Detailed example: how the tongue reflects the Names of Allah
Day 1 of the immersion is the tongue: the first part of the body we use to reflect the Names of Allah. This page shows how it works, with a worked example, then all 21 sins of the tongue and the Name that guards against each one.
We were created to be representatives of Allah
وَإِذْ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةِ إِنِّى جَاعِلٌۭ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ خَلِيفَةًۭ ۖ قَالُوٓا۟ أَتَجْعَلُ فِيهَا مَن يُفْسِدُ فِيهَا وَيَسْفِكُ ٱلدِّمَآءَ وَنَحْنُ نُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِكَ وَنُقَدِّسُ لَكَ ۖ قَالَ إِنِّىٓ أَعْلَمُ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ
When your Lord told the angels, ‘I am putting a Representative (Khalifah) on earth,’ they said, ‘How can You put someone there who will cause damage and bloodshed, when we celebrate Your praise and proclaim Your holiness?’ but He said, ‘I know things you do not.’
[Surah Al-Baqarah 2:30]
The tongue needs purification and enlightenment. Allah says:
إِذْ تَلَقَّوْنَهُۥ بِأَلْسِنَتِكُمْ وَتَقُولُونَ بِأَفْوَاهِكُم مَّا لَيْسَ لَكُم بِهِۦ عِلْمٌۭ وَتَحْسَبُونَهُۥ هَيِّنًۭا وَهُوَ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ عَظِيمٌۭ
When you received it with your tongues and said with your mouths that of which you had no knowledge and thought it was insignificant while it was, in the sight of Allah, tremendous.
[Surah An-Nur 24:15]
More from the Qur'an and Hadith on the tongue
الْمُسْلِمُ مَنْ سَلِمَ الْمُسْلِمُونَ مِنْ لِسَانِهِ وَيَدِهِ
“A Muslim is the one who avoids harming Muslims with his tongue or his hands. And a Muhajir is the one who gives up all that Allah has forbidden.” [Sahih Bukhari and Muslim]
“The servant speaks words whose repercussions he does not understand, and because of them he sinks down in the Fire farther than the distance between the east and the west.” [Sahih Muslim]
Mu'adh ibn Jabal asked the Prophet ﷺ for an action that would enter him into Paradise. After describing the pillars, the means of goodness and the peak of the matter, he took hold of his tongue and said: “Restrain this.” Mu'adh asked, “Will we be brought to account for what we say?” He replied: “Are people thrown onto their faces in the Fire for anything other than the harvest of their tongues?” [Tirmidhi]
مَنْ يَضْمَنْ لِي مَا بَيْنَ لَحْيَيْهِ وَمَا بَيْنَ رِجْلَيْهِ أَضْمَنْ لَهُ الْجَنَّةَ
“Whoever can guarantee what is between his two jaw-bones and what is between his two legs, I guarantee Paradise for him.” [Sahih Bukhari]
مَنْ كَانَ يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ فَلْيَقُلْ خَيْرًا أَوْ لِيَصْمُتْ
“Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him speak good or remain silent.” [Bukhari and Muslim]
How it works
Every sin of the tongue goes against one of the Names of Allah. When you feel the pull towards the sin, you turn it around by bringing that Name to mind and reflecting it instead.
A worked example: backbiting
- Notice the momentA friend starts talking about someone who isn't there, and you feel the urge to join in.
- Name the sinThis is backbiting, sin 1 on the list.
- Recall the Name of Allahالسِّتِّيرُ As-Sittīr, The Concealer. Allah hides our faults every single day.
- Make the linkHide people's faults; don't expose them. Be a person who covers people's faults rather than exposing them behind their backs.
- Reflect the NameCover their fault the way Allah covers yours: change the subject, say something good about them, or stay silent.
- Remember the evidence
إِنَّ اللَّهَ سِتِّيرٌ فَإِذَا أَرَادَ أَحَدُكُمْ أَنْ يَغْتَسِلَ فَلْيَتَوَارَ بِشَيْءٍ
“God is characterised by concealment, so when any of you intends to wash, he should hide behind something.” [Narrated by Nasa'i]
Use the same six steps for every sin below. Open each one to see its Name, the link and the evidence.
The 21 sins of the tongue
Sin 1السِّتِّيرُBackbitingAs-Sittīr: The Concealer
Name of Allah to reflect
السِّتِّيرُ As-Sittīr, The Concealer
How it guards the tongue
Hide people's faults; don't expose them. Be a person who covers people's faults rather than exposing them behind their backs.
Evidence
إِنَّ اللَّهَ سِتِّيرٌ فَإِذَا أَرَادَ أَحَدُكُمْ أَنْ يَغْتَسِلَ فَلْيَتَوَارَ بِشَيْءٍ
“God is characterised by concealment, so when any of you intends to wash, he should hide behind something.” [Narrated by Nasa'i]
Sin 2الْمُهَيْمِنُSlanderAl-Muhaymin: The Guardian
Name of Allah to reflect
الْمُهَيْمِنُ Al-Muhaymin, The Guardian
How it guards the tongue
Slander is to lie and to backbite, one of the worst sins of the tongue. Be in control of your body, heart, mind and nafs, and be a guardian over them.
Evidence
وَأَنزَلْنَآ إِلَيْكَ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ بِٱلْحَقِّ مُصَدِّقًۭا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ مِنَ ٱلْكِتَٰبِ وَمُهَيْمِنًا عَلَيْهِ ۖ فَٱحْكُم بَيْنَهُم بِمَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ ۖ وَلَا تَتَّبِعْ أَهْوَآءَهُمْ عَمَّا جَآءَكَ مِنَ ٱلْحَقِّ ۚ لِكُلٍّۢ جَعَلْنَا مِنكُمْ شِرْعَةًۭ وَمِنْهَاجًۭا ۚ وَلَوْ شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ لَجَعَلَكُمْ أُمَّةًۭ وَٰحِدَةًۭ وَلَٰكِن لِّيَبْلُوَكُمْ فِى مَآ ءَاتَىٰكُمْ ۖ فَٱسْتَبِقُوا۟ ٱلْخَيْرَٰتِ ۚ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ مَرْجِعُكُمْ جَمِيعًۭا فَيُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمْ فِيهِ تَخْتَلِفُونَ
“We have revealed to you [O Prophet] this Book with the truth, as a confirmation of previous Scriptures and a supreme authority on them.” [Surah Al-Ma'idah 5:48]
Sin 3الْحَقُّLyingAl-Ḥaqq: The Absolute Truth
Name of Allah to reflect
الْحَقُّ Al-Ḥaqq, The Absolute Truth
How it guards the tongue
There is only one God and only one truth. Don't let your tongue touch false realities.
Evidence
وَلَا تَلْبِسُوا۟ ٱلْحَقَّ بِٱلْبَٰطِلِ وَتَكْتُمُوا۟ ٱلْحَقَّ وَأَنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ
“Do not mix truth with falsehood, or hide the truth when you know it.” [Surah Al-Baqarah 2:42]
Sin 4الْقَوِيُّSwearing falsely by one of Allah's Names or attributesAl-Qawiyy: The All-Strong
Name of Allah to reflect
الْقَوِيُّ Al-Qawiyy, The All-Strong
How it guards the tongue
When you want to show you are telling the truth, be strong and speak with strength. You don't need to swear by Allah to strengthen a lie.
Evidence
مَا قَدَرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ حَقَّ قَدْرِهِۦٓ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَقَوِىٌّ عَزِيزٌ
“They have no grasp of God's true measure: God is truly most strong and mighty.” [Surah Al-Hajj 22:74]
Sin 5الشَّهِيدُGiving false witness about a past eventAsh-Shahīd: The All-Observing Witness
Name of Allah to reflect
الشَّهِيدُ Ash-Shahīd, The All-Observing Witness
How it guards the tongue
Be a true witness to the creation. Don't give false testimony.
Evidence
وَكَذَٰلِكَ جَعَلْنَٰكُمْ أُمَّةًۭ وَسَطًۭا لِّتَكُونُوا۟ شُهَدَآءَ عَلَى ٱلنَّاسِ وَيَكُونَ ٱلرَّسُولُ عَلَيْكُمْ شَهِيدًۭا ۗ وَمَا جَعَلْنَا ٱلْقِبْلَةَ ٱلَّتِى كُنتَ عَلَيْهَآ إِلَّا لِنَعْلَمَ مَن يَتَّبِعُ ٱلرَّسُولَ مِمَّن يَنقَلِبُ عَلَىٰ عَقِبَيْهِ ۚ وَإِن كَانَتْ لَكَبِيرَةً إِلَّا عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ هَدَى ٱللَّهُ ۗ وَمَا كَانَ ٱللَّهُ لِيُضِيعَ إِيمَٰنَكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِٱلنَّاسِ لَرَءُوفٌۭ رَّحِيمٌۭ
“We have made you [believers] into a just community, so that you may bear witness [to the truth] before others and so that the Messenger may bear witness [to it] before you.” [Surah Al-Baqarah 2:143]
Sin 6النَّافِعُCarrying tales between people to ruin relationshipsAn-Nāfiʿ: The Benefactor
Name of Allah to reflect
النَّافِعُ An-Nāfiʿ, The Benefactor
How it guards the tongue
Carry benefit between people, not harm.
Evidence
قُل لَّآ أَمْلِكُ لِنَفْسِى نَفْعًۭا وَلَا ضَرًّا إِلَّا مَا شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ ۚ وَلَوْ كُنتُ أَعْلَمُ ٱلْغَيْبَ لَٱسْتَكْثَرْتُ مِنَ ٱلْخَيْرِ وَمَا مَسَّنِىَ ٱلسُّوٓءُ ۚ إِنْ أَنَا۠ إِلَّا نَذِيرٌۭ وَبَشِيرٌۭ لِّقَوْمٍۢ يُؤْمِنُونَ
“Say [Prophet], ‘I have no control over benefit or harm, [even] to myself, except as God may please.’” [Surah Al-A'raf 7:188]
Sin 7اللَّطِيفُRidiculing or making fun of another personAl-Laṭīf: The Most Gentle
Name of Allah to reflect
اللَّطِيفُ Al-Laṭīf, The Most Gentle
How it guards the tongue
Be gentle in your speech with people. Don't make fun of anyone.
Evidence
ٱللَّهُ لَطِيفٌۢ بِعِبَادِهِۦ يَرْزُقُ مَن يَشَآءُ ۖ وَهُوَ ٱلْقَوِىُّ ٱلْعَزِيزُ
“Allah is Ever Kind to His servants. He provides [abundantly] to whoever He wills. And He is the All-Powerful, Almighty.” [Surah Ash-Shura 42:19]
Sin 8الْحَمِيدُObscene talk or talk full of cursesAl-Ḥamīd: The Praiseworthy
Name of Allah to reflect
الْحَمِيدُ Al-Ḥamīd, The Praiseworthy
How it guards the tongue
Make your speech the most praiseworthy of speech.
Evidence
۞ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ أَنتُمُ ٱلْفُقَرَآءُ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ ۖ وَٱللَّهُ هُوَ ٱلْغَنِىُّ ٱلْحَمِيدُ
“People, it is you who stand in need of God. God needs nothing and is worthy of all praise.” [Surah Fatir 35:15]
Sin 9الْعَلِيُّAscribing to Allah, His prophets, angels or the Companions what they are free ofAl-ʿAliyy: The Exalted
Name of Allah to reflect
الْعَلِيُّ Al-ʿAliyy, The Exalted
How it guards the tongue
Do not speak of Allah in a way you do not understand. Allah is exalted above this.
Evidence
لَهُۥ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَلِىُّ ٱلْعَظِيمُ
“All that is in the heavens and earth belongs to Him: He is the Exalted, the Almighty.” [Surah Ash-Shura 42:4]
Sin 10الْمُجِيبُUttering black magic words to bring about paranormal effectsAl-Mujīb: The Responsive One
Name of Allah to reflect
الْمُجِيبُ Al-Mujīb, The Responsive One
How it guards the tongue
We don't need to resort to black magic or the paranormal. Allah hears us and responds to our calls.
Evidence
۞ وَإِلَىٰ ثَمُودَ أَخَاهُمْ صَٰلِحًۭا ۚ قَالَ يَٰقَوْمِ ٱعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ مَا لَكُم مِّنْ إِلَٰهٍ غَيْرُهُۥ ۖ هُوَ أَنشَأَكُم مِّنَ ٱلْأَرْضِ وَٱسْتَعْمَرَكُمْ فِيهَا فَٱسْتَغْفِرُوهُ ثُمَّ تُوبُوٓا۟ إِلَيْهِ ۚ إِنَّ رَبِّى قَرِيبٌۭ مُّجِيبٌۭ
“…so ask forgiveness from Him, and turn back to Him: my Lord is near, and responsive.” [Surah Hud 11:61]
Sin 11ذُو الْجَلَالِ وَالْإِكْرَامِSinging or reciting sensual or lewd lyricsDhul-Jalāli wal-Ikrām: Lord of Majesty and Honour
Name of Allah to reflect
ذُو الْجَلَالِ وَالْإِكْرَامِ Dhul-Jalāli wal-Ikrām, Lord of Majesty and Honour
How it guards the tongue
Speak like a king. Use the best of language, without any lewd words.
Evidence
وَيَبْقَىٰ وَجْهُ رَبِّكَ ذُو ٱلْجَلَٰلِ وَٱلْإِكْرَامِ
“Only your Lord Himself, full of Majesty and Honour, will remain.” [Surah Ar-Rahman 55:27]
Sin 12الْمَجِيدُPraising people to their face who are not free of arroganceAl-Majīd: The Glorious
Name of Allah to reflect
الْمَجِيدُ Al-Majīd, The Glorious
How it guards the tongue
Only Allah, the Glorious, deserves unlimited praise.
Evidence
قَالُوٓا۟ أَتَعْجَبِينَ مِنْ أَمْرِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ رَحْمَتُ ٱللَّهِ وَبَرَكَٰتُهُۥ عَلَيْكُمْ أَهْلَ ٱلْبَيْتِ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ حَمِيدٌۭ مَّجِيدٌۭ
“The grace of God and His blessings be upon you, people of this house! For He is worthy of all praise and glory.” [Surah Hud 11:73]
Sin 13الْمُقْسِطُHypocrisy: being two-facedAl-Muqsiṭ: The Just One
Name of Allah to reflect
الْمُقْسِطُ Al-Muqsiṭ, The Just One
How it guards the tongue
A just person deals with people fairly and equally. Don't show one face to one group and another face to others.
Evidence
سَمَّٰعُونَ لِلْكَذِبِ أَكَّٰلُونَ لِلسُّحْتِ ۚ فَإِن جَآءُوكَ فَٱحْكُم بَيْنَهُمْ أَوْ أَعْرِضْ عَنْهُمْ ۖ وَإِن تُعْرِضْ عَنْهُمْ فَلَن يَضُرُّوكَ شَيْـًۭٔا ۖ وَإِنْ حَكَمْتَ فَٱحْكُم بَيْنَهُم بِٱلْقِسْطِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُقْسِطِينَ
“…if you do judge between them, judge justly: God loves the just.” [Surah Al-Ma'idah 5:42]
Sin 14الْوَكِيلُRevealing someone's secretAl-Wakīl: The Trustee
Name of Allah to reflect
الْوَكِيلُ Al-Wakīl, The Trustee
How it guards the tongue
If someone trusts you with a secret or any affair, guard it and do not reveal it. Be someone people can trust.
Evidence
ذَٰلِكُمُ ٱللَّهُ رَبُّكُمْ ۖ لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ۖ خَٰلِقُ كُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ فَٱعْبُدُوهُ ۚ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ وَكِيلٌۭ
“This is God, your Lord, there is no God but Him, the Creator of all things, so worship Him; He is the Trustee over everything.” [Surah Al-An'am 6:102]
Sin 15الْمَلِكُMaking a false promise intentionallyAl-Malik: The King
Name of Allah to reflect
الْمَلِكُ Al-Malik, The King
How it guards the tongue
A king is able to help people and keeps his promises. Breaking a promise is weakness; the King is all-powerful.
Evidence
قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ ٱلنَّاسِ مَلِكِ ٱلنَّاسِ
“Say, ‘I seek refuge with the Lord of people, the King of people.’” [Surah An-Nas 114:1–2]
Sin 16الْحَلِيمُArgumentation and intense debateAl-Ḥalīm: The Most Forbearing
Name of Allah to reflect
الْحَلِيمُ Al-Ḥalīm, The Most Forbearing
How it guards the tongue
There will be many times you want to argue intensely. Allah is forbearing with us, so be forbearing with people.
Evidence
إِن تُقْرِضُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ قَرْضًا حَسَنًۭا يُضَٰعِفْهُ لَكُمْ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ شَكُورٌ حَلِيمٌ
“If you make a generous loan to God He will multiply it for you and forgive you. God is ever thankful and forbearing.” [Surah At-Taghabun 64:17]
Sin 17السَّلَامُFinding fault with what Allah has given you and cursing itAs-Salām: The Flawless
Name of Allah to reflect
السَّلَامُ As-Salām, The Flawless
How it guards the tongue
Allah is flawless and what He has created is flawless. Sometimes we are just unable to understand this.
Evidence
إِلَّا مَنْ أَتَى ٱللَّهَ بِقَلْبٍۢ سَلِيمٍۢ
“Only those who come before Allah with a pure heart [will be saved].” [Surah Ash-Shu'ara 26:89]
Sin 18الْمُؤْمِنُIncessantly talking about affairs that don't concern youAl-Muʾmin: The Giver of Safety and Faith
Name of Allah to reflect
الْمُؤْمِنُ Al-Muʾmin, The Giver of Safety and Faith
How it guards the tongue
People should feel safe around you and in your absence. They shouldn't be harmed by your tongue.
Evidence
إِنَّ عَذَابَ رَبِّهِمْ غَيْرُ مَأْمُونٍۢ
“[Knowing that] none should feel secure from their Lord's punishment.” [Surah Al-Ma'arij 70:28]
Sin 19الْقُدُّوسُClaiming that you are pure and free of faultsAl-Quddūs: The Most Sacred
Name of Allah to reflect
الْقُدُّوسُ Al-Quddūs, The Most Sacred
How it guards the tongue
Only God is truly free from all flaws and pure. All other creation has flaws.
Evidence
يُسَبِّحُ لِلَّهِ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ٱلْمَلِكِ ٱلْقُدُّوسِ ٱلْعَزِيزِ ٱلْحَكِيمِ
“Everything in the heavens and earth glorifies God, the Controller, the Holy One, the Almighty, the Wise.” [Surah Al-Jumu'ah 62:1]
Sin 20الْعَلِيمُTalking about the details of our belief without knowledgeAl-ʿAlīm: The All-Knowing
Name of Allah to reflect
الْعَلِيمُ Al-ʿAlīm, The All-Knowing
How it guards the tongue
Learn first before you speak about the religion. Allah has knowledge of everything.
Evidence
وَلَئِن سَأَلْتَهُم مَّنْ خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ لَيَقُولُنَّ خَلَقَهُنَّ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْعَلِيمُ
“If you [Prophet] ask them, ‘Who created the heavens and earth?’ they are sure to say, ‘They were created by the Almighty, the All Knowing.’” [Surah Az-Zukhruf 43:9]
Sin 21الرَّقِيبُTalking to the opposite gender without a permissible needAr-Raqīb: The Watchful
Name of Allah to reflect
الرَّقِيبُ Ar-Raqīb, The Watchful
How it guards the tongue
In any interaction with the opposite gender, know that Allah is seeing what you are doing in every action.
Evidence
مَا قُلْتُ لَهُمْ إِلَّا مَآ أَمَرْتَنِى بِهِۦٓ أَنِ ٱعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ رَبِّى وَرَبَّكُمْ ۚ وَكُنتُ عَلَيْهِمْ شَهِيدًۭا مَّا دُمْتُ فِيهِمْ ۖ فَلَمَّا تَوَفَّيْتَنِى كُنتَ أَنتَ ٱلرَّقِيبَ عَلَيْهِمْ ۚ وَأَنتَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ شَهِيدٌ
“…Ever since You took my soul, You alone have been the watcher over them: You are witness to all things.” [Surah Al-Ma'idah 5:117]
Taken from the “Become a Khalifah of Allah: The Tongue” sheet.