Hadith 1511
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: "من كان يؤمن بالله واليوم الآخر، فليقل خيرًا، أو ليصمت" ((متفق عليه)). وهذا صريح أنه ينبغي أن لا يتكلم إلا إذا كان الكلام خيرًا، وهو الذي ظهرت مصلحته، ومتى شك في ظهور المصلحة، فلا يتكلم.
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "He who believes in Allah and the Last Day must either speak good or remain silent." [Muslim].
In plain words
True faith in Allah and the Last Day should show in our speech: either say something good or stay silent. If a word is not worth saying well, it is better left unsaid.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1511 In-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 1
Hadith 1512
Abu Musa Al-Ash'ari (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعن أبي موسى رضي الله عنه قال: قلت: يا رسول الله أي المسلمين أفضل؟ قال: "من سلم المسلمون من لسانه ويده" . ((متفق عليه)).
I asked the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ): "Who is the most excellent among the Muslims?" He said, "One from whose tongue and hands the other Muslims are secure." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
In plain words
Asked who is the best Muslim, he said it is the one whose tongue and hands leave others safe. Goodness is measured by how little harm we cause people.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1512 In-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 2
Hadith 1513
Sahl bin Sa'd (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعن سهل بن سعد قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: "من يضمن لي ما بين لحييه، وما بين رجليه أضمن له الجنة" ((متفق عليه)).
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Whosoever gives me a guarantee to safeguard what is between his jaws and what is between his legs, I shall guarantee him Jannah." [Al-Bukhari].
In plain words
Whoever guards their tongue and their private parts is promised Paradise. Watching what we say and keeping chaste are among the surest paths to salvation.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1513 In-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 3
Hadith 1514
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه أنه سمع النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول: “إن العبد ليتكلم بالكلمة ما يتبين فيها يزل بها إلى النار أبعد مما بين المشرق والمغرب" ((متفق عليه)). ومعني: يتبين يتفكر أنها خير أم لا.
I heard the Prophet (ﷺ) saying, "A person utters a word thoughtlessly (i.e., without thinking about its being good or not) and, as a result of this, he will fall down into the fire of Hell deeper than the distance between the east and the west." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
In plain words
A careless word, spoken without weighing it, can plunge a person deep into the Fire. Speech is never as small as it feels in the moment.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1514 In-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 4
Hadith 1515
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعنه عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: "إن العبد ليتكلم بالكلمة من رضوان الله تعالى ما يُلقي لها بالا يرفعه الله بها درجات، وإن العبد ليتكلم بالكلمة من سخط الله تعالى لا يُلقي لها بالا يَهوي بها في جهنم" . ((رواه البخاري)).
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "A man utters a word pleasing to Allah without considering it of any significance for which Allah exalts his ranks (in Jannah); another one speaks a word displeasing to Allah without considering it of any importance, and for this reason he will sink down into Hell." [Al-Bukhari].
In plain words
A single word pleasing to Allah can raise a person's rank, and a single displeasing word can sink him low, even when he thinks nothing of it. Small words carry weight we do not see.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1515 In-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 5
Hadith 1516
Abu 'Abdur-Rahman Bilal bin Al-Harith Al-Muzani (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعن أبي عبد الرحمن بلال بن الحارث المزني رضي الله عنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: "إن الرجل ليتكلم بالكلمة من رضوان الله تعالى ما كان يظن أن تبلغ ما بلغت يكتب الله له بها رضوانه إلى يوم يلقاه، وإن الرجل ليتكلم بالكلمة من سخط الله ما كان يظن أن تبلغ ما بلغت يكتب الله له بها سخطه إلى يوم يلقاه”. رواه مالك في الموطأ والترمذي وقال حديث حسن صحيح.
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "A man speaks a good word without knowing its worth, Allah records for him His Good Pleasure till the day he will meet Him; and a man utters an evil word without realizing its importance, Allah records for him His displeasure till the day he will meet Him." [Imam Malik and At-Tirmidhi].
In plain words
A good word can earn Allah's pleasure until the day we meet Him, and a bad word His displeasure, though we count it as trivial. What seems minor to us can have lasting consequences.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1516 In-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 6
Hadith 1517
Sufyan bin 'Abdullah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعن سفيان بن عبد الله رضي الله عنه قال: قلت يا رسول الله حدثني بأمر أعتصم به قال: " قل ربي الله ثم استقم" قلت: يا رسول الله ما أخوف ما تخاف علي؟ فأخذ بلسان نفسه، ثم قال: “هذا”. رواه الترمذي وقال حديث حسن صحيح.
I asked: "O Messenger of Allah! Tell me, of something to which I may remain steadfast." He (ﷺ) said, "Say: My Rubb is Allah and then remain steadfast." Then I said: "O Messenger of Allah! What do you fear most about me?" He took hold of his own tongue and said: "This." [At-Tirmidhi].
In plain words
Asked for one thing to hold to, he said: declare Allah your Lord and stay straight. Then, asked what he feared most for the man, he held his own tongue and said 'this.'
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1517 In-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 7
Hadith 1518
Ibn 'Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) reported:
وعن ابن عمر رضي الله عنهما قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: "لا تكثروا الكلام بغير ذكر الله، فإن كثرة الكلام بغير ذكر الله تعالى قسوة للقلب! وإن أبعد الناس من الله القلب القاسي" . رواه الترمذي.
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Do not indulge in excessive talk except when remembering Allah. Excessive talking without the Remembrance of Allah hardens the heart; and those who are the farthest from Allah are those whose hearts are hard." [At-Tirmidhi]
In plain words
He warned against too much talk apart from remembering Allah, since idle chatter hardens the heart, and hard hearts are farthest from Him. Filling speech with Allah's remembrance keeps the heart soft.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1518 In-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 8
Hadith 1519
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: "ومن وقاه الله شر ما بين لحييه، وشر ما بين رجليه دخل الجنة" . ((رواه الترمذي، وقال: حديث حسن)).
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "He whom Allah saves from the evil of that which is between his jaws and the evil of that which is between his legs will enter Jannah." [At-Tirmidhi].
In plain words
Whoever Allah protects from the misuse of the tongue and the private parts will enter Paradise. Guarding these two is decisive for our end.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1519 In-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 9
Hadith 1520
'Uqbah bin 'Amir (May Allah be pleased with him) said:
وعن عقبة بن عامر رضي الله عنه قال: قلت يا رسول الله ما النجاة؟ قال: "أمسك عليك لسانك، وليسعك بيتك، وابكِ على خطيئتك" ((رواه الترمذي، وقال: حديث حسن)).
I asked the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), "How can salvation be achieved?" He replied, "Control your tongue, keep to your house, and weep over your sins." [At-Tirmidhi].
In plain words
Asked how to find salvation, he advised: control your tongue, stay home enough to avoid harm, and weep over your sins. Restraint, caution, and repentance form the path.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1520 In-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 10
Hadith 1521
Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri (May Allah be pleased with him) said:
وعن أبي سعيد الخدري رضي الله عنه عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: “إذا أصبح ابن آدم، فإن الأعضاء كلها تكفر اللسان، تقول: اتقِ الله فينا، فإنما نحن بك: فإن استقمت استقمنا وإن اعوججت اعوججنا”. ((رواه الترمذي)). 'معني “تكفر اللسان” أي تذل وتخضع له.
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "When the son of Adam gets up in the morning, all the limbs humble themselves before the tongue and say: 'Fear Allah for our sake because we are with you: (i.e., we will be rewarded or punished as a result of what you do) if you are straight, we will be straight; and if you are crooked, we will become crooked."' [At- Tirmidhi].
In plain words
In a vivid image, every morning the body's limbs beg the tongue to keep them safe, for they rise or fall with it. The tongue sets the course for the whole person.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1521 In-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 11
Hadith 1522
Mu'adh bin Jabal (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعن معاذ رضي الله عنه قال: قلت يا رسول الله: أخبرني بعمل يدخلني الجنة، ويباعدني من النار؟ قال: "لقد سألت عن عظيم، وإنه ليسير على من يسره الله تعالى عليه: تعبد الله لا تشرك به شيئًا، وتقيم الصلاة، وتؤتي الزكاة، وتصوم رمضان وتحج البيت إن استطعت إليه سبيلا ثم قال: ألا أدلك على أبواب الخير؟ الصوم جُنة، والصدقة تطفئ الخطيئة كما يطفئ الماء النار، وصلاة الرجل من جوف الليل” ثم تلا: {تتجافى جنوبهم عن المضاجع} حتى بلغ: {يعملون} (( السجدة: 16-17 )). ثم قال: "ألا أخبرك برأس الأمر وعموده وذِروة سنامه" قلت" بلى يا رسول الله، قال: رأس الأمر الإسلام، وعموده الصلاة، وذِروة سنامه الجهاد” ثم قال: “ألا أخبرك بملاك ذلك كله؟" قلت: بلى يا رسول الله، فأخذ بلسانه قال: "كف عليك هذا" قلت: يا رسول الله وإنا لمؤاخذون بما نتكلم به؟ فقال: ثكلتك أمك! وهل يُكب الناس في النار على وجوههم إلا حصائد ألسنتهم؟" ((رواه الترمذي وقال: حديث حسن صحيح، وقد سبق شرحه في باب قبل هذا)).
I asked the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ): "Inform me of an act which will cause me to enter Jannah and keep me far from Hell." He (ﷺ) replied, "You have asked me about a matter of great importance, but it is easy for one for whom Allah makes it easy." He added, "Worship Allah, associate nothing with Him in worship, offer As-Salat (the prayer), pay the Zakat, observe Saum (fasting) during Ramadan and perform Hajj (pilgrimage) to the House of Allah, if you can afford it." He (ﷺ) further said, "Shall I not guide you to the gates of goodness? Fasting is a screen (from Hell), charity extinguishes (i.e., removes) the sins as water extinguishes fire, and standing in prayers by a slave of Allah during the last third part of the night." Then he recited: "Their sides forsake their beds, to invoke their Rabb in fear and hope, and they spend (in charity in Allah's Cause) out of what We have bestowed on them. No person knows what is kept hidden for them of joy as a reward for what they used to do." (:-) Then he added, "Shall I tell you of the root of the matter, its pillar and its highest point?" I replied: "Yes! Certainly, O Prophet of Allah." He said, "The root of this matter (foundation) is Islam, its pillar (mainstay is) As-Salat (the prayer) and its highest point is Jihad (fighting in the Cause of Allah)." Then he asked, "Shall I tell you of that which holds all these things?" I said: "Yes, O Messenger of Allah." So he took hold of his tongue and said, "Keep this in control." I asked: "O Messenger of Allah! Shall we really be accounted for what we talk about?" He replied, "May your mother lose you! People will be thrown on their faces into the Hell on account of their tongues."
In plain words
Asked what leads to Paradise, he named the pillars of Islam, then the gates of good like fasting and charity and night prayer, and finally took hold of his tongue, saying that controlling it holds the rest together.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1522 In-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 12
Hadith 1523
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) said:
وعن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: “أتدرون ما الغيبة؟” قالوا: الله ورسوله أعلم قال: "ذكرك أخاك بما يكره" قيل: أفرأيت إن كان في أخي ما أقول؟ قال: "إن كان فيه ما تقول، فقد اغتبته، وإن لم يكن فيه ما تقول فقد بهته”. ((رواه مسلم)).
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Do you know what is backbiting?" The Companions said: "Allah and His Messenger know better." Thereupon he said, "Backbiting is talking about your (Muslim) brother in a manner which he dislikes." It was said to him: "What if my (Muslim) brother is as I say." He said, "If he is actually as you say, then that is backbiting; but if that is not in him, that is slandering." [Muslim].
In plain words
He defined backbiting as saying about your brother something he would dislike, and added that if it is untrue, that is slander, which is worse. Knowing the line helps us stay clear of it.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1523 In-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 13
Hadith 1524
Abu Bakrah (May Allah be pleased with him) said:
وعن أبي بكر رضي الله عنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال في خطبته يوم النحر بمنًى في حجة الوداع: "إن دماءكم، وأموالكم، وأعراضكم حرام عليكم كحرمة يومكم هذا، في شهركم هذا، في بلدكم هذا، ألا هل بلغت” ((متفق عليه)).
Delivering the sermon during the Farewell Pilgrimage on the day of Sacrifice at Mina, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Verily your blood, your property and your honour are as sacred and inviolable as the sanctity of this day of yours, in this month of yours and in this town of yours. Verily! I have conveyed this message to you." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
In plain words
In his Farewell sermon he declared a Muslim's blood, property, and honour as sacred as that holy day, month, and place. Harming another's reputation is no light matter.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1524 In-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 14
Hadith 1525
'Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) said:
وعن عائشة رضي الله عنها: قالت قلت للنبي صلى الله عليه وسلم حسبك من صفية كذا وكذا. قال بعض الرواة: تعني قصيرة، فقال: "لقد قلت كلمة لو مُزجت بماء البحر لمزجته!" قالت: وحكيت له إنسانًا فقال: “ما أحب أني حكيت إنسانًا وإن لي كذا وكذا”. ((رواه أبو داود والترمذي وقال حديث حسن صحيح.)) ومعني: "مزجته" خالطته مخالطة يتغير بها طعمه، أو ريحه لشدة نتنها وقبحها، وهذا الحديث من أبلغ الزواجر عن الغيبة، قال الله تعالى: {وما ينطق عن الهوى، إن هو إلا وحي يوحى}.
I said to the Prophet (ﷺ): "Such and such thing of Safiyyah (May Allah be pleased with her) is sufficient for you." (She means to say that she was a woman with a short stature). He said, "You have indeed uttered a word which would pollute the sea if it were mixed in it." She further said: I imitated a person before him and he said, "I do not like that I should imitate someone even (if I am paid) in return such and such." [Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi].
In plain words
When 'Aishah remarked on Safiyyah's short stature, he said the word was so foul it could pollute the sea, and refused to mock anyone for any price. Even a brief, casual put-down is taken very seriously.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1525 In-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 15
Hadith 1526
Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) said:
وعن أنس رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: “لما عُرج بي مررت بقوم لهم أظفار من نُحاس يخمشون وجوههم وصدورهم، فقلت: من هؤلاء يا جبريل؟ قال: هؤلاء الذين يأكلون لحوم الناس، ويقعون في أعراضهم!”. ((رواه أبو داود.))
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "During the Mi'raj (the Night of Ascension), I saw a group of people who were scratching their chests and faces with their copper nails. I asked, 'Who are these people, O Jibril?' Jibril replied: 'These are the people who ate flesh of others (by backbiting) and trampled people's honour."' [Abu Dawud].
In plain words
In a vision he saw people clawing their own faces, identified as those who devoured others' honour by backbiting. It pictures the real harm hidden inside loose talk about people.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1526 In-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 16
Hadith 1527
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: "كل المسلم على المسلم حرام: دمه وعرضه وماله" . ((رواه مسلم)).
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "The blood, honour and property of a Muslim is inviolable for another Muslim." [Muslim].
In plain words
A Muslim's blood, honour, and property are sacred and untouchable to another Muslim. We owe one another protection in all three.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1527 In-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 17