In daily life, we must speak with people for various needs. As social beings, we cannot remain silent. We express ourselves to one another out of necessity. Without society, a human being can never manage life alone. There is no substitute for the understanding created through speech. Almighty Allah taught us to speak freely. He has even set certain standards for speech. When speaking, one should say something good, or else remain silent. It is narrated from Abu Hurairah (RA) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should speak good or remain silent.” (Bukhari: 6018)
Since speech is an important blessing given by the Almighty, believers must observe certain ethics and etiquette when speaking. And it is the duty of all of us to make proper use of this blessing. We will be questioned by Allah on the Day of Judgment about the time we spend speaking needlessly. Allah has said that He will take a detailed account of everything His servants do in this world. Additionally, a hadith states: “Do not speak excessively without the remembrance of Allah, for excessive speech without remembering Allah hardens the heart, and a hardened heart is the farthest from Allah.” (Tirmidhi: 2411) We must answer to Allah for every word we speak. For this reason, we must be conscious when speaking. Speech can create peace in one place and conflict in another. In the Holy Quran, Allah says: “Man does not utter any word except that with him is an observer prepared [to record].” (Surah Qaf: 18)
Speaking more than necessary increases the likelihood of error, and the consequences of such errors can be severe. One should think before speaking. Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA) warned about this, saying: “Whoever’s speech increases, their errors also increase.” (Ibn Hibban)
Refraining from idle speech or action is one of a believer’s key traits. Describing the qualities of believers, Allah says: “Certainly will the believers have succeeded: They who are during their prayer humbly submissive, and they who turn away from ill speech.” (Surah Al-Mu’minun: 1-3)
Speaking idly or unnecessarily cannot be a trait of a believer. Idle speech leads to lies, fabrication and misinformation. As a result, one can unwittingly establish oneself as a liar. Idle talk also leads to backbiting, slander, tale-bearing and gossip. Allah has given a stern warning about backbiting and gossip. Regarding awareness of backbiting, it is said: “O you who have believed, avoid much [negative] assumption. Indeed, some assumption is sin. And do not spy or backbite each other. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? You would detest it.” (Surah Al-Hujurat: 12)
The consequences of backbiting are also quite severe. Backbiting should not be considered merely “a sin of the mouth” — it is also connected to a person’s rights. It is not simply that a specific good deed is deducted for backbiting; rather, to satisfy the rights of the person who was backbitten, some of the backbiter’s good deeds may be given to them. Once the good deeds run out, the sins of the wronged person may be placed upon the backbiter instead. There is also a risk of being cast into Hellfire on the Day of Judgment because of this.
Speech does not merely express thought — it can also be a source of honor or humiliation. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “A servant may speak a word pleasing to Allah without realizing its significance, yet Allah raises him in status because of it. And a servant may speak a word displeasing to Allah without realizing its consequence, yet because of that word he is cast into the Fire.” (Bukhari: 6478)
Let us avoid unnecessary and idle speech. Let us speak only as much as we need, and only as much as is beneficial. May Almighty Allah grant us the ability to exercise restraint in our speech, ameen.