Gates of Goodness

Prophet said "Shall I not guide you to the gates of goodness?
Fasting is a shield;
charity extinguishes sin as water extinguishes fire;
and a man's prayer in the middle of the night."

Then he (saws) recited: "Who forsake their beds to cry unto their Lord in fear and hope, and spend of that We have bestowed on them. No soul knoweth what is kept hid for them of joy, as a reward for what they used to do". [Qu'ran 32:16-17]

Then he (saws) said: "Shall I not also tell you of the peak of the matter, its pillar, and its topmost part?"

I said: "Yes, O Messenger of Allah."

He (saws) said: "The peak of the matter is Islam (submission to Allah), the pillar is prayer; and its topmost part is jihad."

Then he (saws) said: "And shall I not tell you of the controlling of all that?"

I said:" Yes, O Messenger of Allah".

So he (saws) took hold of his tongue and said: "Restrain this."

I said: "O Prophet of Allah, will we be held accountable for what we say?"

He (saws) said: "May your mother be bereft of you! Is there anything that makes people fall over on their faces into the Hell-fire other than the jests of their tongues?"

[Related by Al-Tirmidhi, who said it was a fine and sound hadith]