We said from the hadith that it is obligatory to remain silent except for good. There is no doubt that the Companions used to speak in conversations that contained neither good nor evil, such as a man speaking with his wife. How is that?
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The questioner : O Shaykh, may Allah reward you. We said from the hadith that it is obligatory to remain silent except for good. There is no doubt that the Companions used to speak about something, meaning conversation for its own sake, meaning it contained neither good nor evil?
The Shaykh : Yes, but there is good in it for others. There is good in it for others.
The questioner : Like a man speaking with his wife?
The Shaykh : Yes, that is it. That is good for others. It brings about affection and removes estrangement.
The questioner : And with his friends as well?
The Shaykh : And with his friends as well. But for example, if a person is only speaking idle talk with no benefit, or speaking forbidden talk, yes. Although it may be said that the phrase "so let him not say except good" means "so let him not say evil." So let him not say evil. And in that case, the forbidden speech is only speech concerning evil.
The Shaykh : Yes, but there is good in it for others. There is good in it for others.
The questioner : Like a man speaking with his wife?
The Shaykh : Yes, that is it. That is good for others. It brings about affection and removes estrangement.
The questioner : And with his friends as well?
The Shaykh : And with his friends as well. But for example, if a person is only speaking idle talk with no benefit, or speaking forbidden talk, yes. Although it may be said that the phrase "so let him not say except good" means "so let him not say evil." So let him not say evil. And in that case, the forbidden speech is only speech concerning evil.