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What is Book 24 of the Iḥyāʾ?
Evils of the Tongue is Book 24 of Imam al-Ghazālī's Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn, from the 11th–12th century, in the quarter on the Destructive Vices. Al-Ghazālī calls the tongue one of Allah's great blessings, small in size but great in influence: disbelief and faith are distinguished by its testimony, and it can lead a person to ruin if not restrained. The question the book answers is when it is praiseworthy to release the tongue and when it is blameworthy, a knowledge the opening calls subtle and rare. It lists the defects of the tongue one by one, with their definitions, causes and dangers, and the means of guarding against them.
The seven chapters start with the great danger of the tongue and the virtue of silence. The first affliction is speaking about what does not concern you. Then come indulgence in falsehood and an explanation of the permissible instances of lying. Two chapters are given to backbiting: an explanation of its meaning and limits, and a clarification of the prohibition of backbiting with the heart. For each defect the book presents the reports and traditions that criticize it, along with the way to guard against it.
The opening reminds the reader of the saying that it is the harvests of their tongues that will cause people to be thrown into the Fire on their faces. One can only be saved from the evil of the tongue, it says, by shackling it with the restraints of the law. The tongue has a broad field with no barrier to its scope, and everything encompassed by knowledge is expressed by it, in truth or in falsehood. Guarding it is therefore presented as a duty, not a refinement.
Is there an English audiobook of Evils of the Tongue?
Yes. Joyful Muslims publishes the complete Book 24 of the Iḥyāʾ, Evils of the Tongue, as an English audiobook (about 4 hours), translated from the Arabic, with a word-synced bilingual transcript. It examines lying, backbiting, slander, argumentation and other destructive speech habits, with practical guidance on guarding one's speech.
Is it free to listen?
The whole library is open to everyone. Every member gets five hours of listening free each month; Joyful+ removes the time limit.
What does it cover?
Seven chapters: the danger of the tongue and the virtue of silence, speaking about what does not concern you, indulgence in falsehood, the permissible instances of lying, the meaning and limits of backbiting, and backbiting with the heart. It runs about 4 hours.
Last updated 2026-09-11
Inside the book.
Chapters
Word-synced with the narrator.
The first three minutes are transcribed here. In the app, the Living Manuscript scrolls through the entire book in rhythm with the audio — Arabic alongside English.
Living Manuscript
Listen to the full book in the app for the complete Living Manuscript.
The full, word-synced transcript in Arabic and English is in the app.
