Musnad Ahmad

It is narrated from Hazrat Mu'adh (may Allah be pleased with him) that once I was with the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) on a journey. During the journey, one day I had the privilege of being close to the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). I submitted, "O Messenger of Allah! Tell me of an action that will admit me to Paradise and keep me away from Hell." The Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "You have asked about a great matter, but it is easy for the one for whom Allah makes it easy: Worship Allah and do not associate anything with Him, establish prayer, pay zakat, fast in the month of Ramadan, and perform Hajj to the House of Allah." Then he said, "Shall I not tell you the doors of goodness? Fasting is a shield, charity extinguishes sins, and a man's prayer in the middle of the night is among the doors of goodness." Then the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) recited this verse from Surah Sajda: 'Their sides forsake their beds...' until he reached 'they do.' Then he said, "Shall I not tell you about the foundation of the religion, its pillar, and its highest peak?" I submitted, "O Messenger of Allah! Certainly." He said, "The foundation of this religion is Islam, its pillar is prayer, and its highest peak is jihad." Then he said, "Shall I not tell you the summary of all these things?" I submitted, "Why not, O Messenger of Allah!" So the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) held his tongue and said, "Restrain this." I submitted, "O Messenger of Allah! Will we be held accountable for what we say?" The Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) (gently admonishing) said, "Mu'adh! May your mother lose you! Is there anything that topples people on their faces into Hell except the harvest of their tongues regarding others?"