Imam Ghazali [Allah bless him] categorizes the sins of the tongue under 20 rubrics. One must refrain from falling under any of these 20 mischiefs of the tongue, as this can cause a person to fall into sin. An Insight and in depth look into this matter.

    20 ways of mischief caused by the tongue

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Undoubtedly the tongue can be a means of attaining great reward. If one speaks the truth and that which is beneficial, this can be a means of gaining reward. As Allah says:

وَمَنۡ أَحۡسَنُ قَوۡلࣰا مِّمَّن دَعَاۤ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ وَعَمِلَ صَـٰلِحࣰا وَقَالَ إِنَّنِی مِنَ 

ٱلۡمُسۡلِمِینَ [41:33]

Translation: And whose words are better than someone who calls ˹others˺ to Allah, does good, and says, “I am truly one of those who submit.”?

However, the tongue can also bring harm and sin, if used inappropriately. A hadith narrated by Imam Bukhari [256 AH] in his Sahih:

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، سَمِعَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ ‏ “‏ إِنَّ الْعَبْدَ لَيَتَكَلَّمُ بِالْكَلِمَةِ مَا يَتَبَيَّنُ فِيهَا، يَزِلُّ بِهَا فِي النَّارِ أَبْعَدَ مِمَّا بَيْنَ الْمَشْرِقِ ‏”‏‏

Narrated Abu Huraira [Allah bless him]:

That he heard Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) saying, “A slave of Allah may utter a word without thinking whether it is right or wrong, he may slip down in the Fire as far away a distance equal to that between the east.” 

[Sahih Bukhari: 6477]

Imam Ghazali categories the mischiefs of the tongue under the following 20 classifications:

1. Speaking without a valid basis.
2. Unnecessary speech.
3. Speaking regarding forbidden things, such as films and songs.
4. Quarrelling
5. Making noise with a view to degrading someone.
6. Using abusive and indecent words.
7. Affection in speech.
8. [Wrongfully] reproaching someone.
9. Mocking someone.
10. Singing and reciting improper couplets.
11. Ridiculing people.
12. Divulging someone’s secret.
13. Making false promises.
14. Telling lies.
15. Backbiting.
16. Carrying tales.
17. Duplicity in speech.
18. Praising someone without him deserving it.
19. Not paying attention to one’s own lapses.
20. Discussing religious issues with people who are unable to comprehend the topics. 

From the above 20 points, the author has expounded on number 14 and 15 due to how common and widespread they are. 

Telling lies

There are many warnings from the divine scriptures, regarding telling lies. 2 Ahadith are mentioned below:

Abdullah reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: 

‘Truth leads one to Paradise and virtue leads one to Paradise and the person tells the truth until he is recorded as truthful, and lie leads to obscenity and obscenity leads to Hell, and the person tells a lie until he is recorded as a liar.’

Sahih Muslim – Book 32 Hadith 6307

Allah’s Apostle said, “The signs of a hypocrite are three: Whenever he speaks, he tells a lie; and whenever he promises, he breaks his promise; and whenever he is entrusted, he betrays (proves to be dishonest)”.

Sahih Al-Bukhari – Book 73 Hadith 117

Backbiting

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ أَتَدْرُونَ مَا الْغِيبَةُ قَالُوا اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَعْلَمُ قَالَ ذِكْرُكَ أَخَاكَ بِمَا يَكْرَهُ قِيلَ أَفَرَأَيْتَ إِنْ كَانَ فِي أَخِي مَا أَقُولُ قَالَ إِنْ كَانَ فِيهِ مَا تَقُولُ فَقَدْ اغْتَبْتَهُ وَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ فِيهِ فَقَدْ بَهَتَّهُ

[2589 صحيح مسلم كتاب البر والصلة والآداب باب تحريم الغيبة]

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Do you know what backbiting is?” They said, “Allah and His Messenger know best.” The Prophet said, “To mention your brother in a way he dislikes.” It was said, “What if it is true about him?” The Prophet said, “If what you say about him is true, it is backbiting. If it is not true, it is slander.”

[Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2589]