Question

Could you provide a reference for this Hadith?

“A man stumbles with his tongue worse than he stumbles with his feet”

Answer

Imam Bayhaqi (rahimahullah) and others have recorded this Hadith on the authority of Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (radiyallahu ‘anhu). The full narration is as follows:

“Certainly a person may utter something to merely make the people around him laugh, yet he plunges farther than the distance between the heaven and earth due to those words. Certainly a man stumbles with his tongue worse than he stumbles with his feet”

(Shu’abul Iman, Hadith: 4492)

This narration will be declared sound by Hafiz Ibn Hajar (rahimahullah) based on his principle in his book “Hidayatur Ruwat”.

(Hidayatur Ruwat, vol. 4, pg. 381, Hadith: 4764)

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.

Answered by: Mawlana Suhail Motala

Approved by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar

Checked by: Mawlana Haroon Abasoomar