In the lexicon one finds the expression salaqūkum ⦗1⦘—to raise one’s voice with hurtful words. Hence the term ṣāliqa, the woman who wails loudly at a calamity. It is said: salaqahu and salaqahu again ⦗2⦘—a reading adopted by some of the early authorities, though it does not match the consonantal text of the Muṣḥaf—when someone addresses another in a harsh, forceful manner. Likewise they say: khaṭīb mislāq, meaning an eloquent preacher. The vehemence here, however, is employed for evil, not for good, as in His words: “with sharp tongues, begrudging any good.”

This verbal lashing with razor-edged tongues ⦗3⦘ takes several forms:

• Sometimes the hypocrites say to the believers ⦗4⦘: “All that has happened to us is because of your ill omen; you are the ones who invited people to this religion, fought for it, and opposed them.” Such was the hypocrites’ remark to the believing Companions ⦗5⦘.

• At other times they say: “You were the ones who advised us to stay here and hold this frontier until now; had we set out earlier, none of this would have touched us.”

• Yet again they say: “Few and weak as you are, you still think you can break the enemy—your religion has deluded you!” as the Exalted says: “When the hypocrites and those in whose hearts is a disease said, ‘These people have been deluded by their religion.’ But whoever puts his trust in Allah—indeed Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise.” (Al-Anfal 8:49).