The Best and Worst Organs

Hadhrat Luqmaan (Alayhis Salaam), was an Abyssinian slave who by trade was a carpenter. Once while he was in the presence of his master, his master instructed him to slaughter a sheep and bring the two best organs to him. Hadhrat Luqmaan (Alayhis Salaam) slaughtered the sheep and brought the heart and the tongue to his master.

On another occasion, his master instructed him to slaughter a sheep and bring the two most despicable organs to him. This time also, Hadhrat Luqmaan (Alayhis Salaam) came forth with the same two organs, viz. the heart and the tongue. In amazement his master exclaimed: “On both occasions I notice that you have brought the very same organs to me. How is it that the heart and the tongue can be the best organs as well as the most despicable organs?”

Hadhrat Luqmaan (Alayhis Salaam) replied: “O my master, if the heart and the tongue are kept pure, then there can be no organ in the body that is more valuable and better than it. However if they are misused and polluted, then there can be no organ in the human body that is more despicable than it.” (Tafseer ibn Katheer- Surah Luqmaan)