The Prophet; said, "A slave (of Allah) may utter a word which pleases Allah without giving it much importance, and because of that Allah will raise him to degrees (of reward): a slave (of Allah) may utter a word (carelessly) which displeases Allah without thinking of its gravity and because of that he will be thrown into the Hell-Fire."
To make the Heart Tender (Ar-Riqaq)
Sahih al-Bukhari - Hadith 6478
The Gravity of Utterance
This profound narration from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ illuminates the immense weight carried by human speech. The tongue, though a small organ, possesses the capacity to elevate one to the highest gardens or cast one into the deepest abyss.
The Word of Pleasure
When a believer speaks a word that pleases Allah—such as remembrance (dhikr), enjoining good, forbidding evil, or speaking truth—even without fully comprehending its magnitude, Allah in His infinite mercy may elevate that person multiple degrees in Paradise. This demonstrates divine generosity beyond human calculation.
The Word of Displeasure
Conversely, a careless word that angers Allah—through falsehood, backbiting, obscenity, or disbelief—spoken without consideration of its consequences, may necessitate entry into Hellfire. This severe warning underscores the necessity of guarding one's tongue at all times.
Scholarly Commentary
Imam al-Nawawi explains that this hadith emphasizes the obligation to preserve one's tongue from all harmful speech. Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani notes that the phrase "without giving it much importance" indicates that reward comes even for unintentional good, while punishment follows intentional evil, however slight it may seem to the speaker.
Practical Application
The believer must constantly monitor their speech, ensuring it aligns with divine pleasure. Before speaking, one should consider: Is this truthful? Is it beneficial? Is it necessary? If not, silence is the safer path. This teaching cultivates mindfulness (muraqabah) in every aspect of life.