كُلُّ كَلَامِ ابْنِ آدَمَ عَلَيْهِ لَا لَهُ، إِلَّا أَمْرٌ بِمَعْرُوفٍ، أَوْ نَهْيٌ عَنْ مُنْكَرٍ، أَوْ ذِكْرُ اللَّهِ (Tirmidhi)
Translation: The speech of the child of Adam is against him, not in his favor, except commanding what is good, forbidding what is wrong, or remembering Allah.
كَلَامِ — speech; عَلَيْهِ — against him; لَهُ — for him; مَعْرُوفٍ — what is good; مُنْكَرٍ — what is wrong.
Brief grammar: عَلَيْهِ لَا لَهُ contrasts two prepositional phrases: “against him” and “for him.” إِلَّا introduces an exception.
The warning calls for restraint and accountability in speech. Words spoken truthfully and helpfully can become a means of doing good.