MANIFESTATIONS OF TONGUE

 

Tongue has been used twenty-five times in the Glorious Qur’an. Allah (s.w.t.) reminds man, “Have We not made for him two eyes, a tongue and two lips…” (90:8,9) Tongue is also a means of comprehension like eyes and ears. Tongue is the key to our thoughts and memory. Imam Ali (a.s.) said, “A man’s personality is hidden beneath his tongue.” It is the architect of man’s personality. The Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) said, “Speak to be comprehended.”

It is mentioned immediately after the man’s creation; “The All-beneficent has taught the Qur’an. He created man, (and) taught him articulate speech.” (55:1-4). Prophet Yusuf, when he was in the prison, interpreted the king’s dream, was brought out to the king, and spoke about his talents. The king appointed him the finance minister. Prophet Musa when appointed as a prophet prayed, “Remove the hitch from my tongue, (so that) they may understand my discourse.” (20:27,28) He also requested for Prophet Harun saying, “Harun, my brother, he is more eloquent than me in speech, so send him with me as a helper to confirm me, for I fear that they will impugn me.” (28:34) Addressing the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) about his prime responsibility, Allah (s.w.t.) says, “Indeed We have made it simple in your language so that you may give good news thereby to the God wary and warn with it a disputatious lot.” (19:97) Prophet Ibrahim also prayed for a truthful tongue, “Confer on me a worthy repute among the posterity.” (26:84). A similar request was made for Prophet Is‘haque and Prophet Yaqoob, “And We bestowed of Our Mercy on them, and assigned unto them a high and true renown.” (19:50) Allah (s.w.t.) determines the variety of languages of the world as a sign as stated, “Among His signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the difference of your languages and the colors. There are indeed signs in that for those who know.” (30:22)

In short, tongue is the only source by which one expresses his faith, prays, and supplicates. When Allah (s.w.t.) wants to talk to His Prophet Musa, the Glorious Qur’an says, “…and to Musa Allah spoke directly…” (4:164). On the same lines, Allah (s.w.t.) addresses Prophet Isa, “…so you would speak to the people in the cradle and in adulthood…” (5:110) The Message of Islam was communicated to the world by the Noble Messenger through his sacred tongue!

The importance of tongue has been stated above but it also entails responsibilities. “Certainly, We have created man and We know to what his soul tempts him, and We are nearer to him than his jugular vein. When the twin recorders record (his deeds), seated on the right hand and the left: he says no word but that there is a ready observer beside him.” (50:16-18). Imam Ali (a.s.) said, “Tongue is like a beast, if left uncontrolled, it would tear apart.” It can be controlled by thinking and weighing the consequences. The Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) said, “The center of many sins is his tongue.” Calamities and sins committed by tongue are:

Back-biting: “Do not spy or back-bite one another. Will any one of you love to eat the flesh of his dead brother” (49:12)

 False lie: “Indeed those who fabricate lies against Allah (s.w.t.) will not be felicitous.” (16:116)

Hypocrisy: Speaking something which is not in their hearts. “They say with their tongues what is not in their hearts” (48:11) When you were receiving on your tongues, and you were mouthing something of which you have no knowledge” (24:15) Witnessing: It is the responsibility of tongue to testify. “And do not conceal testimony” (2:283)

Ridicule others: “Let not any people ridicule another people.” (49:11)

Lies: There are many Ayahs of Qur’an and traditions of Masoomeen. “Only those fabricate lies who do not believe in the signs of Allah” (16:105)

Scandalmongering: “And do not obey any scandal-monger….” (68:11)

Gossiping: Obscene and vulgar talk. “We used to gossip along with the gossipers.” (74:45)

Slandering: “Woe to every scandal-monger and slanderer.” (104:1)

The Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) said, “Allah will chastise the tongue and will not chastise any other part of the Body. The faith will not take root in a man’s heart until his tongue is controlled.”

 

Sources: The Glorious Qur’an (Urdu translation) by Ayatullah Nasir Makarim Shirazi

                Fawaid-e-Qur’an by Allama Sayyid Mustafa Musawi, Everlasting Charter of Qur’an by Ayatullah Ja’far Subhani

                               

WHAT IS NAFS -PART ONE

 Although in the English language, no distinction made, and the word soul or spirit is used interchangeably for Rooh and Nafs. In my blog (Zulfiqar5.blogspot.com), I had tried to explain “Rooh” and the various stages of “Nafs.” Please refer my article “The Serene Soul” published on December18, 2015 and August 15, 2017.

Here, I am trying to explain “Nafs” in a novel approach. Allah creates Nafs simultaneously with the body. Nafs is abstract and independent of body. Although, its limitation is body but for sustenance it is independent of body. Matter is dependent of time and Space. Our actions are lost by passage of time, but Allah has established a system that the essence of the action is saved in our Nafs. Any deed or saying is not saved unless it is recorded. When that deed or saying is repeated several times, its influence is retained in our Nafs. It is called Malaka or Malak or angel. When we perform wudhu, then Allah creates angels from the droplets of the water of wudhu. It is mentioned in the traditions that when we recite, “Subhanallahe wal Hamdulillahe wa La Ilaha Illallahu wallahu Akber” then the angels start making houses for us in the Paradise. It is reported that the Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali (a.s.) used to recite the following supplications at various stages of performing wudu:

When beginning the wudu, He (a.s.) used to say, “I begin in the name of Allah, and only for Allah and all praise belongs to Allah, Who has made water pure and not made water impure.” When washing the hands, He (a.s.) used to say, “I begin in the name of Allah, and only for Allah, O Allah! Place me amongst those who ask for forgiveness and place me amongst those who purify themselves “When rinsing the mouth, He (a.s.) used to say, “O Allah! Enable me to answer on the Day of meeting You and open my tongue for Your Praise.” When rinsing the nose, He (a.s.) used to say, “O Allah! Do not make the fragrance of Paradise forbidden for me and let me be one of those who will smell its scent, its refreshment and its perfume.” When washing the face, He (a.s.) used to say, “O Allah! Brighten my face on the Day (of Judgement), when the faces will be darkened, and do not darken my face on the Day when the faces will be made bright. When washing the right arm, He (a.s.) used to say “O Allah! Place my book of deeds in my right hand and a permanent stay in Paradise on my left and make my reckoning an easy one.” When washing the left arm, He (a.s.) used to say, “O Allah! Do not place my book of deeds in my left hand not behind me, and do not make it hang around my neck. And I seek refuge with You from blazing fire!!” When wiping the head, He (a.s.) used to say, “O Allah! Cover me with Your Mercy, Your Blessings and Your Pardon.” When wiping the feet, He used to say, “O Allah! Keep me firm on the Bridge (to Paradise) on the Day when feet will slip and help me in my efforts to perform acts which will please You. O the Gracious and Mighty.”

Imam Ali (a.s.) said, "When a faithful performs wudu as stated above, Allah will create angels for the drops of wudu who pray for the faithful till the Day of Judgement."

Al-Jahiz was a great writer and poet. In one of his books called Kitab al-Haywan (book of living), he had mentioned two sayings of the Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali (a.s.), “A man who did not know his worth is perished. “Our great scholars like AyatullahMullah Sadra, Ayatullah Mullah Hadi Sabzwari, Ayatullah Baqir Damad and Ayatullah Muhammad Husayn Tabatabai had performed exemplary work on “Nafs”

The Nafs of Muhammad and Ale Muhammad was so high that Allah called them His Nafs. Like in Surah Ash-Shams where swears eight times specially in Ayah 7, “Wa Nafsin wa Ma Sawwaha”. Allah (s.w.t.) is proud of His creation of the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.). Of course, He was not proud for the creation of sinful creatures like us.

Surah al-Fath Ayah 10, “Indeed those who swear allegiance to you, they swear allegiance only to Allah: the hand of Allah is above their hands.” Here Allah (s.w.t.) did not use the word showing similitude saying those who swear allegiance to His Prophet was as if they are swearing allegiance to Allah! This shows the height of the nearness of the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) Similarly, Imam Ali (a.s.) was the Nafs of the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.)  as proclaimed in the famous Ayah of Mubahela, Surah Ale Imran Ayah 61, “Should anyone argue with you concerning him (Prophet Isa), after the knowledge has come to you, say, ‘Come! Let us call our sons and your sons, our women and your women, our souls, and your souls (Anfasuna wa Anfusakum) then let us pray earnestly and call down Allah’s curse upon the liars.”

Sources: The Glorious Qur’an, WIKIPEDIA, Ayatullah Aqeel al-Gharavi speech on “Marefat-e-Nafs,” Duas.org, al-Kafi 3/70