Riyad as-Salihin

The Book of the Prohibited actions

كتاب الأمور المنهي عنها

Chapter 254: The Prohibition of Backbiting and the Commandment of Guarding one's Tongue

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Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "He who believes in Allah and the Last Day must either speak good or remain silent."[Muslim].

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Abu Musa Al-Ash'ari (May Allah be pleased with him) reported

I asked the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ): "Who is the most excellent among the Muslims?" He said, "One from whose tongue and hands the other Muslims are secure."[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

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Sahl bin Sa'd (May Allah be pleased with him) reported

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Whosoever gives me a guarantee to safeguard what is between his jaws and what is between his legs, I shall guarantee him Jannah."[Al-Bukhari].

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Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported

I heard the Prophet (ﷺ) saying, "A person utters a word thoughtlessly (i.e., without thinking about its being good or not) and, as a result of this, he will fall down into the fire of Hell deeper than the distance between the east and the west."[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

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Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "A man utters a word pleasing to Allah without considering it of any significance for which Allah exalts his ranks (in Jannah); another one speaks a word displeasing to Allah without considering it of any importance, and for this reason he will sink down into Hell."[Al-Bukhari].

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Abu 'Abdur-Rahman Bilal bin Al-Harith Al-Muzani (May Allah be pleased with him) reported

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "A man speaks a good word without knowing its worth, Allah records for him His Good Pleasure till the day he will meet Him; and a man utters an evil word without realizing its importance, Allah records for him His displeasure till the day he will meet Him."[Imam Malik and At-Tirmidhi].

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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].

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Ibn 'Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) reported

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Do not indulge in excessive talk except when remembering Allah. Excessive talking without the Remembrance of Allah hardens the heart; and those who are the farthest from Allah are those whose hearts are hard."[At-Tirmidhi]

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Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "He whom Allah saves from the evil of that which is between his jaws and the evil of that which is between his legs will enter Jannah."[At-Tirmidhi].

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'Uqbah bin 'Amir (May Allah be pleased with him) said

I asked the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), "How can salvation be achieved?" He replied, "Control your tongue, keep to your house, and weep over your sins."[At-Tirmidhi].

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Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri (May Allah be pleased with him) said

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "When the son of Adam gets up in the morning, all the limbs humble themselves before the tongue and say: 'Fear Allah for our sake because we are with you: (i.e., we will be rewarded or punished as a result of what you do) if you are straight, we will be straight; and if you are crooked, we will become crooked."'[At- Tirmidhi].

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Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) said

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Do you know what is backbiting?" The Companions said: "Allah and His Messenger know better." Thereupon he said, "Backbiting is talking about your (Muslim) brother in a manner which he dislikes." It was said to him: "What if my (Muslim) brother is as I say." He said, "If he is actually as you say, then that is backbiting; but if that is not in him, that is slandering."[Muslim].

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Abu Bakrah (May Allah be pleased with him) said

Delivering the sermon during the Farewell Pilgrimage on the day of Sacrifice at Mina, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Verily your blood, your property and your honour are as sacred and inviolable as the sanctity of this day of yours, in this month of yours and in this town of yours. Verily! I have conveyed this message to you."[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

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'Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) said

I said to the Prophet (ﷺ): "Such and such thing of Safiyyah (May Allah be pleased with her) is sufficient for you." (She means to say that she was a woman with a short stature). He said, "You have indeed uttered a word which would pollute the sea if it were mixed in it." She further said: I imitated a person before him and he said, "I do not like that I should imitate someone even (if I am paid) in return such and such."[Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi].

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Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) said

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "During the Mi'raj (the Night of Ascension), I saw a group of people who were scratching their chests and faces with their copper nails. I asked, 'Who are these people, O Jibril?' Jibril replied: 'These are the people who ate flesh of others (by backbiting) and trampled people's honour."'[Abu Dawud].

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Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "The blood, honour and property of a Muslim is inviolable for another Muslim."[Muslim].

Chapter 255: Prohibition of Listening to Backbiting

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Abud-Darda' (May Allah be pleased with him) said

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "He who defends the honour of his (Muslim) brother, Allah will secure his face against the Fire on the Day of Resurrection."[At-Tirmidhi].

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'Itban bin Malik (May Allah be pleased with him) said in his long Hadith cited in the Chapter entitled 'Hope' reported

When the Prophet (ﷺ) stood up to offer As-Salat (the prayer) he asked, "Where is Malik bin Ad-Dukhshum?" A man replied: "He is a hypocrite. He does not love Allah and His Messenger." The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Do not say that. Do you not know that he said: La ilaha illallah (there is no true god except Allah),' seeking His Pleasure. Allah has made the fire of Hell unlawful for him who affirms that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah."[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

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Ka'b bin Malik (May Allah be pleased with him) said in his long story about his repentance

The Prophet (ﷺ) was sitting among the people in Tabuk. He (ﷺ) said, "What happened to Ka'b bin Malik?" A person from the tribe of Banu Salamah said: "O Messenger of Allah! the embellishment of his cloak and an appreciation of his sides have allured him, and he was thus detained." Mu'adh bin Jabal (May Allah be pleased with him) said: "Woe be upon you! You have passed indecent remarks. O Messenger of Allah! by Allah, we know nothing about him but good." The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) remained silent.[Al- Bukhari and Muslim].

Chapter 256: Some cases where it is permissible to Backbite

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'Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) said

A man sought permission for audience with the Prophet (ﷺ). He said, "Give him permission but he is a bad member of his tribe."[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].