Speak good or remain silent

Allaah the Most High says:
“Not a word does one utter, except that there is an (angel)
Watching, Ready to record it.” [Surah Qaaf: 18]
Know that every individual who falls under the category of being
responsible for his actions (mukallaf) must safeguard his tongue from
all types of speech , except for that speech which consists primarily
of
some benefit.
So when speaking and refraining from speech are both found to contain
the same amount of benefit within them, then the Sunnah is to refrain
from it, altogether. This is because the allowable speech (equal in
benefit and harm) paves the way towards that which is forbidden as well
as disliked. Rather, in most cases, this will be the outcome and
applying safety, at that point, will not be able to soothe it in the
least.
Abu Hurairah (ra - may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the
Prophet (Sallallahu 'Alayhi wa Sallam - may the peace & blessings of
Allah be upon him) said: "Whosoever believes in Allaah and the Last
Day,
then let him speak good or remain silent." [Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree]
This hadeeth, of which the scholars have agreed upon its authenticity,
is a clear proof that one should not talk, unless his speech is
good—and that is the speech that consists primarily of benefit. So
if one has doubt as to whether or not his speech consists of benefit,
then he should not speak. Imaam Ash-Shaafi'ee (rahimahullaah - may
Allah
have mercy upon him) said: "When one desires to talk, then it is upon
him to think before he speaks. If there is beneficial good in what he
will say, then he should speak. And if he has doubt about that, then he
must not speak until he clears that doubt (by making his speech good)."
Abu Moosaa Al-Ash'aree (ra) said: "I said: 'O Messenger of Allaah Which
of the Muslims is best?' He (Sallallahu 'Alayhi wa Sallam) said: 'He
whose tongue and hand the Muslims are safe from.'" [Al-Bukhaaree and
Muslim]
Sahl Ibn Sa'ad (ra) reported that the Messenger of Allaah (Sallallahu
'Alayhi wa Sallam) said: "Whosoever can guarantee for me (that he will
safeguard) what is between his jaws (tongue) and what is between his
legs (private parts), I will guarantee for him Paradise ." [Saheeh
Al-Bukhaaree]
Abu Hurairah (ra) reported that he heard the Prophet (Sallallahu
'Alayhi
wa Sallam)
say: "Indeed, the servant will speak a word, while being unaware of
(its
consequences), and due to it, he will be cast into the Hellfire,
farther
than the distance between the east and the west." [Al-Bukhaaree and
Muslim]
The meaning of "while being unaware" is that he does not stop to
consider whether his speech is good or not.
Sufyaan Ibn 'Abdillaah (ra) reported that he said: "O Messenger of
Allaah (Sallallahu 'Alayhi wa Sallam) , tell me of a matter that I may
cling tightly onto.' He (Sallallahu 'Alayhi wa Sallam) said: 'Say: I
believe in Allaah and then remain steadfast (upon that).’ I said: 'O
Messenger of Allaah (Sallallahu 'Alayhi wa Sallam) , what is the most
serious thing that I should fear for myself?' So he (Sallallahu 'Alayhi
wa Sallam) took a hold of his tongue and said: 'This.'" [An authentic
hadeeth reported by At-Tirmidhee, Ibn Maajah and others]
'Uqbah Ibn 'Aamir (ra) reported: "I said: 'O Messenger of Allaah
(Sallallahu 'Alayhi wa Sallam) , how does one attain salvation?' He
said: 'Restrain your tongue, remain in your home and weep over your
sins.'" [An authentic hadeeth reported by Ibn Al-Mubaarak in Az-Zuhd
and
it has support in Ahmad]
Abu Sa'eed Al-Khudree (ra) reported that the Prophet (Sallallahu
'Alayhi
wa Sallam) said: “When the Son of Aadam wakes from his sleep, all of
his body parts seek refuge from his tongue, saying: ‘Fear Allaah
with regard to us, for indeed we are part of you. So if you are
correct,
then we will be correct and if you are corrupted, then we shall be
corrupted.” [A hasan hadeeth reported by At-Tirmidhee and others]
Guarding the Tongue From Al-Adhkaar of Imam An-Nawawi © Al-Muntaqaa
Newsletter Volume1 Issue 1 January 2000