What Is the Meaning of a Good Word?
ما هي الكلمة الطيبة؟
What is the meaning of a good word?
The answer quotes Ibn Othamin: a good word is either good in itself, such as the remembrance of Allah, the best of which is reciting the Quran, or good in its purpose, such as permissible talk meant to put people at ease and bring them joy; and Allah says that good words ascend to Him (35:10).
Islamic scholars explain that goodness in speech is not limited strictly to religious rituals. Any word spoken with the sincere intention to uplift another person is highly valued and rewarded by Allah.
The Two Divisions of a Good Word
Ibn Othamin may Allah have mercy on him said in his explanation of Riyadh al Saliheen that the good word is divided into two parts:
1. Good in Itself (Spiritual Remembrance)
The first part is speech that is inherently good in itself, such as Al Thikr. This includes saying: there is no god but Allah, Allah is great, all thanks to Allah, and there is no might nor power except with Allah. The best form of Thikr is reading the Quran.
2. Good in Its Purpose (Social Interaction)
The second part is the word that is good in its purpose: any permissible word, such as talking with people when you intend by it to put them at ease and bring them joy.
The Quranic Elevation of Good Speech
Allah Almighty says: (To Him alone good words ascend) Surah Fatir 35: 10.
ما هي الكلمة الطيبة؟
ينقل الجواب قول ابن عثيمين: الكلمة الطيبة إما طيبة بذاتها كالذكر وأفضله قراءة القرآن، وإما طيبة في غايتها كالكلام المباح يقصد به إيناس الناس وإدخال السرور عليهم، والله تعالى أخبر أن الكلم الطيب يصعد إليه (فاطر 35:10).
يوضح علماء الإسلام أن طيب الكلام لا يقتصر فقط على الشعائر الدينية الصرفة. بل إن أي كلمة تقال بنية صادقة للترويح عن إنسان آخر لها قيمة عظيمة ويؤجر عليها المسلم عند الله.
قسما الكلمة الطيبة
قال ابن عثيمين رحمه الله في شرح رياض الصالحين: الكلمة الطيبة تنقسم إلى قسمين:
1. طيبة بذاتها (الذكر)
طيبة بذاتها كالذكر: لا إله إلا الله، الله أكبر، الحمد لله، لا حول ولا قوة إلا بالله، وأفضل الذكر قراءة القرآن.
2. طيبة في غايتها (التفاعل الاجتماعي)
وأما الكلمة الطيبة في غايتها: فهي الكلمة المباحة، كالتحدث مع الناس إذا قصدت بهذا إيناسهم وإدخال السرور عليهم.
رفعة الكلم الطيب في القرآن
قال الله تعالى: (إِلَيْهِ يَصْعَدُ الْكَلِمُ الطَّيِّبُ) فاطر 35: 10.
1. What Ascends to Allah | ما يصعد إلى الله
Ibn Kathir explains that the good words that ascend to Allah are remembrance, recitation, and supplication, as more than one of the early scholars said. Ibn Abbas said: the good word is the remembrance of Allah, which ascends to Him, and the righteous deed is performing His obligations; whoever remembers Allah but does not perform His obligations, his words are turned back upon his deeds (Tafsir Ibn Kathir, Fatir 35:10).
إِلَيْهِ يَصْعَدُ الْكَلِمُ الطَّيِّبُ وَالْعَمَلُ الصَّالِحُ يَرْفَعُهُ (سورة فاطر: 10)
قال ابن كثير في تفسير الكلم الطيب في سورة فاطر: "يعني: الذكر والتلاوة والدعاء. قاله غير واحد من السلف". وقال ابن عباس: "الكلم الطيب: ذكر الله، يصعد به إلى الله عز وجل، والعمل الصالح: أداء فرائضه. ومن ذكر الله ولم يؤد فرائضه، رد كلامه على عمله، فكان أولى به".
2. The Four Most Beloved Words | أحب الكلام إلى الله
The Prophet said: The most beloved words to Allah are four: Subhan Allah, al-hamdu lillah, la ilaha illa Allah, and Allahu akbar; it does not matter which of them you begin with (Sahih Muslim 2137). These are among the words that Ibn Othamin describes as good in themselves.
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ ذِكْرًا كَثِيرًا (سورة الأحزاب: 41)
قال النبي ﷺ: "أحب الكلام إلى الله أربع: سبحان الله، والحمد لله، ولا إله إلا الله، والله أكبر، لا يضرك بأيهن بدأت" (صحيح مسلم 2137). وهذه من الكلمات الطيبة بذاتها التي ذكرها ابن عثيمين.
3. A Good Word Shields From the Fire | الكلمة الطيبة وقاية من النار
The Prophet said: Protect yourselves from the Fire even with half a date, and whoever cannot find it, then with a good word (Sahih al-Bukhari 6023). He also said: A good word is charity (Sahih al-Bukhari 2989). Allah says that kind speech and forgiveness are better than charity followed by harm (Al-Baqarah 2:263).
قَوْلٌ مَّعْرُوفٌ وَمَغْفِرَةٌ خَيْرٌ مِّن صَدَقَةٍ يَتْبَعُهَا أَذًى (سورة البقرة: 263)
قال النبي ﷺ: "اتقوا النار ولو بشق تمرة، فإن لم تجد فبكلمة طيبة" (صحيح البخاري 6023)، وقال: "والكلمة الطيبة صدقة" (صحيح البخاري 2989). وأخبر الله تعالى أن القول المعروف والمغفرة خير من صدقة يتبعها أذى (البقرة 2:263).
Frequently Asked Questions | الأسئلة الشائعة
What is the best form of a good word?
The answer, quoting Ibn Othamin, states that the best remembrance is reciting the Quran. The Prophet also said that the most beloved words to Allah are four: Subhan Allah, al-hamdu lillah, la ilaha illa Allah, and Allahu akbar (Sahih Muslim 2137).
Is normal chatting considered a good word?
Yes, when it is permissible and meant to put people at ease and bring them joy. Ibn Othamin calls this a word that is good in its purpose, even though it is not good in itself.
What does the verse about good words ascending to Allah mean?
Ibn Kathir explains that the good words that ascend to Allah are remembrance, recitation, and supplication, and that the righteous deed raises them; Ibn Abbas said that whoever remembers Allah but neglects His obligations has his words turned back (Fatir 35:10).
Can a good word protect from the Fire?
Yes. The Prophet said: Protect yourselves from the Fire even with half a date, and whoever cannot find it, then with a good word (Sahih al-Bukhari 6023).