Character of the Prophet’s Speech, Silence, and Personality

صفة كلامه وسكوته وأحواله صلى الله عليه وسلم

The Character of the Prophet’s Speech, Silence, and Personality ﷺ

Translated By : Reza Ervani bin Asmanu

This article on the Character of the Prophet’s Speech, Silence, and Personality ﷺ is part of the Life of Prophet Muhammad category

اتصف صلى الله عليه وسلم بصفات لم تجتمع لأحد قبله ولا بعده ، كيف لا وهو خير الناس وأكرمهم عند الله تعالى ، فقد كان صلى الله عليه وسلم أفصح الناس ، وأعذبهم كلاماً وأسرعهم أداءً، وأحلاهم منطقا حتى إن كلامه ليأخذ بمجامع القلوب ويأسر الأرواح ، يشهد له بذلك كل من سمعه.

He ﷺ possessed qualities that no one before him or after him ever had. Indeed, he was the best and most honored of people in the sight of Allah. He was the most eloquent in speech, the most pleasant in words, the quickest in delivery, and the sweetest in expression, to the point that his words would touch hearts and captivate souls, as testified by everyone who heard him.

وكان إذا تكلم تكلم بكلام فَصْلٍ مبين، يعده العاد ليس بسريع لا يُحفظ ، ولا بكلام منقطع لا يُدركُه السامع، بل هديه فيه أكمل الهديِّ ،كما وصفته أم المؤمنين عائشة رضي الله عنها بقولها :

When he spoke, his words were clear and precise. Not so fast that they could not be memorized, nor so fragmented that they could not be understood. His speech was the most perfect. Umm al-Mu’minin ‘Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) described him saying:

ما كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يسرد سردكم هذا ، ولكن كان يتكلم بكلام بيِّن فصل يتحفظه من جلس إليه) متفق عليه .

“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ did not speak rapidly like you do, but he spoke with clear, distinct speech so that whoever sat with him could memorize it.” (Agreed upon).

وثبت في (( الصحيحين )) من حديث أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم أنه قال :

In the two Sahihs it is narrated from Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet ﷺ said:

بعثت بجوامع الكلام

“I have been sent with concise speech that carries vast meaning.”

وكان كثيراً ما يعيد الكلام ثلاثاً ليفهمه السامع ويعقله عنه ، ففي البخاري عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم أنه :

He would often repeat his words three times so that the listener could fully understand and remember them. In Sahih al-Bukhari, it is narrated that the Prophet ﷺ:

كان إذا تكلم بكلمة أعادها ثلاثاً ، حتى يفهم عنه، وإذا أتى على قوم فسلم عليهم ، سلم ثلاثاً

“Whenever he spoke a statement, he would repeat it three times until it was understood, and when he greeted a people, he would greet them three times.”

وكان صلى الله عليه وسلم طويل الصمت لا يتكلم إلا فيما يرجو ثوابه، وكان إذا تكلم افتتح كلامه واختتمه بذكر الله، وأتى بكلام فَصْلٍ ليس بالهزل ، لازيادة فيها عن بيان المراد ولاتقصير ، ولا فحش فيه ولا تقريع.

He ﷺ was often silent and only spoke about matters for which he hoped for reward. When he spoke, he would begin and end with the remembrance of Allah. His speech was firm and purposeful, without excessive joking, without exceeding or falling short of the intent, and without obscenity or reproach.

أما ضحكه صلى الله عليه وسلم فكان تبسماً، وغاية ما يكون من ضحكه أن تبدو نواجذه، فكان يَضْحَك مما يُضْحك منه، ويتعجب مما يُتعجب منه.

As for his laughter ﷺ, it was a smile, and at its fullest, his molar teeth could be seen. He would laugh at things that were laughable and express amazement at things worthy of amazement.

وكان بكاؤه صلى الله عليه وسلم من جنس ضحكه ، فلم يكن بكاءه بشهيق ولا برفع صوت، كما لم يكن ضحكه بقهقهة، بل كانت عيناه تدمعان حتى تهملا، ويُسمع لصدره أزيز، وكان صلى الله عليه وسلم تارة يبكى رحمة للميت كما دمعت عيناه لموت ولده، وتارة يبكي خوفاً على أمته وشفقة عليها ، وتارة تفيض عيناه من خشية الله ، فقد بكى لما قرأ عليه ابن مسعود رضي الله عنه (سورة النساء) وانتهى إلى قوله تعالى :

His crying ﷺ was similar to his laughter; he did not weep with sobbing or loud wailing, just as his laughter was not loud guffaws. Rather, his eyes would shed tears until they overflowed, and a sound like a boiling pot could be heard from his chest. At times, he would weep out of mercy for the deceased, as when his eyes filled with tears at the death of his son. Sometimes he wept out of fear and compassion for his Ummah, and sometimes out of awe of Allah. He cried when Ibn Mas‘ud (may Allah be pleased with him) recited Surah An-Nisa to him and reached the verse:

{فكيف إذا جئنا من كل أمة بشهيد وجئنا بك على هؤلاء شهيدا}

“How then (will it be) when We bring from each nation a witness, and We bring you (O Muhammad) as a witness against these people?” (Surah An-Nisa verse 41)

وتارة كان يبكي اشتياقاً ومحبة وإجلالاً لعظمة خالقه سبحانه وتعالى.

And at times he would cry out of longing, love, and reverence for the greatness of his Creator, Glorified and Exalted be He.

وما ذكرناه وأتينا عليه من صفاته صلى الله عليه وسلم غيض من فيض لا يحصره مقال ولا كتاب، وفيما ألمحنا إليه عبرة لمن أراد أن يذكر أو أراد شكوراً.

What we have mentioned of his ﷺ qualities is only a drop from the ocean, which no article or book can encompass. Yet what we have hinted at here is enough as a lesson for those who wish to remember or be grateful.

Allahumma send blessings upon our Master Muhammad.

Source : IslamWeb