Riyad as-Salihin
Riyad as-Salihin 1517
The Prohibition of Backbiting and the Commandment of Guarding one's Tongue
Arabic hadith text
وعن سفيان بن عبد الله رضي الله عنه قال: قلت يا رسول الله حدثني بأمر أعتصم به قال: " قل ربي الله ثم استقم" قلت: يا رسول الله ما أخوف ما تخاف علي؟ فأخذ بلسان نفسه، ثم قال: “هذا”. رواه الترمذي وقال حديث حسن صحيح.
Translation
Sufyan bin 'Abdullah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported
I asked: "O Messenger of Allah! Tell me, of something to which I may remain steadfast." He (ﷺ) said, "Say: My Rubb is Allah and then remain steadfast." Then I said: "O Messenger of Allah! What do you fear most about me?" He took hold of his own tongue and said: "This."[At-Tirmidhi].