We have often mentioned that the Arabs in pre-Islamic days and during the lifetime of the Prophet, and in later generations, attached great importance to fine speech and colorful expression. The language of the Qur’an was so fascinating to them, because it excelled anything their best poets and orators could come up with. Tribes used to consider a talented poet their best weapon in their rivalries with other tribes. Hence, those who had the talent of fine expression were keen to demonstrate their talent.
It is universally agreed by language experts and critics that the Prophet had the best style ever known in Arabia. He combined clear expression with concise wording. Nevertheless, his style could not be compared to that of the Qur’an, with its universally recognized superiority to all human style. Hence, it was only natural that, with the advent of Islam, people should attach added importance to fine expression. But the Prophet warns against excess in this connection.
Abdullah ibn Umar reports: “Two men from the Eastern parts came to Madinah at the time of the Prophet. They stood up and made their speeches before sitting down again. Then, Thabit ibn Qays, the Prophet’s spokesman, stood up and spoke. People admired the two men’s speech. Then, God’s messenger stood up and gave a speech, in which he said: “People! Say what you want to say. Giving excessive attention to words and expression is prompted by Satan.” He subsequently said: “Some fine speech is pure magic.” (Related by Al-Bukhari, Abu Dawood and Ibn Hibban.)
What the Prophet is warning against in this instance is using one’s talent of expression to invite people’s admiration. This may easily lead to a feeling of arrogance as the speaker begins with a determined effort to solicit admiration. As people are enchanted with his speech, he begins to give himself airs and this leads to arrogance. Needless to say, arrogance is a vice encouraged by Satan. Hence the Prophet’s statement that “giving excessive attention to words and expression is prompted by Satan.” However the Prophet does not belittle the value of fine words and wise statements. This is reflected in his last statement, which we commented on in an earlier article.
The Hadith that we have already quoted does not mention the names of these two men or what they said in the Prophet’s presence. We have reports giving these details and it may be useful to explain the Hadith on the basis of such reports. The two men are said to be Al-Zibriqan ibn Badr and Amr ibn Al-Ahtam, who belonged to the tribe of Tameem. They arrived in Madinah in year 9, after Makkah had fallen to Islam. When Al-Zibriqan spoke, he indulged in self-praise, saying: “Messenger of God, I am the master of the Tameem tribe. In my tribe, my orders are obeyed and requests granted. I prevent my people from committing injustice and I limit them to what is rightfully theirs. This fellow (pointing to Amr ibn Aal-Ahtam) will testify to that.”
Feeling that he was called upon to speak, Amr ibn Al-Ahtam said: “Messenger of God, he is a man of real power; able to protect his immediate relatives and property, and obeyed by his kin.” Apparently, Al-Zibriqan felt that Amr’s statement fell short of what he expected him to say on his behalf. Therefore, Al-Zibriqan castigated him saying: “Messenger of God, he knows of me what is far more than what he said; but it is envy that prevents him from stating what is true.” Amr rejoined: “Am I envious of you? Messenger of God, by God his maternal uncles are of low status, and he has only recently come into his money. His children are imbecile and he is disliked by his clan. By God, I only spoke the truth in my first statement and I told no lie in my second, but it is a trait of mine that when I am pleased with someone, I say the best I know of him, and if I am displeased, I highlight his worst qualities.” It was in reply to this that the Prophet said: “Some fine speech is pure magic.”
In another Hadith, the Prophet comes clearly against pedantic people who try to stress their own importance by either talking extensively or playing with words. Abu Hurayrah quotes the Prophet as saying: “The worst of my people are those who talk too much, resorting to pedantry and insolence; while the best of my people are those who have the best manners.” (Related by Al-Bukhari in Al-Adab Al-Mufrad and Ahmad.)
In this Hadith the Prophet mentions three qualities that make a person join the worst type of people. These are the chatterers who almost speak non-stop. They admire their own speech and feel that they have a claim to being listened to. This is an attitude of arrogance that some people often exhibit. If such a chatterer adds pedantry and insolence to his speech then he is really a pain in the neck. What is worse is that he merits the Prophet’s description as being one of the worst in the Muslim community. By contrast, the best people are those whose manners are fine and they are kindly to people. They listen to others and accept what is right, without claiming any monopoly of speech or knowledge.
The Prophet’s companions accepted his teachings and steered away from what he pointed out as unbecoming or undesirable. Thus, we find that when a man made a speech in Umar’s presence and he spoke for long, Umar said to those present: “Speaking for too long is only motivated by Satan.” (Related by Al-Bukhari in Al-Adab Al-Mufrad.) Indeed, Umar provides an image here, likening ranting on by a speaker to a piece of red skin a camel may put out to the side of his mouth. Thus, he gives an image in which we see a fluent speaker like a strong camel, and his oratory with what the camel bring out of his mouth. Linking such speech to Satan is right because it is liable to include some falsehood.