Doctrinal study of the hadith: A servant\'s faith is not upright until his heart is upright, and his heart will not be upright until his tongue is upright

Abstract

Prof. Maha Abdel Rahman Natto*

This research establishes, through the authentic hadith narrated by the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him): “The faith of a servant does not become upright until his heart becomes upright, and his heart does not become upright until his tongue becomes upright,” that this hadith is classified as good (hasan). It conveys several significant benefits, including the necessity for the servant’s faith to be upright, which subsequently leads to the righteousness of their actions. Indeed, the actions of the body cannot be upright unless the heart is upright, and a servant’s heart cannot achieve uprightness until their tongue is also upright. The heart and the tongue are interlinked; the tongue functions as a translator of what resides in the heart, articulating either belief or disbelief and potentially guiding its possessor towards either Paradise or Hell. Therefore, this hadith encourages complete uprightness through sincere faith in the heart, righteous actions, and judicious speech. Moreover, it emphasizes the importance of safeguarding one’s neighbour from harm and injury. The study further clarifies that a believer must hold a genuine love for good deeds and must detest wrongful actions. One should experience joy in performing righteous acts and feel sorrow upon committing sinful deeds. If an individual discovers that this is not the case in certain matters, it may indicate a deficiency in their faith. Furthermore, committing a major sin does not contradict the fundamental essence of faith, and the pen is regarded as the second tongue; it symbolizes the written expressions of the servant that have the potential to harm others. Among the key recommendations is the collection of narrations from the Companions of the Prophet Muhammad, as well as their successors, concerning the principles of faith, the heart, and the tongue, together with their verification and doctrinal analysis.