Riyad as-Salihin · Chapter 327

Prohibition of Obscenity

باب النهي عن الفحش وبذاء اللسان

This chapter turns to the cleanliness of speech, naming fuhsh, obscenity, and a foul tongue as marks foreign to true faith. The Buruja heart here is that what fills the mouth reveals what fills the soul, and the believer is asked to keep both pure.

Read the two hadith together and a contrast appears, indecency only spoils and disfigures, while decency (haya' and good character) only beautifies. Speech is never neutral, it either stains or graces whatever it touches.

Hadith 1734

Ibn Mas'ud (May Allah be pleased with him) said:

عن ابن مسعود رضي الله عنه قال‏:‏ قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏:‏ ‏ "‏ليس المؤمن بالطعان، ولا اللعان، ولا الفاحش، ولا البذي‏" ‏‏.‏ ‏(‏‏(‏رواه الترمذي وقال حديث حسن‏)‏‏)‏‏.‏

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "A true believer does not taunt or curse or abuse or talk indecently." [At-Tirmidhi].

In plain words

A true believer does not taunt, curse, abuse, or speak indecently. Pure faith shows itself in a clean tongue.

Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1734 In-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 224

Hadith 1735

Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) said:

وعن أنس رضي الله عنه قال‏:‏ قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏:‏ ‏ "‏ما كان الفحش في شيء إلا شانه، وما كان الحياء في شيء إلا زانه‏" ‏‏.‏‏(‏‏(‏رواه الترمذي وقال حديث حسن‏)‏‏)‏‏.‏

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Indecency does not leave anything untainted and decency does not leave anything ungraced and embellished." [At- Tirmidhi].

In plain words

Indecency only spoils and disfigures whatever it touches, while decency and good character only beautify. Speech is never neutral; it either stains or graces.

Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1735 In-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 225