In this relation...

In this relation, the Messenger of Allah (SAW) has been reported as saying: “God will punish the tongue with a punishment that no other part of body shall be punished with. The tongue shall say: ‘O Lord!

Will you punish me with a punishment that no other part of the body shall be punished with?’ It shall be said to the tongue: ‘From you came out a word that reached the east and the west of the earth and caused blood to be shed unlawfully, assets were looted unlawfully, and women were violated unlawfully. By My glory!

I will punish you with a punishment that I have not punished any other part of the body with its like.”[^13] Imam Sajjad (AS) has been reported as saying: “The human tongue gains control over other parts of the body every day. So it will ask: ‘How did you spend the night?’ The other parts of the body shall say: ‘we are well if you leave us alone to ourselves.

The parts of the body seek refuge with God, saying to the tongue: ‘we are rewarded and punished because of you.’”[^14] If you think carefully about this flesh (tongue), you will realize that its size is little, but it is the source of offences, mischief, and corruption.

All the lies told in global conferences, media, negative propaganda, false claims about God, prophets, Imams, religious authorities, and other vices like slandering, backbiting, reproaches, derisions, baseless debates, false evidences, and sarcastic statements come from the very tongue! To sum it up, belief and disbelief, guidance and deviation, knowledge and ignorance, truth and falsehood arise from the tongue.

It is for the same reason that the tongue is said to have a great role in illusions, rational science, imaginations, observations, tangibles, tastes as well as things heard and seen. Hence, God Almighty has ordered the Holy Prophet and the Imams to observe Taqwa in relation to tongue. Such companions of the Holy Prophet (SAW) as Abu -Tharr have recommended us to control our tongues, saying: “O seeker of knowledge! This tongue is a key to good and evil.

Therefore, put a seal on your tongue in the same way that you put a seal on gold, silver, coins and your manuscripts.”[^15] There are many narrations on the merits of silence. The Messenger of Allah (SAW) has been reported by Imam Sadiq as saying: “Silence is an abundant treasure. It is an ornament for the patient and a cover for the ignorant.”[^16] Imam Reza (AS) has been reported as saying: “Some of the signs of jurisprudence are endurance, knowledge and silence.