- "O Muʿādh, may your mother be bereaved of you! Is there anything that topples people onto their faces in Hellfire except what their tongues have uttered? So whoever believes in Allāh and the Last Day, let him speak good or remain silent from evil. Speak good and you will gain, and remain silent from evil and you will be safe." It was narrated by al-Ḥākim (4/286-287) through the route of al-Rabīʿ ibn Sulaymān, who reported from ʿAbd Allāh ibn Wahb, who informed me from Abū Hāniʾ about ʿAmr ibn Mālik, from Faḍālah ibn ʿUbayd, from ʿUbādah ibn al-Ṣāmit (raḍiya Allāhu ʿanhu): "That the Messenger of Allāh (ṣallá Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam) went out one day on his mount, and his companions were with him. Muʿādh ibn Jabal said: O Prophet of Allāh, do you permit me to come forward to you with a cheerful heart? He said: Yes. So Muʿādh approached him and they walked together. Muʿādh said: May my father be sacrificed for you, O Messenger of Allāh, I ask Allāh to make our day before your day. What if something happens—and we do not foresee anything, if Allāh wills—what deeds should we perform after you? The Messenger of Allāh (ṣallá Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam) remained silent and then said: Striving in the path of Allāh. Then the Messenger of Allāh (ṣallá Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam) said: Jihād is a great thing, but what people have more control over than that is fasting and charity. He said: Fasting and charity are great things. Muʿādh mentioned every good deed that the son of Adam could do. The Messenger of Allāh (ṣallá Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam) said: And what returns to people better than that? He said: What is it, may my father and mother be sacrificed for you, that returns to people better than that? He pointed to his mouth and said: Silence except for good."