Quran-90:9 Surah Al-balad English Translation,Transliteration and Tafsir(Tafseer).

وَلِسَانٗا وَشَفَتَيۡنِ

Transliteration:( Wa lisaananw wa shafatayn )

9.And a tongue and two lips [9]? (Kanzul Imaan Translation)

(9) And a tongue and two lips? (Saheen International Translation)

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Surah Al-Balad Ayat 9 Tafsir (Commentry)

Tafseer-e-Naeemi (Ahmad Yaar Khan)
Ibn Kathir
Ala-Madudi
Shaheen International

9. The Role of the Tongue and Its Spiritual Significance

This verse emphasizes the importance of the tongue as both a physical and spiritual tool. It stresses the need for controlling one’s speech and aligning both the outer and inner aspects of communication for a more meaningful and impactful life.

Key Insights:

The Eye vs. The Tongue:
- The eye looks at others, but the tongue speaks about one’s own condition, not that of others. This establishes an interesting contrast between how we perceive the world around us and how we communicate our own experiences and state.
- The encounter between the eye and the tongue represents the dual nature of human existence: perception vs expression.
Unity of the Tongue:
- Unlike other outer limbs, which come in pairs (e.g., hands, feet), the tongue is singular, which serves as a reminder that one should speak less and focus more on actions.
- A person should be true to their words, as a double tongue (one that speaks deceitfully or contradicts itself) reflects hypocrisy.
- Just as the outer tongue is singular, the inner tongue (the tongue of the heart) should also be singular, meaning one should have consistent thoughts and intentions aligned with their words and actions.
Control and Accountability of the Tongue:
- The tongue is enclosed by the lips, and it is guarded by thirty-two teeth to signify that loose speech is harmful. The teeth serve as a physical reminder that speech should be controlled and thoughtful.
- An uncontrolled tongue leads a person away from both Allah and His creation, causing harm to relationships and spirituality.
The Role of the Tongue in Communication:
- Speech can reflect different influences:
  - The baser self may speak through a person’s tongue, leading to negative or selfish speech.
  - The devil can influence speech, causing one to speak in ways that lead to harm or misguidance.
  - The angels may speak through a person, guiding them toward goodness and righteousness.
  - Ultimately, Allah Almighty can speak through a person’s tongue, especially when they speak in alignment with His divine guidance.
The Tongue as a Manifestation of Divine Power:
- The tongue is one of Allah's special bounties and represents His divine power. It acts as the vehicle for communication, whether in worldly or spiritual matters.
- The Quranic verses and prayers are compared to bullets, while the tongue is like the rifle used to propel them. A pure tongue enhances the effectiveness of these prayers and verses.
Purity of Speech:
- Purifying the tongue enables the person to perceive and experience the light of the Holy Quran more deeply.
- According to Sufi sages, the tongue of Islam and guidance is the Holy Quran, and the actions and sayings of the Holy Prophet (صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ) are like the lips. Just as the tongue cannot express the secrets of the heart without the help of the lips, the actions and utterances of the Prophet are needed to reveal the deeper meanings of the Quran.

Ibn-Kathir

The tafsir of Surah Balad verse 9 by Ibn Kathir is unavailable here.
Please refer to Surah Balad ayat 1 which provides the complete commentary from verse 1 through 10.

Ala-Maududi

(90:9) and a tongue and two lips?^[9]

9. That is, have We not given him the means of obtaining knowledge and wisdom? Two eyes does not imply the eyes of the cow and buffalo, but human eyes, which if used intelligently can help man see all around himself those signs which lead to the reality and distinguish the right from the wrong. The tongue and lips do not merely imply the instruments of speech but the rational mind behind these instruments which performs the functions of thinking and understanding and then uses them for expressing its ideas, motives and designs.

(9) And a tongue and two lips?