Abu Hurayrah relates that Allah’s Messenger, may the mercy and blessings of Allah be upon him, said:“Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should speak a good word or remain silent.  And whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should show hospitality to his neighbor.  And whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should show hospitality to his guest.”

This hadith discusses some of the ways a Muslim’s faith should affect the way he relates to others. It speaks about three matters, and in doing so it brings together everything that good manners entail with respect to both word and deed.

Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day…

This is a conditional sentence.  It is repeated three times in this hadith, each time with a different condition.  The first of these three conditions is to either speak a good word or remain silent, the second is to show hospitality to one’s neighbors, and the third is to show hospitality to one’s guests.  This hadith is showing us that these three qualities are among the many qualities of faith.  A person who fails to fulfill any of these conditions is a person whose faith is incomplete and in want of improvement.

Speaking a good word or remaining silent

This is an encouragement to speak what is good and beneficial; at the same time it is a warning, cautioning us to be careful in what we say, lest we say something that is harmful or false.

It is part of a Muslim’s faith to speak the truth and to say things that bring about benefit to others.

Almighty Allah says:

“O you who believe! Be conscious of Allah, and speak in a straightforward manner. He will rectify your conduct for you, and will forgive you your sins. Whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger has won a great victory.” (Surah al-Ahzab, 70-71)

Allah informs us in the Quran some of what constitutes good in our speech and benefits other people.