2674,Abu Dawud 4609,Ibn Majah 206, Tirmidhi,book 44,chapter 14, 2683 , Ahmed 9171)
Sayyidina Jarir ibn Abdullah (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (SAW) said, “If anyone initiated a good prauice0 and is followed therein then he has a reward for it which is equal to the rewards of those who follow him without reducing anything from their rewards. And if anyone initiates an evil practice and is followed therein then he has a sin for it like the sins of those who followed him without reducing anything from their sins.”
(Muslim 1017,Ibn Majah 203,Nisai 2553, Tirmidhi,book 44,chapter 14, 2684, Ahmed 19177)
These two hadiths highlight the reward of preaching that whosoever guides to the right path and people start following his advise he earns the rewards till the people are acting on his advise.
Another hadith highlighting obligation of preaching is as follows:
Tariq ibn Shihab reported that the first man to deliver the sermon (of eid) before the salah was Marwan. A man stood up and said to Marwan, “You have contravened the Sunnah.” He replied, ‘O so-and-so, what you search for is abandoned.” Abu Sa’eed (RA) said, “As for him, indeed, he did what was due of him. I had heard Allah’s Messenger say: If anyone sees a wrong, he must prevent it with his hand. But, if he is not able then with his tongue, and if he is unable then with his heart and that is the weakest (degree of) faith.”
(Muslim 49 Tirmidhi,book 36,chapter 11, 2179)
This hadith clearly indicates that every Muslim should preach the right and abstain from wrong according to his ability.
There is another hadith which clarifies the fact that the people will face destruction if they will abstain from preaching:
Sayyidina Numan ibn Bashir (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (SAW) said, “The example of those who abide by the limits of Allah and those who do not observe them is like that of a people who cast lots to sail on a ship. Some of them take the upper deck and some the lower deck. Those in the sea in the lower deck would ascend (to theupper) to get water and (in the process) would drop water on those in the upper deck.So these people who were in the upper deck said, ‘We will not allow you to climb up for you hurt us.” So, those in the lower deck responded, “Well we shall bore a hole in the lower portion and fetch water from here.” Thus, if they hold their hands and prevent them then all of them will be saved, but if they leave them to themselves then all of them would drown.”
(Bukhari 2493, Muslim 1599, Tirmidhi,book 36,chapter 11, 2180)
Similarly following hadith highlights the importance of words of wisdom:
Sayyidina Abu Huraira (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (SAW) said, “The words of wisdom are the lost possession of a believer. So, wheresoever he finds them, he has more right over them.”
(Tirmidhi,book 44,chapter 14, 2696, Ibn e Majah 4169)
This hadith clearly indicates that wisdom is a great gift of Allah swt and a true believer is always after the words of wisdom and he takes it from every one without prejudice.
Conclusion:
1 Tongue is a blessing of Allah and it should not be misused.
2 A man will be accountable before Allah swt for misuse of blessings.
3 The good uses of tongue are: preaching /inviting to right path, Intercession, Consoling/kind words and words of wisdom.
4 A Muslim should always try to talk good according to the best of his ability.
5 Good speech is a sustaining source of reward till the people get benefit from it.