14 — Ishāq ibn Ismā‘īl, Sa‘dawayh, and others narrated to us—this wording is that of Ishāq ibn Ismā‘īl—from Muhammad ibn Yazīd ibn Khunays, who said: We visited Sufyān al-Thawrī while he was ill. Sa‘īd ibn Hassān then entered upon him, and Sufyān said, “The hadith that you narrated to me from Umm Sālih, from Safiyya bint Shayba, from Umm Habība (may Allah be pleased with her), who said: The Prophet (may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him) said, ‘Every utterance of the son of Adam counts against him, except enjoining what is right, forbidding what is wrong, or remembering Allah.’”

He continued: A man remarked, “How stringent this hadith is!” Sufyān replied, “What is so stringent about it? Does Allah not say:

‘On the Day when the Spirit and the angels stand in rows, none shall speak except those whom the Most Merciful permits and who speak rightly’ [The Tidings: 38]?

Does Allah not say, ‘There is no good in much of their private conversation’ [Women: 114], except for one who calls for charity, what is right, or reconciliation between people?

And does Allah, mighty and majestic, not say:

‘Intercession with Him will be of no benefit except for one to whom He has granted permission. Then, when terror is lifted from their hearts, they will ask, “What did your Lord say?” They will answer, “The truth. And He is the Most High, the Most Great”’ [Sheba: 23]?”