Quran Verses about Guarding the tongue

وَإِذۡ أَخَذۡنَا مِيثَٰقَ بَنِيٓ إِسۡرَٰٓءِيلَ لَا تَعۡبُدُونَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهَ وَبِٱلۡوَٰلِدَيۡنِ إِحۡسَانٗا وَذِي ٱلۡقُرۡبَىٰ وَٱلۡيَتَٰمَىٰ وَٱلۡمَسَٰكِينِ وَقُولُواْ لِلنَّاسِ حُسۡنٗا وَأَقِيمُواْ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتُواْ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ ثُمَّ تَوَلَّيۡتُمۡ إِلَّا قَلِيلٗا مِّنكُمۡ وَأَنتُم مُّعۡرِضُونَ ٨٣

Wa idh akhadhnā mīthāqa banī isrāʾīla lā taʿbudūna illallāha wabil-wālidayni iḥsānaw wa dhil-qurbā wal-yatāmā wal-masākīni wa qūlū lin-nāsi ḥusnaw wa aqīmuṣ-ṣalāta wa ātuz-zakāta thumma tawallaytum illā qalīlam minkum wa antum muʿriḍūn.

And [recall] when We took the covenant from the Children of Israel, [enjoining upon them], "Do not worship except Allāh; and to parents do good and to relatives, orphans, and the needy. And speak to people good [words] and establish prayer and give zakāh." Then you turned away, except a few of you, and you were refusing.

وَلۡيَخۡشَ ٱلَّذِينَ لَوۡ تَرَكُواْ مِنۡ خَلۡفِهِمۡ ذُرِّيَّةٗ ضِعَٰفًا خَافُواْ عَلَيۡهِمۡ فَلۡيَتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَلۡيَقُولُواْ قَوۡلٗا سَدِيدًا ٩

Walyakhshal-ladhīna law tarakū min khalfihim dhurriyyatan ḍiʿāfan khāfū ʿalayhim falyattaqullāha walyaqūlū qawlan sadīdā.

And let those [executors and guardians] fear [injustice] as if they [themselves] had left weak offspring behind and feared for them. So let them fear Allāh and speak words of appropriate justice.

وَقُل لِّعِبَادِي يَقُولُواْ ٱلَّتِي هِيَ أَحۡسَنُۚ إِنَّ ٱلشَّيۡطَٰنَ يَنزَغُ بَيۡنَهُمۡۚ إِنَّ ٱلشَّيۡطَٰنَ كَانَ لِلۡإِنسَٰنِ عَدُوّٗا مُّبِينٗا ٥٣

Wa qul liʿibādī yaqūlul-latī hiya aḥsan, innash-shayṭāna yanzaghu baynahum, innash-shayṭāna kāna lil-insāni ʿaduwwam mubīnā.

And tell My servants to say that which is best. Indeed, Satan induces [dissension] among them. Indeed Satan is ever, to mankind, a clear enemy.

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ ٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَقُولُواْ قَوۡلٗا سَدِيدٗا ٧٠

Yāʾayyuhal-ladhīna āmanuttaqullāha wa qūlū qawlan sadīdā.

O you who have believed, fear Allāh and speak words of appropriate justice.

يُصۡلِحۡ لَكُمۡ أَعۡمَٰلَكُمۡ وَيَغۡفِرۡ لَكُمۡ ذُنُوبَكُمۡۗ وَمَن يُطِعِ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ فَقَدۡ فَازَ فَوۡزًا عَظِيمًا ٧١

Yuṣliḥ lakum aʿmālakum wa yaghfir lakum dhunūbakum, wa may yuṭiʿillāha wa rasūlahū faqad fāza fawzan ʿaẓīmā.

He will [then] amend for you your deeds and forgive you your sins. And whoever obeys Allāh and His Messenger has certainly attained a great attainment.

۞ قَوۡلٞ مَّعۡرُوفٞ وَمَغۡفِرَةٌ خَيۡرٞ مِّن صَدَقَةٖ يَتۡبَعُهَآ أَذٗىۗ وَٱللَّهُ غَنِيٌّ حَلِيمٞ ٢٦٣

Qawlum maʿrūfuw wa maghfiratun khayrum min ṣadaqatiy yatbaʿuhā adhā, wallāhu ghaniyyun ḥalīm.

Kind speech and forgiveness are better than charity followed by injury. And Allāh is Free of need and Forbearing.

وَلَا تُؤۡتُواْ ٱلسُّفَهَآءَ أَمۡوَٰلَكُمُ ٱلَّتِي جَعَلَ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمۡ قِيَٰمٗا وَٱرۡزُقُوهُمۡ فِيهَا وَٱكۡسُوهُمۡ وَقُولُواْ لَهُمۡ قَوۡلٗا مَّعۡرُوفٗا ٥

Wa lā tuʾtus-sufahāʾa amwālakumul-latī jaʿalallāhu lakum qiyāmaw warzuqūhum fīhā waksūhum wa qūlū lahum qawlam maʿrūfā.

And do not give the weak-minded your property,¹ which Allāh has made a means of sustenance for you, but provide for them with it and clothe them and speak to them words of appropriate kindness.

وَإِذَا حَضَرَ ٱلۡقِسۡمَةَ أُوْلُواْ ٱلۡقُرۡبَىٰ وَٱلۡيَتَٰمَىٰ وَٱلۡمَسَٰكِينُ فَٱرۡزُقُوهُم مِّنۡهُ وَقُولُواْ لَهُمۡ قَوۡلٗا مَّعۡرُوفٗا ٨

Wa idhā ḥaḍaral-qismata ulul-qurbā wal-yatāmā wal-masākīnu farzuqūhum minhu wa qūlū lahum qawlam maʿrūfā.

And when [other] relatives and orphans and the needy are present at the [time of] division, then provide for them [something] out of it [i.e., the estate] and speak to them words of appropriate kindness.

۞ وَقَضَىٰ رَبُّكَ أَلَّا تَعۡبُدُوٓاْ إِلَّآ إِيَّاهُ وَبِٱلۡوَٰلِدَيۡنِ إِحۡسَٰنًاۚ إِمَّا يَبۡلُغَنَّ عِندَكَ ٱلۡكِبَرَ أَحَدُهُمَآ أَوۡ كِلَاهُمَا فَلَا تَقُل لَّهُمَآ أُفّٖ وَلَا تَنۡهَرۡهُمَا وَقُل لَّهُمَا قَوۡلٗا كَرِيمٗا ٢٣

Wa qaḍā rabbuka allā taʿbudū illā iyyāhu wabil-wālidayni iḥsānā, immā yablughanna ʿindakal-kibara aḥaduhumā aw kilāhumā falā taqul lahumā uffiw wa lā tanharhumā wa qul lahumā qawlan karīmā.

And your Lord has decreed that you worship not except Him, and to parents, good treatment. Whether one or both of them reach old age [while] with you, say not to them [so much as], "uff,"¹ and do not repel them but speak to them a noble word.

وَإِمَّا تُعۡرِضَنَّ عَنۡهُمُ ٱبۡتِغَآءَ رَحۡمَةٖ مِّن رَّبِّكَ تَرۡجُوهَا فَقُل لَّهُمۡ قَوۡلٗا مَّيۡسُورٗا ٢٨

Wa immā tuʿriḍanna ʿanhumubtighāʾa raḥmatim mir rabbika tarjūhā faqul lahum qawlam maysūrā.

And if you [must] turn away from them [i.e., the needy] awaiting mercy from your Lord which you expect,¹ then speak to them a gentle word.

فَقُولَا لَهُۥ قَوۡلٗا لَّيِّنٗا لَّعَلَّهُۥ يَتَذَكَّرُ أَوۡ يَخۡشَىٰ ٤٤

Faqūlā lahū qawlal layyinal laʿallahū yatadhakkaru aw yakhshā.

And speak to him with gentle speech that perhaps he may be reminded or fear [Allāh]."

وَٱقۡصِدۡ فِي مَشۡيِكَ وَٱغۡضُضۡ مِن صَوۡتِكَۚ إِنَّ أَنكَرَ ٱلۡأَصۡوَٰتِ لَصَوۡتُ ٱلۡحَمِيرِ ١٩

Waqṣid fī mashyika waghḍuḍ min ṣawtik, inna ankaral-aṣwāti laṣawtul-ḥamīr.

And be moderate in your pace and lower your voice; indeed, the most disagreeable of sounds is the voice of donkeys."

۞ لَّا يُحِبُّ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡجَهۡرَ بِٱلسُّوٓءِ مِنَ ٱلۡقَوۡلِ إِلَّا مَن ظُلِمَۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ سَمِيعًا عَلِيمًا ١٤٨

Lā yuḥibbullāhul-jahra bis-sūʾi minal-qawli illā man ẓulim, wa kānallāhu samīʿan ʿalīmā.

Allāh does not like the public mention of evil except by one who has been wronged. And ever is Allāh Hearing and Knowing.

وَلَا تَسُبُّواْ ٱلَّذِينَ يَدۡعُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ فَيَسُبُّواْ ٱللَّهَ عَدۡوَۢا بِغَيۡرِ عِلۡمٖۗ كَذَٰلِكَ زَيَّنَّا لِكُلِّ أُمَّةٍ عَمَلَهُمۡ ثُمَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِم مَّرۡجِعُهُمۡ فَيُنَبِّئُهُم بِمَا كَانُواْ يَعۡمَلُونَ ١٠٨

Wa lā tasubbul-ladhīna yadʿūna min dūnillāhi fayasubbullāha ʿadwam bighayri ʿilm, kadhālika zayyannā likulli ummatin ʿamalahum thumma ilā rabbihim marjiʿuhum fayunabbiʾuhum bimā kānū yaʿmalūn.

And do not insult those they invoke other than Allāh, lest they insult Allāh in enmity without knowledge. Thus We have made pleasing to every community their deeds. Then to their Lord is their return, and He will inform them about what they used to do.

وَلَا تَقُولُواْ لِمَا تَصِفُ أَلۡسِنَتُكُمُ ٱلۡكَذِبَ هَٰذَا حَلَٰلٞ وَهَٰذَا حَرَامٞ لِّتَفۡتَرُواْ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ٱلۡكَذِبَۚ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَفۡتَرُونَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ٱلۡكَذِبَ لَا يُفۡلِحُونَ ١١٦

Wa lā taqūlū limā taṣifu alsinatukumul-kadhiba hādhā ḥalāluw wa hādhā ḥarāmul litaftarū ʿalallāhil-kadhib, innal-ladhīna yaftarūna ʿalallāhil-kadhiba lā yufliḥūn.

And do not say about what your tongues assert of untruth, "This is lawful and this is unlawful," to invent falsehood about Allāh. Indeed, those who invent falsehood about Allāh will not succeed.

ذَٰلِكَۖ وَمَن يُعَظِّمۡ حُرُمَٰتِ ٱللَّهِ فَهُوَ خَيۡرٞ لَّهُۥ عِندَ رَبِّهِۦۗ وَأُحِلَّتۡ لَكُمُ ٱلۡأَنۡعَٰمُ إِلَّا مَا يُتۡلَىٰ عَلَيۡكُمۡۖ فَٱجۡتَنِبُواْ ٱلرِّجۡسَ مِنَ ٱلۡأَوۡثَٰنِ وَٱجۡتَنِبُواْ قَوۡلَ ٱلزُّورِ ٣٠

Dhālik, wa may yuʿaẓẓim ḥurumātillāhi fahuwa khayrul lahū ʿinda rabbih, wa uḥillat lakumul-anʿāmu illā mā yutlā ʿalaykum, fajtanibur-rijsa minal-awthāni wajtanibū qawlaz-zūr.

That [has been commanded], and whoever honors the sacred ordinances of Allāh - it is best for him in the sight of his Lord. And permitted to you are the grazing livestock, except what is recited to you.¹ So avoid the uncleanliness of idols and avoid false statement,

وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمۡ عَنِ ٱللَّغۡوِ مُعۡرِضُونَ ٣

Wal-ladhīna hum ʿanil-laghwi muʿriḍūn.

And they who turn away from ill speech

وَعِبَادُ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلَّذِينَ يَمۡشُونَ عَلَى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ هَوۡنٗا وَإِذَا خَاطَبَهُمُ ٱلۡجَٰهِلُونَ قَالُواْ سَلَٰمٗا ٦٣

Wa ʿibādur-raḥmānil-ladhīna yamshūna ʿalal-arḍi hawnaw wa idhā khāṭabahumul-jāhilūna qālū salāmā.

And the servants of the Most Merciful are those who walk upon the earth easily,¹ and when the ignorant address them [harshly], they say [words of] peace,²

وَٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَشۡهَدُونَ ٱلزُّورَ وَإِذَا مَرُّواْ بِٱللَّغۡوِ مَرُّواْ كِرَامٗا ٧٢

Wal-ladhīna lā yashhadūnaz-zūra wa idhā marrū bil-laghwi marrū kirāmā.

And [they are] those who do not testify to falsehood, and when they pass near ill speech, they pass by with dignity.

وَإِذَا سَمِعُواْ ٱللَّغۡوَ أَعۡرَضُواْ عَنۡهُ وَقَالُواْ لَنَآ أَعۡمَٰلُنَا وَلَكُمۡ أَعۡمَٰلُكُمۡ سَلَٰمٌ عَلَيۡكُمۡ لَا نَبۡتَغِي ٱلۡجَٰهِلِينَ ٥٥

Wa idhā samiʿul-laghwa aʿraḍū ʿanhu wa qālū lanā aʿmālunā wa lakum aʿmālukum salāmun ʿalaykum lā nabtaghil-jāhilīn.

And when they hear ill speech, they turn away from it and say, "For us are our deeds, and for you are your deeds. Peace will be upon you;¹ we seek not the ignorant."

إِذۡ تَلَقَّوۡنَهُۥ بِأَلۡسِنَتِكُمۡ وَتَقُولُونَ بِأَفۡوَاهِكُم مَّا لَيۡسَ لَكُم بِهِۦ عِلۡمٞ وَتَحۡسَبُونَهُۥ هَيِّنٗا وَهُوَ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ عَظِيمٞ ١٥

Idh talaqqawnahū biʾalsinatikum wa taqūlūna biʾafwāhikum mā laysa lakum bihī ʿilmuw wa taḥsabūnahū hayyinaw wa huwa ʿindallāhi ʿaẓīm.

When you received it with your tongues¹ and said with your mouths that of which you had no knowledge and thought it was insignificant while it was, in the sight of Allāh, tremendous.

وَلَوۡلَآ إِذۡ سَمِعۡتُمُوهُ قُلۡتُم مَّا يَكُونُ لَنَآ أَن نَّتَكَلَّمَ بِهَٰذَا سُبۡحَٰنَكَ هَٰذَا بُهۡتَٰنٌ عَظِيمٞ ١٦

Wa lawlā idh samiʿtumūhu qultum mā yakūnu lanā an natakallama bihādhā subḥānaka hādhā buhtānun ʿaẓīm.

And why, when you heard it, did you not say, "It is not for us to speak of this. Exalted are You, [O Allāh]; this is a great slander"?

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَرۡمُونَ ٱلۡمُحۡصَنَٰتِ ٱلۡغَٰفِلَٰتِ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنَٰتِ لُعِنُواْ فِي ٱلدُّنۡيَا وَٱلۡأٓخِرَةِ وَلَهُمۡ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٞ ٢٣

Innal-ladhīna yarmūnal-muḥṣanātil-ghāfilātil-muʾmināti luʿinū fid-dunyā wal-ākhirati wa lahum ʿadhābun ʿaẓīm.

Indeed, those who [falsely] accuse chaste, unaware and believing women are cursed in this world and the Hereafter; and they will have a great punishment

يَوۡمَ تَشۡهَدُ عَلَيۡهِمۡ أَلۡسِنَتُهُمۡ وَأَيۡدِيهِمۡ وَأَرۡجُلُهُم بِمَا كَانُواْ يَعۡمَلُونَ ٢٤

Yawma tashhadu ʿalayhim alsinatuhum wa aydīhim wa arjuluhum bimā kānū yaʿmalūn.

On a Day when their tongues, their hands and their feet will bear witness against them as to what they used to do.

إِذۡ يَتَلَقَّى ٱلۡمُتَلَقِّيَانِ عَنِ ٱلۡيَمِينِ وَعَنِ ٱلشِّمَالِ قَعِيدٞ ١٧

Idh yatalaqqal-mutalaqqiyāni ʿanil-yamīni wa ʿanish-shimāli qaʿīd.

When the two receivers [i.e., recording angels] receive,¹ seated on the right and on the left.

مَّا يَلۡفِظُ مِن قَوۡلٍ إِلَّا لَدَيۡهِ رَقِيبٌ عَتِيدٞ ١٨

Mā yalfiẓu min qawlin illā ladayhi raqībun ʿatīd.

He [i.e., man] utters no word except that with him is an observer prepared [to record].

أَلَمۡ تَرَ كَيۡفَ ضَرَبَ ٱللَّهُ مَثَلٗا كَلِمَةٗ طَيِّبَةٗ كَشَجَرَةٖ طَيِّبَةٍ أَصۡلُهَا ثَابِتٞ وَفَرۡعُهَا فِي ٱلسَّمَآءِ ٢٤

Alam tara kayfa ḍaraballāhu mathalan kalimatan ṭayyibatan kashajaratin ṭayyibatin aṣluhā thābituw wa farʿuhā fis-samāʾ.

Have you not considered how Allāh presents an example, [making] a good word like a good tree, whose root is firmly fixed and its branches [high] in the sky?

تُؤۡتِيٓ أُكُلَهَا كُلَّ حِينِۭ بِإِذۡنِ رَبِّهَاۗ وَيَضۡرِبُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡأَمۡثَالَ لِلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمۡ يَتَذَكَّرُونَ ٢٥

Tuʾtī ukulahā kulla ḥīni biʾidhni rabbihā, wa yaḍribullāhul-amthāla lin-nāsi laʿallahum yatadhakkarūn.

It produces its fruit all the time, by permission of its Lord. And Allāh presents examples for the people that perhaps they will be reminded.

وَمَثَلُ كَلِمَةٍ خَبِيثَةٖ كَشَجَرَةٍ خَبِيثَةٍ ٱجۡتُثَّتۡ مِن فَوۡقِ ٱلۡأَرۡضِ مَا لَهَا مِن قَرَارٖ ٢٦

Wa mathalu kalimatin khabīthatin kashajaratin khabīthatinijtuththat min fawqil-arḍi mā lahā min qarār.

And the example of a bad word is like a bad tree, uprooted from the surface of the earth, not having any stability.

وَهُدُوٓاْ إِلَى ٱلطَّيِّبِ مِنَ ٱلۡقَوۡلِ وَهُدُوٓاْ إِلَىٰ صِرَٰطِ ٱلۡحَمِيدِ ٢٤

Wa hudū ilaṭ-ṭayyibi minal-qawli wa hudū ilā ṣirāṭil-ḥamīd.

And they had been guided [in worldly life] to good speech, and they were guided to the path of the Praiseworthy.

مَن كَانَ يُرِيدُ ٱلۡعِزَّةَ فَلِلَّهِ ٱلۡعِزَّةُ جَمِيعًاۚ إِلَيۡهِ يَصۡعَدُ ٱلۡكَلِمُ ٱلطَّيِّبُ وَٱلۡعَمَلُ ٱلصَّٰلِحُ يَرۡفَعُهُۥۚ وَٱلَّذِينَ يَمۡكُرُونَ ٱلسَّيِّـَٔاتِ لَهُمۡ عَذَابٞ شَدِيدٞۖ وَمَكۡرُ أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ هُوَ يَبُورُ ١٠

Man kāna yurīdul-ʿizzata falillāhil-ʿizzatu jamīʿā, ilayhi yaṣʿadul-kalimuṭ-ṭayyibu wal-ʿamaluṣ-ṣāliḥu yarfaʿuh, wal-ladhīna yamkurūnas-sayyiʾāti lahum ʿadhābun shadīd, wa makru ulāʾika huwa yabūr.

Whoever desires honor [through power] - then to Allāh belongs all honor.¹ To Him ascends good speech, and righteous work raises it.² But they who plot evil deeds will have a severe punishment, and the plotting of those - it will perish.

وَمَنۡ أَحۡسَنُ قَوۡلٗا مِّمَّن دَعَآ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ وَعَمِلَ صَٰلِحٗا وَقَالَ إِنَّنِي مِنَ ٱلۡمُسۡلِمِينَ ٣٣

Wa man aḥsanu qawlam mimman daʿā ilallāhi wa ʿamila ṣāliḥaw wa qāla innanī minal-muslimīn.

And who is better in speech than one who invites to Allāh and does righteousness and says, "Indeed, I am of the Muslims."