A tool to break or brighten hearts
IN GOOD FAITH
Dr. Walid Fitaihi
The tongue is a muscular organ anchored in the mouth by a network of 17 tough muscles that enable its movement and function. The tongue is one of the strongest muscles in the human body and it heals faster than any other part of the body.
Depending on how it is used, the tongue can break hearts or it is the bright light that guides people along the right path.
It is not made of hard bone, yet it can wound hearts. It does not radiate light, yet it has been used for centuries to show people the right way.
A blessing from Allah, the tongue is small in size but large in its impact. It is with the tongue that one either professes or denounces faith because the tongue reveals what is in the heart and mind. The tongue can be an instrument of noble moral character that elevates one to Heaven, or a vessel that displays bad conduct and throws one into the lowest pit of Hellfire.
As for the physical anatomy of the tongue, it is a muscular organ covered with moist, pink tissue called mucosa. On its surface, tiny bumps called papillae give the tongue its rough texture. Thousands of taste buds are found on the papillae. Taste buds contain a collection of nerve-like cells running to the brain that help detect and transmit taste signals to the brain. Each taste bud has between 50 and 100 taste cells, enabling us to enjoy sweet, sour, bitter, and salty tastes.
Did you know that the human tongue is as unique to you as your fingerprints since it comes in various shapes and each individual has a unique number and pattern of taste buds?
Oral health is commonly neglected. The tongue needs special care since it is very easy for unhealthy bacteria to build up on the tongue, which causes not only bad breath but also illness. Around 600 to 700 different types of bacteria inhabit the mouth and almost half of all the bacteria in the mouth live on the tongue. Bacteria can be transmitted to the blood especially in the presence of gum disease and oral infections.
The ideal method to take care of your tongue is with a tongue scraper, to remove the whitish-yellowish coating that may appear on the tongue. A healthy tongue has a clear, pinkish hue. A tongue scraper is helpful in removing bacteria, eliminating bad breath odor, and keeping the mouth fresh and clean. Using a tongue scraper to clean your tongue is proven to prevent heart attacks, pneumonia, premature births, diabetes, osteoporosis, and infertility in men.
Studies show that using a tongue scraper to clean the tongue gets rid of 75% of the bacteria found on the tongue, whereas using a toothbrush removes only 45% of the bacteria.
It is important to protect the physical cleanliness of the tongue, but it is equally important to protect the purity of the tongue; not in a tangible sense but in the words that one speaks.
The sins committed by the tongue may be considered by many people as minor, harmless mistakes but from an Islamic perspective these are weighty, major sins. By pronouncing a few words, one may fall into grave sin; such as lying, backbiting, slandering, and giving false testimony. In some situations, using the tongue to spread rumors and soil a person’s reputation is actually more damaging and hurtful than a physical blow.
Realizing the destructive potential of the tongue, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) warned believers against falling into the sins commonly committed by the tongue. The Prophet (peace be upon him) ceaselessly taught his companions to guard their tongues and to think carefully before speaking.
In the following Hadith, Abdul Rahman ibn Abu Bakrareported, “We were with the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, and he said,‘Shall I not tell you about the biggest enormities? They are three: idolatry against Allah, disobedience to parents, and false witness.’ The Messenger of Allah was reclining and then he sat up and he continued saying it until we wished he would stop.” – Sahih Muslim.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “He who believes in Allah and the Last Day must either speak good or remain silent.” – Muslim
In another Hadith narrated by Abu Hurairah, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “A man utters a word pleasing to Allah without considering it of any significance for which Allah raises his ranks (in Paradise); another one speaks a word displeasing to Allah without considering it of any importance, and for this reason he will sink down into Hell.” – Al-Bukhari.
By telling the truth, one can guarantee a position in Paradise, as mentioned in this Hadith of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him):
Depending on how it is used, the tongue can break hearts or it is the bright light that guides people along the right path.
It is not made of hard bone, yet it can wound hearts. It does not radiate light, yet it has been used for centuries to show people the right way.
A blessing from Allah, the tongue is small in size but large in its impact. It is with the tongue that one either professes or denounces faith because the tongue reveals what is in the heart and mind. The tongue can be an instrument of noble moral character that elevates one to Heaven, or a vessel that displays bad conduct and throws one into the lowest pit of Hellfire.
As for the physical anatomy of the tongue, it is a muscular organ covered with moist, pink tissue called mucosa. On its surface, tiny bumps called papillae give the tongue its rough texture. Thousands of taste buds are found on the papillae. Taste buds contain a collection of nerve-like cells running to the brain that help detect and transmit taste signals to the brain. Each taste bud has between 50 and 100 taste cells, enabling us to enjoy sweet, sour, bitter, and salty tastes.
Did you know that the human tongue is as unique to you as your fingerprints since it comes in various shapes and each individual has a unique number and pattern of taste buds?
Oral health is commonly neglected. The tongue needs special care since it is very easy for unhealthy bacteria to build up on the tongue, which causes not only bad breath but also illness. Around 600 to 700 different types of bacteria inhabit the mouth and almost half of all the bacteria in the mouth live on the tongue. Bacteria can be transmitted to the blood especially in the presence of gum disease and oral infections.
The ideal method to take care of your tongue is with a tongue scraper, to remove the whitish-yellowish coating that may appear on the tongue. A healthy tongue has a clear, pinkish hue. A tongue scraper is helpful in removing bacteria, eliminating bad breath odor, and keeping the mouth fresh and clean. Using a tongue scraper to clean your tongue is proven to prevent heart attacks, pneumonia, premature births, diabetes, osteoporosis, and infertility in men.
Studies show that using a tongue scraper to clean the tongue gets rid of 75% of the bacteria found on the tongue, whereas using a toothbrush removes only 45% of the bacteria.
It is important to protect the physical cleanliness of the tongue, but it is equally important to protect the purity of the tongue; not in a tangible sense but in the words that one speaks.
The sins committed by the tongue may be considered by many people as minor, harmless mistakes but from an Islamic perspective these are weighty, major sins. By pronouncing a few words, one may fall into grave sin; such as lying, backbiting, slandering, and giving false testimony. In some situations, using the tongue to spread rumors and soil a person’s reputation is actually more damaging and hurtful than a physical blow.
Realizing the destructive potential of the tongue, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) warned believers against falling into the sins commonly committed by the tongue. The Prophet (peace be upon him) ceaselessly taught his companions to guard their tongues and to think carefully before speaking.
In the following Hadith, Abdul Rahman ibn Abu Bakrareported, “We were with the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, and he said,‘Shall I not tell you about the biggest enormities? They are three: idolatry against Allah, disobedience to parents, and false witness.’ The Messenger of Allah was reclining and then he sat up and he continued saying it until we wished he would stop.” – Sahih Muslim.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “He who believes in Allah and the Last Day must either speak good or remain silent.” – Muslim
In another Hadith narrated by Abu Hurairah, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “A man utters a word pleasing to Allah without considering it of any significance for which Allah raises his ranks (in Paradise); another one speaks a word displeasing to Allah without considering it of any importance, and for this reason he will sink down into Hell.” – Al-Bukhari.
By telling the truth, one can guarantee a position in Paradise, as mentioned in this Hadith of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him):
“Telling the truth is a virtue and virtue leads to Paradise and the servant who endeavors to tell the truth is recorded as truthful. A lie is obscenity and obscenity leads to Hellfire, and the servant who endeavors to tell a lie is recorded as a liar.”
Sufyan ibn Abdullah reported that he asked, “O Messenger of Allah! Tell me, of something (good) to which I may remain steadfast.”
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, “Say: Allah is my Lord and then remain steadfast.”
Then Sufyan asked, “O Messenger of Allah! What do you fear most for me?” The Prophet (peace be upon him) took hold of his own tongue and said, “This.” – Al-Tirmidhi
Controlling one’s speech may not be easy at first, but with continuous training, it is a skill that can be learned and acquired. Surround yourself with God-fearing friends; people who are loving, positive, and conscientious. Soon enough, you will reach this level of sophistication; where your tongue is used correctly and appropriately to spread knowledge or impart benefit to others, make them feel better, and lift their spirits, not to hurt others.
Sufyan ibn Abdullah reported that he asked, “O Messenger of Allah! Tell me, of something (good) to which I may remain steadfast.”
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, “Say: Allah is my Lord and then remain steadfast.”
Then Sufyan asked, “O Messenger of Allah! What do you fear most for me?” The Prophet (peace be upon him) took hold of his own tongue and said, “This.” – Al-Tirmidhi
Controlling one’s speech may not be easy at first, but with continuous training, it is a skill that can be learned and acquired. Surround yourself with God-fearing friends; people who are loving, positive, and conscientious. Soon enough, you will reach this level of sophistication; where your tongue is used correctly and appropriately to spread knowledge or impart benefit to others, make them feel better, and lift their spirits, not to hurt others.
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