I accompanied the Prophet ﷺ on a journey. One day I was near him while we were moving so I said: "O Messenger of Allah! Inform me about an action by which I will be admitted into Paradise, and which will keep me far from the Fire." He said: "You have asked me about something great, but it is easy for whomever Allah makes it easy: (1) Worship Allah and do not associate any partners with Him, (2) establish the Salah, (3) give the Zakat, (4) fast Ramadan and, (5) perform Hajj to the House.'

Then he ﷺ said: "Shall I not guide you to the doors of good? (1) Fasting is a shield, and (2) charity extinguishes sins like water extinguishes fire, and (3) a person's prayer in depths of the night." Then he ﷺ recited: "Their sides forsake their beds to call upon their Lord..." until he reached "what they used to do." [Sajdah 32:16-17]

Then he ﷺ said: "Shall I not inform you about the head of the entire matter, and its pillar, and its hump?" I said: "Of course, O Messenger of Allah!" He ﷺ said: "The head of the matter is Islam, and its pillar is the Salah, and its hump is Jihad."

Then he ﷺ said: "Shall I not inform you about what governs all of that?" I said: "Of course, O Messenger of Allah!" So he ﷺ grabbed his tongue and he said: "Restrain this." I said: "O Prophet of Allah! Will we be taken to account for what we say?" He said: "May your mother grieve your loss O Muadh! Are the people not tossed into the Hellfire upon their faces," or "upon their noses, except because of what their tongues have wrought?"  

كُنْتُ مَعَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فِي سَفَرٍ فَأَصْبَحْتُ يَوْمًا قَرِيبًا مِنْهُ وَنَحْنُ نَسِيرُ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَخْبِرْنِي بِعَمَلٍ يُدْخِلُنِي الْجَنَّةَ وَيُبَاعِدُنِي مِنَ النَّارِ قَالَ: «لَقَدْ سَأَلْتَنِي عَنْ عَظِيمٍ، وَإِنَّهُ لَيَسِيرٌ عَلَى مَنْ يَسَّرَهُ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ: (١) تَعْبُدُ اللَّهَ وَلاَ تُشْرِكُ بِهِ شَيْئًا، (٢) وَتُقِيمُ الصَّلاَةَ، (٣) وَتُؤْتِي الزَّكَاةَ، (٤) وَتَصُومُ رَمَضَانَ، (٥) وَتَحُجُّ الْبَيْتَ۔»

ثُمَّ قَالَ: «أَلاَ أَدُلُّكَ عَلَى أَبْوَابِ الْخَيْرِ؟ (١) الصَّوْمُ جُنَّةٌ، (٢) وَالصَّدَقَةُ تُطْفِئُ الْخَطِيئَةَ كَمَا يُطْفِئُ الْمَاءُ النَّارَ، (٣) وَصَلاَةُ الرَّجُلِ مِنْ جَوْفِ اللَّيْلِ۔» قَالَ ثُمَّ تَلاََ {تَتَجَافَى جُنُوبُهُمْ عَنِ الْمَضَاجِعِ} حَتَّى بَلَغَ {يَعْمَلُونَ} [السجدة 16-17]»

ثُمَّ قَالَ: «أَلاَ أُخْبِرُكَ بِرَأْسِ الأَمْرِ كُلِّهِ وَعَمُودِهِ وَذِرْوَةِ سَنَامِهِ؟» قُلْتُ: بَلَى يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ: «رَأْسُ الأَمْرِ الإِسْلاَمُ وَعَمُودُهُ الصَّلاَةُ وَذِرْوَةُ سَنَامِهِ الْجِهَادُ۔»

ثُمَّ قَالَ: «أَلاَ أُخْبِرُكَ بِمَلاَكِ ذَلِكَ كُلِّهِ؟ قُلْتُ: بَلَى يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ قَالَ فَأَخَذَ بِلِسَانِهِ قَالَ: «كُفَّ عَلَيْكَ هَذَا۔» فَقُلْتُ يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ، وَإِنَّا لَمُؤَاخَذُونَ بِمَا نَتَكَلَّمُ بِهِ؟ فَقَالَ: «ثَكِلَتْكَ أُمُّكَ يَا مُعَاذُ، وَهَلْ يَكُبُّ النَّاسَ فِي النَّارِ عَلَى وُجُوهِهِمْ» أَوْ «عَلَى مَنَاخِرِهِمْ إِلاَّ حَصَائِدُ أَلْسِنَتِهِمْ؟»  

“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.”[32:16-17] 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?’”  

كُنْتُ مَعَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فِي سَفَرٍ فَأَصْبَحْتُ يَوْمًا قَرِيبًا مِنْهُ وَنَحْنُ نَسِيرُ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَخْبِرْنِي بِعَمَلٍ يُدْخِلُنِي الْجَنَّةَ وَيُبَاعِدُنِي مِنَ النَّارِ قَالَ لَقَدْ سَأَلْتَ عَظِيمًا وَإِنَّهُ لَيَسِيرٌ عَلَى مَنْ يَسَّرَهُ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ تَعْبُدُ اللَّهَ لاَ تُشْرِكُ بِهِ شَيْئًا وَتُقِيمُ الصَّلاَةَ وَتُؤْتِي الزَّكَاةَ وَتَصُومُ رَمَضَانَ وَتَحُجُّ الْبَيْتَ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَلاَ أُدُلُّكَ عَلَى أَبْوَابِ الْجَنَّةِ الصَّوْمُ جُنَّةٌ وَالصَّدَقَةُ تُطْفِئُ الْخَطِيئَةَ كَمَا يُطْفِئُ النَّارَ الْمَاءُ وَصَلاَةُ الرَّجُلِ فِي جَوْفِ اللَّيْلِ ثُمَّ قَرَأَ {تَتَجَافَى جُنُوبُهُمْ عَنِ الْمَضَاجِعِ} حَتَّى بَلَغَ {جَزَاءً بِمَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ} ثُمَّ قَالَ أَلاَ أُخْبِرُكَ بِرَأْسِ الأَمْرِ وَعَمُودِهِ وَذُرْوَةِ سَنَامِهِ الْجِهَادُ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَلاَ أُخْبِرُكَ بِمِلاَكِ ذَلِكَ كُلِّهِ قُلْتُ بَلَى فَأَخَذَ بِلِسَانِهِ فَقَالَ تَكُفُّ عَلَيْكَ هَذَا قُلْتُ يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ وَإِنَّا لَمُؤَاخَذُونَ بِمَا نَتَكَلَّمُ بِهِ قَالَ ثَكِلَتْكَ أُمُّكَ يَا مُعَاذُ وَهَلْ يَكُبُّ النَّاسَ عَلَى وُجُوهِهِمْ فِي النَّارِ إِلاَّ حَصَائِدُ أَلْسِنَتِهِمْ  

[Machine] We accompanied the Messenger of Allah ﷺ from the battle of Tabuk, and when I saw him alone, I said, "O Messenger of Allah, inform me of an action that will admit me into Paradise." He said, "You have asked about something great, yet it is easy upon those whom Allah makes it easy. Establish the obligatory prayers, pay the obligatory zakah, and have sincerity towards Allah - do not associate anything with Him. Shall I not guide you to the head of the matter, its pillar, and its pinnacle?" I said, "Certainly, O Messenger of Allah." He said, "The head of the matter is Islam, the one who submits, his religion is safe. As for its pillar, it is the prayer, and as for its pinnacle, it is jihad in the way of Allah." He asked, "Shall I not inform you of the gates of goodness?" I said, "Certainly, O Messenger of Allah." He said, "Fasting is a shield, charity extinguishes sins, and the prayer of a person in the depths of the night erases sins." Then, he recited the verse, "Their sides forsake their beds, they call upon their Lord in fear and hope, and they spend from what We have provided for them" (Surah As-Sajdah, 32:16). He asked, "Shall I not inform you of what controls all of that?" I said, "Certainly, O Messenger of Allah." He pointed with his hand towards his tongue and said, "Restrain this." I said, "O Messenger of Allah, will we be held accountable for what we say?" He said, "May your mother lose you, O Mu'adh! Are people thrown into the Hellfire upon their faces except due to the harvest of their tongues?" Shu'bah said, "The judge conveyed this to me and narrated it from Maymun ibn Abi Shabib, and the judge said, 'I heard it from him forty years ago.'"  

أَقْبَلْنَا مَعَ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ مِنْ غَزْوَةِ تَبُوكَ فَلَمَّا رَأَيْتُهُ خَلِيًّا قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ أَخْبِرْنِي بِعَمَلٍ يُدْخِلُنِي الْجَنَّةَ قَالَ بَخٍ لَقَدْ سَأَلْتَ عَنْ عَظِيمٍ وَهُوَ يَسِيرٌ عَلَى مَنْ يَسَّرَهُ اللهُ عَلَيْهِ تُقِيمُ الصَّلَاةَ الْمَكْتُوبَةَ وَتُؤَدِّي الزَّكَاةَ الْمَفْرُوضَةَ وَتَلْقَى اللهَ لَا تُشْرِكُ بِهِ شَيْئًا أَوَلَا أَدُلُّكَ عَلَى رَأْسِ الْأَمْرِ وَعَمُودِهِ وَذُرْوَةِ سَنَامِهِ؟ أَمَّا رَأْسُ الْأَمْرِ فَالْإِسْلَامُ فَمَنْ أَسْلَمَ سَلِمَ وَأَمَّا عَمُودُهُ فَالصَّلَاةُ وَأَمَّا ذُرْوَةُ سَنَامِهِ فَالْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ أَوَلَا أَدُلُّكَ عَلَى أَبْوَابِ الْخَيْرِ؟ الصَّوْمُ جُنَّةٌ وَالصَّدَقَةُ وَقِيَامُ الْعَبْدِ فِي جَوْفِ اللَّيْلِ يُكَفِّرُ الْخَطَايَا وَتَلَا هَذِهِ الْآيَةَ {تَتَجَافَى جُنُوبُهُمْ عَنِ الْمَضَاجِعِ يَدْعُونَ رَبَّهُمْ خَوْفًا وَطَمَعًا وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ يُنْفِقُونَ} [السجدة 16] أَوَلَا أَدُلُّكَ عَلَى أَمْلَكِ ذَلِكَ لَكَ كُلِّهِ؟ قَالَ فَأَقْبَلَ نَفَرٌ قَالَ فَخَشِيتُ أَنْ يَشْغَلُوا عَنِّي رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ قَالَ شُعْبَةُ أَوْ كَلِمَةً نَحْوَهَا قَالَ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ قَوْلُكَ أَوَلَا أَدُلُّكَ عَلَى أَمْلَكِ ذَلِكَ لَكَ كُلِّهِ؟ قَالَ فَأَشَارَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ بِيَدِهِ إِلَى لِسَانِهِ قَالَ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ وَإِنَّا لَنُؤَاخَذُ بِمَا نَتَكَلَّمُ بِهِ؟ قَالَ ثَكِلَتْكَ أُمُّكَ مُعَاذُ وَهَلْ يَكُبُّ النَّاسَ عَلَى مَنَاخِرِهِمْ إِلَّا حَصَائِدُ أَلْسِنَتِهِمْ؟ قَالَ شُعْبَةُ قَالَ لِيَ الْحَكَمُ وحَدَّثَنِي بِهِ مَيْمُونُ بْنُ أَبِي شَبِيبٍ وقَالَ الْحَكَمُ سَمِعْتُهُ مِنْهُ مُنْذُ أَرْبَعِينَ سَنَةً  

"I accompanied the Prophet ﷺ on a journey. One day I was near him while we were moving so I said: 'O Messenger of Allah! Inform me about an action by which I will be admitted into Paradise, and which will keep me far from the Fire.' He said: 'You have asked me about something great, but it is easy for whomever Allah makes it easy: Worship Allah and do not associate any partners with Him, establish the Salat, give the Zakat, fast Ramadan and perform Hajj to the HOuse.' Then he said: 'Shall I not guide you to the doors of good? Fasting is a shield, and charity extinguishes sins like water extinguishes fire - and a man's praying in depths of the night.'" He said: "Then he recited: 'Their sides forsake their beds to call upon their Lord.' Until he reached: 'What they used to do.' [32:16-17] Then he said: 'Shall I not inform you about the head of the entire matter, and its pillar, and its hump?' I said: 'Of course O Messenger of Allah! He said: 'The head of the matter is Islam, and its pillar is the Salat, and its hump is Jihad.' Then he said: 'Shall I not inform you about what governs all of that?' I said: 'Of course O Messenger of Allah!'" He ﷺ said: "So he grabbed his tongue. He said 'Restrain this.' I said: 'O Prophet of Allah! Will we be taken to account for what we say?' He said: 'May your mother grieve your loss O Mu'adh! Are the people tossed into the Fire upon their faces, or upon their noses, except because of what their tongues have wrought'" (Using translation from Tirmidhī 2616)  

كُنْتُ مَعَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فِي سَفَرٍ فَأَصْبَحْتُ يَوْمًا قَرِيبًا مِنْهُ وَنَحْنُ نَسِيرُ فَقُلْتُ يَا نَبِيَّ اللهِ أَخْبِرْنِي بِعَمَلٍ يُدْخِلُنِي الْجَنَّةَ وَيُبَاعِدُنِي مِنَ النَّارِ قَالَ لَقَدْ سَأَلْتَ عَنْ عَظِيمٍ وَإِنَّهُ لَيَسِيرٌ عَلَى مَنْ يَسَّرَهُ اللهُ عَلَيْهِ تَعْبُدُ اللهَ وَلَا تُشْرِكُ بِهِ شَيْئًا وَتُقِيمُ الصَّلَاةَ وَتُؤْتِي الزَّكَاةَ وَتَصُومُ رَمَضَانَ وَتَحُجُّ الْبَيْتَ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَلَا أَدُلُّكَ عَلَى أَبْوَابِ الْخَيْرِ؟ الصَّوْمُ جُنَّةٌ وَالصَّدَقَةُ تُطْفِئُ الْخَطِيئَةَ وَصَلَاةُ الرَّجُلِ فِي جَوْفِ اللَّيْلِ ثُمَّ قَرَأَ {تَتَجَافَى جُنُوبُهُمْ عَنِ الْمَضَاجِعِ} [السجدة 16] حَتَّى بَلَغَ{يَعْمَلُونَ} [السجدة 17]ثُمَّ قَالَ أَلَا أُخْبِرُكَ بِرَأْسِ الْأَمْرِ وَعَمُودِهِ وَذُرْوَةِ سَنَامِهِ؟ فَقُلْتُ بَلَى يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ قَالَ رَأْسُ الْأَمْرِ الْإِسْلَامُ وَعَمُودُهُ الصَّلَاةُ وَذِرْوَةُ سَنَامِهِ الْجِهَادُ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَلَا أُخْبِرُكَ بِمِلَاكِ ذَلِكَ كُلِّهِ؟ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ بَلَى يَا نَبِيَّ اللهِ فَأَخَذَ بِلِسَانِهِ فَقَالَ كُفَّ عَلَيْكَ هَذَا فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ وَإِنَّا لَمُؤَاخَذُونَ بِمَا نَتَكَلَّمُ بِهِ؟ فَقَالَ ثَكِلَتْكَ أُمُّكَ يَا مُعَاذُ وَهَلْ يَكُبُّ النَّاسَ فِي النَّارِ عَلَى وُجُوهِهِمْ أَوْ قَالَ عَلَى مَنَاخِرِهِمْ إِلَّا حَصَائِدُ أَلْسِنَتِهِمْ؟  

[Machine] While we were riding with the Prophet ﷺ, his camel went ahead and then my camel caught up with his until I thought that his camel knew the way and was following mine, to the point that our knees touched. I said, "O Messenger of Allah, I want to ask you something repeatedly, but the verse {O you who have believed, do not ask about things which, if they are shown to you, will distress you} prevents me from doing so." He said, "What is it, Mu'adh?" I said, "The deed that will admit me into Paradise and keep me away from the Fire." He said, "You have asked about something great, yet it is easy for him for whom Allah makes it easy. Worship Allah and do not associate anything with Him, establish prayer, give charity, perform Hajj to the House of Allah, and fast during Ramadan." Then he said, "Shall I not inform you of the foundation of all of this?" I said, "Certainly, O Messenger of Allah." He took hold of his tongue and said, "Restrain this." I said, "O Messenger of Allah, will we be held accountable for what we say?" He said, "May your mother be bereaved of you, O Mu'adh! Are people thrown into the Hellfire on their faces or on their noses for anything other than the harvest of their tongues?" He continued, "You have asked about something that is within the reach of many people. However, only a few of them do it. Many will invoke Allah, but few will respond to Him. Will I not inform you of that which encompasses all of that?" I said, "Certainly, O Messenger of Allah." He took hold of his tongue and said, "Restrain this." I said, "O Messenger of Allah, will we be held accountable for what we say?" He said, "May your mother be bereaved of you, O Mu'adh! Are people thrown into the Hellfire on their faces or on their noses for anything other than the harvest of their tongues?" He continued, "You have asked about something that is within the reach of many people. However, only a few of them do it. Many will invoke Allah, but few will respond to Him. Will I not inform you of that which encompasses all of that?" I said, "Certainly, O Messenger of Allah." He took hold of his tongue and said, "Restrain this." I said, "O Messenger of Allah, will we be held accountable for what we say?" He said, "May your mother be bereaved of you, O Mu'adh! Are people thrown into the Hellfire on their faces or on their noses for anything other than the harvest of their tongues?"  

بَيْنَا نَحْنُ رَكْبٌ مَعَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ إِذْ تَقَدَّمَتْ رَاحِلَتُهُ ثُمَّ رَاحِلَتِي لَحِقَتْ رَاحِلَتَهُ حَتَّى ظَنَنْتُ أَنَّ رَاحِلَتَهُ قَدْ عَرَفَتْ وَطْءَ رَاحِلَتِي حَتَّى نَطَحَتْ رُكْبَتِي رُكْبَتَهُ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ إِنِّي أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَسْأَلَكَ مِرَارًا وَيَمْنَعُنِي مَكَانُ هَذِهِ الْآيَةِ {يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَسْأَلُوا عَنْ أَشْيَاءَ إِنْ تُبْدَ لَكُمْ تَسُؤْكُمْ} قَالَ «مَا هُوَ يَا مُعَاذُ؟» قُلْتُ الْعَمَلُ الَّذِي يُدْخِلُ الْجَنَّةَ وَيَتَجَنَّبُنِي مِنَ النَّارِ قَالَ قَدْ سَأَلْتَ عَظِيمًا وَإِنَّهُ لَيَسِيرٌ شَهَادَةُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَأَنِّي رَسُولُ اللهِ وَإِقَامُ الصَّلَاةِ وَإِيتَاءُ الزَّكَاةِ وَحَجُّ الْبَيْتِ وَصَوْمُ رَمَضَانَ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَلَا أُخْبِرُكَ بِرَأْسِ هَذَا الْأَمْرِ وَعَمُودِهِ وَذِرْوَتِهِ الْجِهَادِ ثُمَّ قَالَ الصِّيَامُ جُنَّةٌ وَالصَّدَقَةُ تُكَفِّرُ الْخَطَايَا ثُمَّ قَالَ «أَلَا أُنَبِّئُكَ بِمَا هُوَ أَمْلَكُ بِالنَّاسِ عَنْ ذَلِكَ؟» فَأَخَذَ لِسَانَهُ فَوَضَعَهُ بَيْنَ إِصْبَعَيْنِ مِنْ أَصَابِعِهِ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ أَكُلُّ مَا نَتَكَلَّمُ بِهِ يُكْتَبُ عَلَيْنَا؟ قَالَ «ثَكِلَتْكَ أُمُّكَ وَهَلْ يَكُبُّ النَّاسَ عَلَى مَنَاخِرِهِمْ فِي النَّارِ إِلَّا حَصَائِدُ أَلْسِنَتِهِمْ؟ إِنَّكَ لَمْ تَزَلْ سَالِمًا مَا سَكَتَّ فَإِذَا تَكَلَّمَتَ كُتِبَ لَكَ أَوْ عَلَيْكَ»  

[Machine] He said: O Messenger of Allah, inform me of an action that will enter its doer into Paradise. He replied: "How excellent, how excellent! Indeed, you have asked about something great, yet it is easy for the one who Allah makes it easy for. Worship Allah alone, without associating partners with Him, establish the obligatory prayers, give the obligatory charity, fast in Ramadan, and perform Hajj to the House. And shall I not inform you of the pillar of all this? Its top, its cornerstone, and its peak?" He said: "Yes, O Messenger of Allah." The Prophet ﷺ then said: "The pillar of all this is testifying that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah alone, the top of it is Jihad in the cause of Allah, and the peak of it is the prayer at its proper time." Then he said: "Shall I not inform you of the doors of goodness? Fasting is a shield, charity extinguishes sins as water extinguishes fire, and the standing of a person in prayer during the night." Then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ recited the verse: {Their sides draw away from their beds to invoke their Lord in fear and hope. And they spend (in Allah's Cause) out of what We have bestowed on them} [Quran 32:16]. Then he said: "Shall I not tell you of the controlling factor of all that?" He shook his own tongue and said: "Restrain this." Mu'adh said: "O Messenger of Allah, will we really be held accountable for what we say with our tongues?" He ﷺ said: "May your mother lose you, O Mu'adh! People will be thrown into the Hellfire only on their faces - or he said, on their noses - because of the harvests of their tongues."

Note: The translation provided might not be an exact translation of the passage, but it captures the general meaning.  

أَنَّهُ قَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ أَخْبَرَنِي بِعَمَلٍ يُدْخِلُ صَاحِبَهُ الْجَنَّةَ قَالَ بَخٍ بَخٍ لَقَدْ سَأَلْتَ عَنْ كَبِيرٍ وَإِنَّهُ لَيَسِيرٌ عَلَى مَنْ يَسَّرَهُ اللهُ تَعْبُدُ اللهَ لَا تُشْرِكُ بِهِ شَيْئًا وَتُقِيمُ الصَّلَاةَ الْمَكْتُوبَةَ وَتُؤَدِّي الزَّكَاةَ الْمَفْرُوضَةَ وَتَصُومُ رَمَضَانَ وَتَحُجُّ الْبَيْتَ وَسَأُنَبِّئُكَ بِرَأْسِ هَذَا الْأَمْرِ وَعَمُودِهِ وَذُرْوَةِ سَنَامِهِ رَأْسُ هَذَا الْأَمْرِ شَهَادَةُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَعَمُودُهُ وَذُرْوَةُ سَنَامِهِ الْجِهَادُ وَسَأُنَبِّئُكَ بِأَبْوَابِ الْخَيْرِ الصَّوْمُ جُنَّةٌ وَالصَّدَقَةُ تُطْفِئُ الْخَطِيئَةَ كَمَا يُطْفِئُ الْمَاءُ النَّارَ وَقِيَامُ الْعَبْدِ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ وَقَرَأَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ {تَتَجَافَى جُنُوبُهُمْ عَنِ الْمَضَاجِعِ} الْآيَةَ وَسَأُنَبِّئُكَ بِأَمْلَكِ مِنْ ذَاكَ كُلَّهِ وَهَزَّ رَاحِلَتَهُ وَدَنَوْتُ مِنَ النَّاسِ فَدَنَوْتُ مِنْهُ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ مَا الَّذِي أَمْلَكُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ كُلَّهِ؟ فَأَوْمَأَ بِيَدِهِ إِلَى لِسَانِهِ قُلْتُ اللِّسَانُ؟ كَالْمُتَهَاونِ بِهِ فَقَالَ «ثَكِلَتْكَ أُمُّكَ يَا مُعَاذُ بْنَ جَبَلٍ وَهَلْ يَكُبُّ النَّاسَ فِي نَارِ جَهَنَّمَ إِلَّا حَصَائِدُ أَلْسِنَتِهِمْ؟»  

[Machine] I said, "O Messenger of Allah, inform me of a deed that will admit me into Paradise." He said, "Worship Allah and do not associate anything with Him, establish the obligatory prayers, and pay the obligatory charity. Shall I guide you to the gates of goodness? Fasting is a shield, charity extinguishes sins, and the standing of a servant in the depths of the night." Then he recited the verse, "Their sides forsake their beds." I said, "Shall I inform you of that which encompasses all of them?" He gestured with his hand towards his tongue and said, "Restraint of the tongue." I said, "O Messenger of Allah, will we be held accountable for what we say?" He said, "May your mother be bereaved of you! Is there anything that throws people into the Hellfire upon their faces or on their noses except the harvests of their tongues?"  

قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ أَخْبَرَنِي بِعَمَلٍ يُدْخِلُنِي الْجَنَّةَ قَالَ «بَخٍ بَخٍ لَقَدْ سَأَلْتَ عَنْ عَظِيمٍ وَإِنَّهُ لَيَسِيرٌ عَلَى مَنْ يَسَّرَهُ اللهُ عَلَيْهِ تَعْبُدُ اللهَ لَا تُشْرِكُ بِهِ شَيْئًا وَتُقِيمُ الصَّلَاةَ الْمَكْتُوبَةَ وَتُؤَدِّي الزَّكَاةَ الْمَفْرُوضَةَ أَلَا أَدُلُّكَ عَلَى أَبْوَابِ الْخَيْرِ؟ أَوَلَا أَدُلُّكَ عَلَى رَأْسِ الْأَمْرِ وَعَمُودِهِ وَذُرْوَةِ سَنَامِهِ؟ فَأَمَّا رَأْسُ الْأَمْرِ فَالْإِسْلَامُ فَمَنْ أَسْلَمَ سَلِمَ وَأَمَّا عَمُودُهُ فَالصَّلَاةُ وَأَمَّا ذِرْوَةُ سَنَامِهِ فَالْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ أَوَلَا أَدُلُّكَ عَلَى أَبْوَابِ الْخَيْرِ؟ الصَّوْمُ جُنَّةٌ وَالصَّدَقَةُ تُكَفِّرُ الْخَطِيئَةَ وَقِيَامُ الْعَبْدِ فِي جَوْفِ اللَّيْلِ» وَتَلَا هَذِهِ الْآيَةَ {تَتَجَافَى جُنُوبُهُمْ عَنِ الْمَضَاجِعِ} «أَوَلَا أُخْبِرُكُ بِأَمْلَكِ مِنْ ذَلِكَ؟» فَأَقْبَلَ رَاكِبٌ أَوْ رَكْبٌ فَحَسِبْتُ أَنْ يَشْغَلُوا رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ عَنِّي فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ قَالَ «أَوَلَا أَدُلُّكَ عَلَى أَمْلِكِ مِنْ ذَلِكَ كُلِّهِ؟» فَأَشَارَ بِيَدِهِ إِلَى لِسَانِهِ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ إِنَّا لَنُؤَاخَذُ بِمَا نَتَكَلَّمُ بِهِ؟ قَالَ «ثَكِلَتْكَ أُمُّكَ مُعَاذُ وَهَلْ يَكُبُّ النَّاسَ فِي النَّارِ إِلَّا حَصَائِدُ أَلْسِنَتِهِمْ»  

"I accompanied the Prophet ﷺ on a journey. One day I was near him while we were moving so I said: 'O Messenger of Allah! Inform me about an action by which I will be admitted into Paradise, and which will keep me far from the Fire.' He said: 'You have asked me about something great, but it is easy for whomever Allah makes it easy: Worship Allah and do not associate any partners with Him, establish the Salat, give the Zakat, fast Ramadan and perform Hajj to the HOuse.' Then he said: 'Shall I not guide you to the doors of good? Fasting is a shield, and charity extinguishes sins like water extinguishes fire - and a man's praying in depths of the night.'" He said: "Then he recited: 'Their sides forsake their beds to call upon their Lord.' Until he reached: 'What they used to do.' [32:16-17] Then he said: 'Shall I not inform you about the head of the entire matter, and its pillar, and its hump?' I said: 'Of course O Messenger of Allah! He said: 'The head of the matter is Islam, and its pillar is the Salat, and its hump is Jihad.' Then he said: 'Shall I not inform you about what governs all of that?' I said: 'Of course O Messenger of Allah!'" He ﷺ said: "So he grabbed his tongue. He said 'Restrain this.' I said: 'O Prophet of Allah! Will we be taken to account for what we say?' He said: 'May your mother grieve your loss O Mu'adh! Are the people tossed into the Fire upon their faces, or upon their noses, except because of what their tongues have wrought'" (Using translation from Tirmidhī 2616)  

كُنْتُ مَعَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَأَصْبَحْتُ قَرِيبًا مِنْهُ وَنَحْنُ نَسِيرُ فَقُلْتُ يَا نَبِيَّ اللهِ أَخْبِرْنِي بِعَمَلٍ يُدْخِلُنِي الْجَنَّةَ وَيُبْعِدُنِي عَنِ النَّارِ قَالَ «لَقَدْ سَأَلْتَ عَنْ عَظِيمٍ وَإِنَّهُ لَيَسِيرٌ عَلَى مَنْ يَسَّرَهُ اللهُ عَلَيْهِ تُقِيمُ الصَّلَاةَ وَتُؤْتِي الزَّكَاةَ وَتَصُومُ رَمَضَانَ وَتَحُجُّ الْبَيْتَ» ثُمَّ قَالَ «أَلَا أَدُلُّكَ عَلَى أَبْوَابِ الْخَيْرِ؟ الصَّوْمُ جُنَّةٌ وَالصَّدَقَةُ تُطْفِئُ الْخَطِيئَةَ كَمَا يُطْفِئُ الْمَاءُ النَّارَ وَصَلَاةُ الرَّجُلِ مِنْ جَوْفِ اللَّيْلِ» ثُمَّ تَلَا {تَتَجَافَى جُنُوبُهُمْ عَنِ الْمَضَاجِعِ} [السجدة 16] حَتَّى {يَعْمَلُونَ} [السجدة 17] ثُمَّ قَالَ «أَلَا أُخْبِرُكَ بِرَأْسِ الْأَمْرِ وَعَمُودِهِ وَذِرْوَةِ سَنَامِهِ؟» قُلْتُ بَلَى يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ قَالَ «رَأْسُ الْأَمْرِ الْإِسْلَامُ وَعَمُودُهُ الصَّلَاةُ وَذِرْوَةُ سَنَامِهِ الْجِهَادُ» ثُمَّ قَالَ «أَلَا أُخْبِرُكَ بِمِلَاكِ ذَلِكَ كُلِّهِ؟» قُلْتُ بَلَى يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ فَأَخَذَ بِلِسَانِهِ فَقَالَ «كُفَّ عَلَيْكَ هَذَا» قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ وَإِنَّا لَمُؤَاخَذُونَ بِمَا نَتَكَلَّمُ بِهِ؟ قَالَ ثَكِلَتْكَ أُمُّكَ يَا مُعَاذُ وَهَلْ يَكُبُّ النَّاسَ فِي النَّارِ عَلَى وُجُوهِهِمْ أَوْ قَالَ عَلَى مَنَاخِرِهِمْ إِلَّا حَصَائِدُ أَلْسِنَتِهِمْ؟