Allah Almighty stated in the Quran that we should be careful what we utter.
وَقُل لِّعِبَادِى يَقُولُوا۟ ٱلَّتِى هِىَ أَحْسَنُ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنَ يَنزَغُ بَيْنَهُمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنَ كَانَ لِلْإِنسَـٰنِ عَدُوًّۭا مُّبِينًۭا
Tell My servants that they should speak that which is best. Surely, Satan creates discord among them. Indeed, Satan is an open enemy to mankind. [17:53]
Allah’s servants
In this ayah Allah is telling Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to address His servants. It is an honorific attribute. This is like Allah describing a place as His house: He needs no house, but this is a way of honouring the house. Similarly describing someone as His servant means they are special to Him and is a great honour.
Say what is best
Surat al-Isra’ is a Makki surah, revealed while the Muslims were being persecuted and unable to defend themselves physically. Allah was telling them to protect themselves, not to provoke the Quraysh more than necessary with insults or rudeness.
It can also mean not to create animosity within your own group. We often see people who can’t control their tongues and just say whatever comes into their head, and how this can cause discord. This is what Allah is telling us to avoid by thinking before we speak.
There is a colloquial Arabic proverb which translates to, ‘Put your finger in your eye, just as it hurts you, it hurts others.’ It means not do to others what would hurt oneself, similar to the English saying, ‘Do unto others as you would have them to do you.’
Your tongue is your biggest enemy
Mua’dh ibn Jabal narrated a hadith where Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was asked about deeds which would take people into Jannah and away from Hellfire.
He took hold of his tongue and said, “Restrain this.” I said, “O Prophet of Allah, will we be taken to account for what we say with it?” He (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “May your mother be bereaved of you, O Muadh! Is there anything that throws people into the Hellfire upon their faces — or: on their noses — except the harvests of their tongues?” [Tirmidhi]
A word can make or break you
A single word or sentence that displeases Allah can throw someone into Jahannam for 70 years. Shaytan’s great sin was a sentence of arrogance; that was all it took to damn him.
“Indeed, a servant may speak a word that displeases Allah, seeing nothing wrong with it, yet because of it he falls seventy autumns (years) into the Fire.” [Tirmidhi]
“Indeed, a servant may speak a word that pleases Allah, not paying it much attention, yet Allah raises him by it in ranks.” [Bukhari]
On the other hand, something good you say can have more consequences that you ever imagined. On the Day of Judgement you may find a huge good deed in your record, and the angels will remind you of a day you said something to someone that changed their life and caused them to go down a whole different path.
Your tongue is connected to your heart
What you say affects your heart, and vice versa. Someone with a good heart will also control their tongue, and won’t curse or hurt people with their words.
“A servant’s faith will not be upright until his heart is upright, and his heart will not be upright until his tongue is upright.” [Ahmad]
Shaytan’s mission is to sow discord between us, and the easiest way to do this is with speech. How many times have we seen feuds that can last for years or more, simply because of something hurtful that has been said.
Hadith about good words
There are many narrations where Prophet Muhammad ﷺ emphasised the importance of speaking good. When he arrived in Madinah, in his very first speech he said:
O people: feed the hungry, spread Salam (greeting of peace). [Bukhari]
In the version of the narration recorded by Ibn Majah he also said to say good words.
When he described the people who will reach the ghuraf, the highest rooms in Jannah, one of the descriptions was people who speak well.
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Indeed, in Paradise there are غرف (chambers) whose inside can be seen from their outside, and whose outside can be seen from their inside.” They said: “For whom are they, O Messenger of Allah?” He said: “For those who speak good words, feed others, and spend the night standing in prayer while people are asleep.” [Tirmidhi and Ibn Hibban]
And in another hadith he said:
It is also charity to utter a good word. [Bukhari and Muslim]
This is the simplest type of sadaqa, an easy way to increase your savings in the akhirah. When you see someone, say something nice. Of course it needs to be genuine, not insincere.
Not just good, but the best
In the ayah, Allah doesn’t only say to say good words, but the best words. The character of the believer is to be always engaged with what is best. This is one of the meanings of ihsan, behaving with the knowledge that Allah is observing you.
Before you say anything, ask yourself if it is pleasing to Allah. If not, don’t say it. Sellotape your mouth. Taqwa and remembering Allah is what will help us develop this self-control.
We ask Allah to give us taqwa and enable us to control our tongues and say what is best. Ameen.
Based on the Ramadan Reflection Night 11 by Shaykh Haytham Tamim. Transcribed by Hana Khan.
Say what is best
By Samia Ahmed
On the eleventh night of Ramadan, Shaykh Haytham drew our attention to a verse from Surah al-Isra that feels simple on the surface yet carries immense weight.
Allah says:
“And tell My servants to say that which is best. Indeed, Shaytan sows’ discord among them. Indeed, Shaytan is ever to mankind a clear enemy.” (Surah al-Isra 17:53)
Notice how Allah begins.
“Tell My servants.”
In the Qur’an, Allah addresses different groups. O mankind. O you who believe. O Children of Adam. But here, He says, My servants.
It is an honour. An elevation. A reminder of belonging.
And what does He command these special servants to do.
To pray more?
To fast more?
To give more?
No.
To speak what is best.
Not merely what is true.
Not merely what is justified.
But what is best.
There is a difference.
The verse does not say what you feel. It does not say what proves your point. It does not say what wins the argument.
It says say what is best.
Because Shaytan thrives on speech. He sows discord between people through careless words, sharp responses, sarcastic tones, reactive comments. Sometimes the enemy is not outside. It is within our own gatherings. Within our own homes. Within our own groups.
And how often do we pause before speaking.
Do we measure our words.
Or do we simply blabber.
The tongue is small, yet it is the hardest limb to restrain.
The Prophet ﷺ said,
“Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him speak good or remain silent.” (Bukhari and Muslim)
Speak good. Or remain silent.
This is discipline.
He ﷺ also said,
“A servant may say something without giving it much thought, by which he slips into the Fire farther than the distance between the east and the west.” (Bukhari and Muslim)
Something said can be as little as one word. A single solitary word.
Not an action.
Not a lifetime.
One word.
And on the other side, the Prophet ﷺ said,
“Every good word is charity.” (Bukhari and Muslim)
A word can destroy.
A word can elevate.
A word can transform a life.
A word can tip the scales.
If we truly believe that our words are recorded, should we not strive to make them beautiful.
Allah says:
“Not a word does he utter except that with him is an observer prepared.” (Surah Qaf 50:18)
This awareness builds taqwa.
Taqwa disciplines the tongue before it disciplines the hands. It forces us to ask, is this necessary. Is this beneficial. Is this the best option in this moment.
Language that hurts is often impulsive. Language that heals is intentional.
The pure heart will not easily allow the tongue to harm. And the opposite is true. A corrupted heart eventually leaks through the tongue.
The Prophet ﷺ said,
“When the son of Adam wakes up in the morning, all the limbs humble themselves before the tongue and say, Fear Allah regarding us, for we are dependent upon you. If you are upright, we are upright. If you are crooked, we are crooked.” (Bukhari)
The tongue leads. The limbs follow.
Ihsan in speech is part of ihsan in life. To say what is best requires restraint. It requires sincerity. It requires thinking before reacting.
Shaykh Haytham said, “Good words can open hearts.”
And how true that is.
A gentle word can soften years of tension. A sincere apology can mend distance. A thoughtful reminder can awaken a soul.
Allah describes the people of elevation in Jannah, the people of the lofty chambers, Al-Ghuraf:
“Those will be awarded the Chamber for what they patiently endured, and they will be received therein with greetings and peace.” (Surah al-Furqan 25:75)
Patience includes patience in speech. Endurance includes restraint of the tongue.
Sometimes we speak out of habit. Out of boredom. Out of ego. Out of the need to fill silence.
But silence can be worship.
Restraint can be worship.
Choosing the best word can be worship.
If we believe in Allah’s words, then we must believe in their weight.
“Tell My servants to say what is best.”
It is a command. It is training. It is refinement.
This is another discipline in life that is often neglected.
So before we speak, perhaps we should pause.
Is this the best word?
Is this pleasing to Allah?
Is this building or breaking?
Because the record is being written.
And the tongue, though small, carries enormous consequence.
May Allah purify our hearts so that our tongues follow in purity.
May He grant us speech that opens hearts and earns His pleasure.
May He make us among His servants who say what is best.
Ameen.