If You Can't Speak Good, Don't Speak At All

The Prophet (SAWS) said: "The faith (iman) of Allah's servant will not be upright until his heart is upright, and his heart will not be upright until his tongue is upright."

(Musnad Ahmad)

• Every morning the body parts warn the tongue:

“When man wakes up in the morning each day, all parts of the body warn the tongue saying, ‘Fear Allah as regards us for we are at your mercy; if you are upright, we will be upright and if you are crooked, we become crooked.’”

(At-Tirmidhee)

• Most of the sins are due to the tongue:

Prophet SAWS said, “Most of the sins of the children of Adam are from the tongue.” 

(At-Tabaraanee, classed as authentic)

He (SAWS) also said "Does anything topple people headlong into the Hell-fire except the harvests of their tongues?"

[Sunan al-Tirmidhi and Sunan Ibn Majah]

• Save your tongue, and you will be saved:

Prophet SAWS said: "Whoever keeps silent is saved."

[Sahih - narrated by Ahmad, at-Tirmidhi]

“Whoever guards what is between his jaws and legs. I shall guarantee him paradise.”

(Saheeh al-Bukhari)

"Indeed, the servant will speak a word, while being unaware of (its consequences), and due to it, he will be cast into the Hell-fire, farther than the distance between the east and the west."

[Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]

• If you can't speak good, don't speak at all

Allah says "Say to My servants that they should only say those things that are best, for Satan does sow dissensions among them, for Satan is to man an avowed enemy."

(Quran 17:53)

Prophet SAWS said ‘Whosoever believes in Allaah and the Last Day, then let him speak good or remain silent.’

[Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree]

• Protect others from the evils of your tongue

The Prophet SAWS said, "A Muslim is the one who avoids harming Muslims with his tongue and hands."

 (Muslim)

• Restrict your conversation

Prophet SAWS said "Allah has hated for you Qil and Qal (sinful and useless talk, like backbiting or that one talks too much about others), and to ask too many questions (in disputed religious matters, etc.)."

[Sahih Bukhari]

• Restrain your tongue from evil talk by keeping it busy with Dhikr (Allah's remembrance):

Messenger of Allah SAWS said, “Every saying of the children of Aadam is cursed, expept for the enjoining good and forbidding the evil or for the remembrance of Allah.”

[Sunan at-Tirmidhi]

• Remember your words are being recorded:

“Not a word is said except that there is a watcher by him ready to record it.”

[Quran(50):18]