Purifying our speech For many of us, sins of the tongue feel “small.”
A little complaint here… a sarcastic comment there… a voice note that turns into backbiting without meaning to…
But the tongue has the power to soften the heart and the power to harden it.
And the weeks before Ramadan is one of the best times to cleanse it.
Allah reminds us:
“Not a word does a person utter except that there is an angel ready to record it.
” Qur’an 50:18
Every sigh.
Every insult.
Every gossip.
Every unnecessary complaint.
Every soft word.
Every dua.
Every dhikr.
All of it is written.
Why The Tongue Matters So Much
The Prophet ﷺ did not warn us more about any limb than the tongue.
He said:
“A person may speak a single word, not realising its gravity, and because of it he will fall into the Fire.” (Bukhārī 6478)
One word…
A moment of carelessness…
A sentence spoken in anger…
A joke made at someone’s expense…
That’s all it takes.
And with Ramadan approaching, the month where the Qur’an is recited with the tongue, purifying our words becomes essential.
How can the same tongue that wounds hearts taste the sweetness of Qur’an?
Hidden Forms Of Harm We Often Overlook
- Backbiting disguised as “I’m just telling the truth.
- ”Complaining until gratitude becomes blurry.
- Sarcasm that hurts more than it entertains.
- Voice notes that narrate someone else’s flaws.
- Quick responses that dismiss someone’s feelings.
- Speaking when silence would have been mercy.
These don’t just harm others, they poison the heart of the speaker.
How To Purify The Tongue
1. Pause before you speak: A 2-second pause can prevent regret.
2. Replace gossip with dua: If you can talk about someone, you can pray for them.
3. Speak only when it brings benefit: The Prophet ﷺ said: “Speak good or remain silent.” (Muslim 47)This rule alone can transform your spiritual life.
4. Fill your tongue with light: Dhikr is the antidote to harmful speech. Even small words:
SubhanAllah
Alhamdulillah
Astaghfirullah
Make your heart softer and your tongue cleaner.
The tongue is small, but its impact is huge.
And the believer preparing for Ramadan begins by purifying the place where Qur’an will exit from.
Ya Allah, purify our speech and cleanse our hearts before Ramadan arrives because when the tongue becomes pure, the heart follows.