As for actions of the tongue like the remembrance of Allaah, praising and commending Him, reading His Book, sending salaah and salaam upon His Messenger, ordering the good, forbidding the evil, tasbeeh, seeking forgiveness, supplication and other actions that are performed by use of the tongue, without doubt, performing such actions, on a regular basis and often is one of the greatest causes for the increase of eemaan.
Shaykh Ibn as-Sa’dee, may Allaah have mercy upon him, says: “One of the causes that procures eemaan is to greater the remembrance of Allaah at all times and to also supplicate much, which is the core of worship.”
Remembrance of Allaah implants the tree of eemaan in the heart. It nourishes and develops it. The more the servant increases in his remembrance of Allaah, the stronger his eemaan will become.
Ibn al-Qayyim (r.a.) mentions in his book al-Waabil as-Sayyib that remembrance has a hundred benefits. He listed seventy-three of these benefits, such as that remembrance repels Shaytaan. It pleases the Most Beneficent, causes depression and anxiety to disappear and brings joy and happiness. It strengthens the heart and body, illuminates the face and heart, brings about sustenance and many other tremendous benefits that he mentioned, may Allaah have mercy upon him, which are attained because of the remembrance of Allaah.
Allaah (SWT) says:
“… and remember Allaah much so that you may succeed.”
(Surah al-Jumu’ah (62):10)
“ …and (for) men and women who remember Allaah much, Allaah has prepared for them forgiveness and a great reward.”
(Surah al-Ahzaab (33):35)
“Indeed, the believers are none other than those whom when Allaah is mentioned, their hearts tremble with fear…”
(Surah al-Anfaal (8):2)
“…Verily, it is in the remembrance of Allaah that the hearts (truly) attain tranquility.”
(Surah ar-Ra’d (13):28)
As recorded in Saheeh Muslim, Abu Hurayrah, RadiyAllaahu Anhu, reports:
“The Messenger of Allaah (SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) was on his way to Makkah when he passed by a mountain known as jumdaan. He said:
“Travel through, this is Jumdaan: the mufarridoon have excelled.”
Someone asked:
‘Who are the mufarridoon O Messenger of Allaah?’
He replied:
“Men and women who remember Allaah much.”
[Muslim, 4/2062]
Abu Dardaa’, RadiyAllaahu Anhu, relates the Prophet (SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) saying:
“Should I not inform you of the best of your deeds, the most sanctifying of them before your Lord and which does more to raise your status with Him. (A deed,) that is better for you than the disbursement of gold and money, or battle with the enemy whereby you strike at their necks and they strike at yours?”
They said: ‘What is it O Messenger of Allaah?’
He (SAWS) replied:
“Remembrance of Allaah.”
[Related by Ahmad, 5/195; Ibn Maajah, 2/1245; at-Tirmidhee, 5/459; at-Tabaraanee in ad-Du’aa’, 3/1636; al-Haakim, 1/496]
‘Abdullah Ibn Busr mentioned that a man said to the Prophet (SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam):
‘O Messenger of Allaah, the rites of eemaan are much for me, so tell me of something that I might hold fast to.’
He (SAWS) answered:
“Let not your tongue cease from the remembrance of Allaah.”
[Related by Ibn Abee Shaybah, 10/301 & 13/458; at-Tirmidhee, 5/458; Ibn Maajah, 2/1246 and al-Haakim, 1/495]
Consequently, if a person turns away from all of this and does not engage his tongue with remembrance of Allaah, his tongue will be engrossed with matters besides it such as backbiting, slander, mockery, lies and obscene language. This is because the slave cannot but speak. Thus, if he does not speak with the remembrance of Allaah and of His commands, he will speak of these things.
Ibn al-Qayyim (r.a.) says: “For the tongue does not keep quiet at all. It is either a tongue that remembers or a tongue that is frivolous and it has to be one of these two.
It is the (nature of the) soul; if you do not preoccupy it with truth, it will occupy you with falsehood. It is the (nature of the) heart; if you do not accommodate it with love of Allaah, it will dwell with love of creation and this is a certain reality. It is the (nature of the) tongue, if you do not preoccupy it with remembrance, it will most definitely occupy you with frivolity.
Thus, choose for your own self one of the two courses and confer upon it one of the two standings.”