What is the significance of the lips mentioned in Surah Al-Balad?

In Surah Al-Balad, the lips, along with the eyes and tongue, are highlighted as divine gifts from Allah. According to classical scholars like Ibn Kathir, these faculties are bestowed upon humanity to perceive the world, express oneself, and ultimately to choose the path of righteousness that Allah has shown.

How are the lips described in the Quran's depiction of Hell?

Quran 23:104 describes the people in Hellfire with scorched faces and 'kalihun' lips. Tafsir scholars like Al-Tabari and Al-Qurtubi explain this as the lips being shrunken, burned, and pulled back from the teeth in a gruesome grin of agony, exposing their jaws as a result of the intense heat.

What is the Islamic ruling on controlling what the lips say?

Islam places great emphasis on controlling the tongue and lips. Numerous hadith state that a true Muslim is one from whose tongue and hand other Muslims are safe. Scholars unanimously agree that refraining from sinful speech like lying, backbiting, and slander is obligatory, and using the lips for dhikr (remembrance of Allah) and good words is highly rewarded.

Lip in Islam: A Divine Gift for Speech and a Sign in the Hereafter

Lip

شفة

Lip (شفة) is one of the Parts of the body mentioned in the Quran.

Explore Verses Related to Lip

🕋Al-Mu'minun23:104 🕋Al-Balad90:9 🕋Al-Balad90:8 🕋Al-Balad90:10

At a Glance

According to search-discovered classical Islamic scholarship, the lip (شفة), and specifically the pair of lips (شفتين), is presented in the Quran with profound dual symbolism. In Surah Al-Balad, classical commentators like Ibn Kathir explain that the lips, along with the tongue and eyes, are divine endowments bestowed upon humanity as essential tools for perception, communication, and, most importantly, for discerning and choosing the path of guidance. They are not merely anatomical features but instruments of moral agency. In stark contrast, Surah Al-Mu'minun (23:104) depicts the lips of the inhabitants of Hell as being scorched and hideously distorted, a state described by scholars like Al-Tabari as 'kalihun', where the flesh is burned away, exposing the teeth in a permanent grin of agony. This eschatological imagery serves as a powerful warning, suggesting that the misuse of the divine gift of speech in this life leads to its torment in the Hereafter. The linguistic analysis of 'shafah' points to its function as a boundary or edge, metaphorically guarding the faculty of speech. Thus, the Quranic narrative of the lip encapsulates a complete moral arc: a divine gift for a life of purpose and a feature subject to the ultimate consequences of one's choices.

📖 Quranic Context

The lip is mentioned in the Quran in two distinct and powerful contexts: as a divine blessing and a means of guidance in this life, and as a feature grotesquely altered by the torment of Hellfire in the Hereafter.

As a creation of Allah, the lips are a sign of His creative power and wisdom, bestowed upon humanity as a tool for communication, nourishment, and expression.

References: 23:104, 90:9

💭 Theological Perspective

The lips are an integral part of the human form, essential for the faculty of speech which distinguishes humans from many other creatures.

Metaphorically, the lips are tied to the expression of the heart and mind. Guarding the tongue and lips is a central theme in Islamic ethics, reflecting inner piety.

In Surah Al-Balad, the lips, along with the tongue and eyes, are presented as divine gifts that equip humans to discern and choose the path of righteousness.

Control over what the lips utter is a key aspect of spiritual discipline (taqwa) and a reflection of one's faith.

📜 Hadith Perspective

Numerous hadith emphasize the importance of controlling the tongue, which is facilitated by the lips. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) linked safeguarding the tongue to entry into Paradise.

Speaking good or remaining silent
The dangers of backbiting and slander
The tongue as a reflection of the heart's state

Islamic scholars unanimously agree that the proper use of the lips and tongue for righteous speech is a cornerstone of Islamic morality.

💎 Deeper Insights

The juxtaposition of the two primary mentions of the lips in the Quran creates a powerful rhetorical device. In Surah Al-Balad, Allah asks a rhetorical question, 'Have We not made for him... two lips?', to highlight a blessing we take for granted. In Surah Al-Mu'minun, the description of the disfigured lips in Hell serves as the terrifying answer to what becomes of that blessing when it is met with ingratitude and misuse. The synthesis reveals a divine dialogue across surahs on the lifecycle of a blessing.

— Ibn Kathir, Al-Tabari

In the science of Tajweed, the lips (Ash-Shafatayn) are a major point of articulation (makhraj) for several Arabic letters. This gives the physical lips a direct role in the correct and beautiful recitation of the Quran itself. This connects the physical blessing mentioned in Surah Al-Balad to the very act of engaging with the divine word, elevating the lips from a mere tool of speech to a key instrument of worship. The proper use of the lips in recitation becomes a physical manifestation of gratitude for their creation.

— Scholars of Tajweed