The Tongue

Luqman, who was a wise person, served an officer when he was a young boy. One day, his master said: “Slaughter one of the sheep and roast the best part of its meat for me.”

Luqman obeyed his order and roasted the tongue of the sheep for his master. The next day, the master called Luqman and said: “Roast the worst part of a sheep today.”

Luqman again roasted the tongue of a sheep for his master. When the officer sat down to eat, he was startled to see the roasted tongue again. He felt curious and wanted to know the reason.

Luqman said: “If a tongue is truthful and honest, then it is the best part of the body. But when a tongue lies and utters dishonest words, then it is the worst part of the body.”

God has said in the Holy Qur’an:

“What word is better than calling mankind to His court and doing good deeds.”

This shows that man must do good deeds and invite mankind to obey God, and praise Him. The power of speech is a great blessing of God for man. It is by this quality that man is distinguished from animals. God has said:

“We have honoured the sons of Adam….” [17:72]

Some interpreters think this refers to the power of speech. However, like its merits, speech has its demerits as well. The Prophet (s.a.w) has said: “The worst I fear for my people is the tongue.”

In short, speech is like wine which intoxicates the mind and the one who gets the taste of it cannot leave it.

Therefore, the Sufis, for example, abstain from talking more than is necessary, and keep a close watch over their tongue from the beginning to the end. They speak only when it is for God’s sake, otherwise they keep silent. They firmly believe that God knows their secret thoughts. God says in the Holy Qur’an:

“Do they think We are not aware of what they think and discuss. We are aware of it and Our angels take it down.” [43:80]

The Prophet (s.a.w) has said: “He who keeps silent is saved.” In silence there are many advantages and blessing; while in speech there are many evils.

Speech can be truth or falsehood. If speech is truth, it is better than silence. If it is falsehood, silence is better than speech.

Someone has beautifully said, “He whose silence is because of modesty, his speech is full of life.” When they are with themselves, they love silence, but when they are with God, the people love to write their speech on their heart.

A Sufi sheikh has said: “He whose silence is gold, his speech is alchemy.”

That is to say, his speech makes gold of dust. Therefore, the seeker who is absorbed in God must keep silent so that the Divine tongue speaks out and captivates the hearts of listeners. He should never tell a lie or backbite or offend anyone with the tongue with which he has recited kalimah-i-shahadat and proclaimed God’s unity.