Keeping away from idle and harmful speech is the tongue's most valuable use.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) taught that a person should either speak good or remain silent. Choosing silence over needless, empty and harmful words is the tongue at its most mature. Every word carries a responsibility, and that responsibility makes us more selective and more considerate.
What does the hadith say?
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الأَحْوَصِ، عَنْ أَبِي حَصِينٍ، عَنْ أَبِي صَالِحٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " مَنْ كَانَ يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ فَلاَ يُؤْذِ جَارَهُ، وَمَنْ كَانَ يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ فَلْيُكْرِمْ ضَيْفَهُ، وَمَنْ كَانَ يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ فَلْيَقُلْ خَيْرًا أَوْ لِيَصْمُتْ ".
Narrated Abu Huraira:Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Anybody who believes in Allah and the Last Day should not harm his neighbor, and anybody who believes in Allah and the Last Day should entertain his guest generously and anybody who believes in Allah and the Last Day should talk what is good or keep quiet. (i.e. abstain from all kinds of evil and dirty talk)
Text: Sahih al-Bukhari, hadith no. 6018. Grade: sahih (hadiths in al-Bukhari and Muslim are accepted as sahih).
What is the hadith source of this sunnah?
This sunnah rests on the following hadiths. The reference gives the collection, chapter and number where the hadith appears.
- al-Bukhari, Book of Heart-Softening Narrations, 23 (hadith no. 6475)
- Muslim, Book of Faith, 74 (hadith no. 173)
How this page was prepared: sources and verification method.
More sunnahs in Speech Etiquette
As a table with references: Speech Etiquette sunnahs.
- Never Lying: Keeping away from lying, even in jest, builds trust.
- Keeping Away from Backbiting: Speaking about someone behind their back wounds them. The Prophet strongly warned against backbiting.
- Not Interrupting: Listening to someone without cutting them off while they speak is respect made concrete.
- Correcting Gently: Gentleness adds beauty to any task; the Prophet advised this.
- Controlling Anger: Controlling yourself in a moment of anger is the shortest way to be spared words you would regret.
- Beginning Speech in the Name of Allah: Beginning an important matter of speech by remembering Allah brings blessing to the words.