Consequences of the Tongue

Keeping away from Hell, Gates of Goodness, Basis for Jannah.

Mu'adz bin Jabal (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: I inquired the Messenger of Allah (PBUH): “Inform me of an act which will cause me to enter Jannah and keep me far from Hell.''

He (PBUH) replied, "You have asked me about a matter of great importance, but it is easy for one for whom Allah makes it easy.''
He added, " Worship Allah, associate nothing with Him in worship, offer As-Solat (the prayer), pay the Zakat, observe Saum (fasting) during Ramadan and perform Hajj (pilgrimage) to the House of Allah, if you can afford it.''

He (PBUH) further said, "Shall I not guide you to the Gates of Goodness?" Fasting is a screen (from Hell), charity extinguishes (i.e., removes) the sins as water extinguishes fire, and standing in prayers by a slave of Allah during the last third part of the night (qiyamulail).'' Then he recited: "Their sides forsake their beds, to invoke their Rabb in fear and hope, and they spend (in charity in Allah's Cause) out of what We have bestowed on them. No person knows what is kept hidden for them of joy as a reward for what they used to do.'' (Surah Sajdah, 32:17, 18)

Then he added, "Shall I tell you of the root of the matter, its pillar and its highest point?'' I replied: "Yes! Certainly, O Prophet of Allah.'' He said, "The root of this matter (foundation) is Islam, its pillar (mainstay is) As-Solat (the prayer) and its highest point is Jihad (fighting in the Cause of Allah).''

Then he said, "Shall I tell you of that which holds all these things?'' I said: "Yes, O Messenger of Allah.'' So he took hold of his tongue and said, "Keep this in control.'' I asked: "O Messenger of Allah! Shall we really be accounted for what we talk about?'' He replied, "May your mother lose you! People will be thrown on their faces into the Hell on account of their tongues.''

[At-Tirmidzi]

Commentary: Besides describing Articles of Islam, this Hadith mentions the dangers which lie in the careless use of the tongue. All good actions can go waste if one does not guard his speech. One should, therefore, guard his tongue against that which Allah has made prohibited, (but keep your tongue wet with the remembrance of Allah (zikrullah).

[Excerpted from Riyad-us-Saliheen, Book Seventeen- The Book of the Prohibited Actions Wponline.Org ]