“I was with the
Messenger
of Allah (ﷺ) on a journey. One morning I drew close to
him when we
were on the move and said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, tell
me of an action
that will gain me admittance to Paradise and keep me
far away from
Hell.’ He said: ‘You have asked for something
great, but it is easy
for the one for whom Allah makes it easy.
Worship Allah and do not
associate anything in worship with Him,
establish prayer, pay charity,
fast Ramadan, and perform Hajj to the
House.’ Then he said: ‘Shall I
not tell you of the means of
goodness? Fasting is a shield, and
charity extinguishes sin as water
extinguishes fire, and a man’s
prayer in the middle of the night.’
Then he recited: “Their sides
forsake their beds” until he
reached: “As a reward for what they used
to do.” Then
he said: ‘Shall I not tell you of the head of
the matter, and its
pillar and pinnacle? (It is) Jihad.’ Then he said:
‘Shall I not
tell you of the basis of all that?’ I said: ‘Yes.’ He
took hold
of his tongue then said: ‘Restrain this.’ I said: ‘O Prophet
of
Allah, will we be brought to account for what we say?’ He said:
‘May your mother not found you, O Mu’adh! Are people thrown onto
their
faces in Hell for anything other than the harvest of their
tongues?’”
Narrated by It was narrated that Mu’adh bin Jabal said:
Context
In this hadith, Mu’adh bin Jabal recounts a conversation with the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) during a journey. He asked for guidance on actions that would lead him to Paradise and keep him away from Hell. The Prophet (ﷺ) outlined key acts of worship and emphasized the importance of controlling one's speech, highlighting the weight of intentions and actions in Islam.
Modern Application
This principle can be applied daily by focusing on sincere worship and being mindful of our words. Practicing kindness, honesty, and self-restraint in communication can significantly impact our relationships and spiritual well-being.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Prayer, Fasting, Charity, Intention and Deeds, and Jihad because it covers essential acts of worship and the importance of intentions behind actions.
They ask you about the sacred month - about fighting therein. Say, "Fighting therein is great [sin], but averting [people] from the way of Allah and disbelief in Him and [preventing access to] al-Masjid al-Haram and the expulsion of its people therefrom are greater [evil] in the sight of Allah. And fitnah is greater than killing." And they will continue to fight you until they turn you back from your religion if they are able. And whoever of you reverts from his religion [to disbelief] and dies while he is a disbeliever - for those, their deeds have become worthless in this world and the Hereafter, and those are the companions of the Fire, they will abide therein eternally.
O you who have believed, when you converse privately, do not converse about sin and aggression and disobedience to the Messenger but converse about righteousness and piety. And fear Allah, to whom you will be gathered.
O Messenger, let them not grieve you who hasten into disbelief of those who say, "We believe" with their mouths, but their hearts believe not, and from among the Jews. [They are] avid listeners to falsehood, listening to another people who have not come to you. They distort words beyond their [proper] usages, saying "If you are given this, take it; but if you are not given it, then beware." But he for whom Allah intends fitnah - never will you possess [power to do] for him a thing against Allah. Those are the ones for whom Allah does not intend to purify their hearts. For them in this world is disgrace, and for them in the Hereafter is a great punishment.
This hadith is #3710 from Sunan Ibn Majah, in the Book of Tribulations. It is graded Hasan and narrated by It was narrated that Mu’adh bin Jabal said:.