Noor Garden“Say Good or Stay Silent” – Hadith for Kids
Good speech · Ages 5–11
This hadith teaches children to think before they speak. A believer chooses words that are good: true, kind, helpful or remembering Allah. If what we want to say is mean, untrue or hurtful, it is better to stay quiet. Our words matter, and good speech is a sign of real faith in Allah.
The hadith
مَنْ كَانَ يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ فَلْيَقُلْ خَيْرًا أَوْ لِيَصْمُتْ
(part of a longer hadith)
Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should say something good or stay quiet.
Narrated by: Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him)
Source: Sahih al-Bukhari 6018; Sahih Muslim 47; Nawawi's 40 Hadith #15
Grade: Sahih (agreed upon)
What it teaches
Our words are important. If what we want to say is not good, it is better to stay quiet.
A little story to help understand it
This is an illustrative example we wrote to explain the meaning. It is not part of the hadith.
During a game, Bilal's friend Hamza missed an easy goal. Bilal was about to laugh and say, "You are so bad at football!" Then he stopped and asked himself, "Is this good?" It wasn't. So he said nothing for a moment, then called out, "Good try, Hamza! You'll get the next one!" Hamza smiled and kept playing. After the game, Hamza thanked Bilal for cheering him on. Bilal felt happy that he had chosen good words, or silence, instead of words that would hurt.
Try it today
Before you speak today, ask yourself: "Is it good?" If not, stay quiet.
Mini quiz
If you can't say something good, what should you do?
- Say it anyway
- Stay quiet
- Shout it louder
Show the answer
Answer: Stay quiet (B)
Questions parents ask
Is this hadith authentic?
Yes. It is recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari 6018; Sahih Muslim 47; Nawawi's 40 Hadith #15. Grade: Sahih (agreed upon). It was narrated by Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him). The words shown here are part of a longer hadith.
How can kids practice it?
Before you speak today, ask yourself: "Is it good?" If not, stay quiet. Use the "three gates" check before speaking: Is it true? Is it kind? Is it needed?
What counts as "good" speech?
Good speech includes telling the truth, kind and encouraging words, saying salam, thanking people, giving helpful advice gently, and remembering Allah with words like SubhanAllah and Alhamdulillah.
More hadith to learn
Last reviewed: 2026-10-09 · Sources & Method