The teachings that the Messenger of Allah has given us are eternal.

The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him speak good or remain silent.” (Sahih Bukhari and Muslim)

This hadith is vast in its brevity. The words here are very few, but each word is as powerful, sharp and profound as a pearl. On the one hand, this sentence is the key to a person’s self-purification, and on the other hand, it is also the foundation of peace in a society. The tongue—this small organ—can sometimes become an eternal poison, and on the other hand, it can be used to pave the way to Paradise. The Messenger of Allah has shown us the infinite power of speech in this hadith.

The words of a person are the mirror of his heart. The heart that is free from corruption, the heart that fears Allah, the words of his mouth are gentle, compassionate and well-ordered. He never hurts anyone, but rather his words bring peace to the hearts of others. On the other hand, the tongue of one whose heart is full of jealousy, pride and arrogance is sharp, painful, and sometimes even full of obscenity. With this tongue, he destroys relationships, hurts illusions, and destroys social trust. Even this organ becomes the cause of his danger on the Day of Judgment.

The Messenger of Allah directly mentioned two conditions in this hadith - one, speaking good words; two, remaining silent. Here, speaking good words does not only mean speaking the truth, but also speaking words that are beneficial, benefit others, reassure someone, give courage to someone, or maintain peace and order in society. Good words can be praising someone, encouraging someone to be patient, turning someone away from a crime, or giving advice that helps a person return to Allah.

On the other hand, being silent is also a great act of worship. Talking all the time or expressing one's opinion is not intelligence. Sometimes, being silent is a sign of conscience and a sign of self-control. If a person is not sure that what he says will bring benefit to others, then he should not speak. Because unnecessary, impolite or suspicious words increase the burden of his own sins and cause pain to others. Silence here is not just silence, but it is a consciousness - which reminds us that every word is a trust, for which an account will be taken.

In this hadith, belief in Allah and the Day of Judgment is mentioned as a condition for speaking well. That is, a true believer can never speak carelessly. There is a sense of accountability in his every word in the hereafter. He knows that every word he utters is being recorded, every sentence points in some direction - be it towards Paradise or Hell. Those who remember the Day of Judgment know - if a lie or harsh word is spoken today, it will appear before them as evidence tomorrow.

Our society today is flooded with excessive talk. The level of talk has increased in television, social media, politics, and even in the religious sphere, but truth, goodness and restraint are decreasing. Belittling, insulting, and spreading hatred towards each other is now a common reality. However, Islam has taught us that speaking good words is a kind of charity, and speaking useless and harmful words is a kind of sin.

A person who always walks with the fear of Allah knows that one has to think before speaking, so that it does not cause anyone's honor to be lost. If we follow this hadith, especially in the family, friendship, workplace, or religious environment, then countless misunderstandings, sad separations, and useless disputes will come to an end.

The lesson that the Messenger of Allah has given us is eternal, he has given us the direction to build our character in one sentence. He wants us to never make anyone cry with our words, or insult anyone even in the name of fun or humor. Because every spoken word cannot be erased from the ledger.

Let this hadith become a daily mirror for us. At the end of each day, we ask ourselves - did I only say good things today? Or have I said something that has hurt someone? Have I said something that I would dare to say in front of Allah?

A person who practices this self-inquiry truly believes in Allah and the Day of Judgment. His heart is pure, his face is a bearer of tenderness, and his life is a reflection of peace.