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THE HARVEST OF THE TONGUE

1560

“I (Mu'az) asked the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, ‘O Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, tell me of a deed which will cause me to enter Paradise and keep me away from the Fire.’ He answered, ‘You have asked about a matter which is of great weight but it is easy for one whom Allah makes it easy: Worship Allah and do not associate anything with Him. Establish the prayer. Pay the obligatory charity. Fast the month of Ramadan. Perform the pilgrimage to the House.’"

Then he added:

Shall I inform you of the Gates of Goodness? The fast is a shield. Charity mitigates sins as water extinguishes fire. Similarly, prayer in the middle of the night. Then he recited: 'Whose sides forsake their couches as they supplicate to their Lord in fear and hope; who give in charity of that which We have given them. No soul knows what pleases the eye is in store for them as a recompense for what they used to do.' 32:16-17

Then he asked:

‘Shall I tell you of that which is the owner of all this?’ I said. ‘Certainly, O Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him." Thereupon he took hold of his tongue and said, ‘Keep this under control.’ I inquired, ‘O Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, shall we be called to account for what we say?’ He answered, ‘May your mother lose you, people will be thrown face downwards into Hell only on account of the harvest of the tongue!’"

Tirmidhi with a chain up to Mu'az who related that the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, said this.