Effective Public Speaking in Islam
By
Mamarinta Omar Mababaya and Dr. Norlain Dindang Mababaya
Bismillah
hir Rahmanir Rahiim
Praise
be to Allâh I
from Whom we ask help and pardon, and in Whom we take refuge from the
evils within ourselves. Verily,
whoever Allâh guides has no one who can lead him astray, and he whom He leads
astray has no one to guide him. We testify that there is no god but Allâh, and
we testify that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger.
From the Islâmic viewpoint, effective public speaking is the art and process of conveying the message of Islâm (to others) with certain knowledge, wisdom and beautiful preaching for the pleasure of Allâh I. Allâh, the Almighty, says:
“Obey Allâh and obey the
Messenger and beware (of evil): if you do turn back, know you that it is Our
Messenger’s duty to convey (the Message) in the clearest manner.”
(5:92)
Say (O Muhammad): “This is my Way; I do invite unto Allâh with a certain knowledge. And whoever follows me (must also invite others to Allâh, Oneness of Allâh with sure knowledge). Glory to Allâh! And I am not of the polytheists.” (12: 108)
“Invite (all) to the
Way of your Rabb with wisdom and beautiful preaching; and argue with them in
ways that are best and most gracious: for your Rabb knows best, who have strayed
from His Path, and who receive guidance.” (16:125)
“Who is better in
speech than one who calls (men) to Allâh, works righteousness, and says, `I
am of those who bow in Islâm?’”
(41:33)
From
the above divine injunctions, we derive the following criteria of effective
public speaking:
· First, public speaking must be one that pleases Allâh the Almighty (i.e., according to the Qur’ân and the Way/Sunnah of Allâh’s Messenger r) and therefore deserves His reward.
· Second, it must be done sincerely for the sole pleasure of Allâh I.
· Third, it is effective because it invites or calls people to Islâm.
· Fourth, it is done with certain knowledge, wisdom and beautiful preaching.
· Fifth, the public speaker must be Muslim or righteous believers.
Note
that public speaking which does not meet the above criteria is not considered
effective from the Islâmic point of view.
Thus, no matter how eloquent a speaker is, no matter how interesting his
speech and no matter how people show their applause for his performance, the
speech is considered a failure. If
the speaker learns excellence of speech
just to gain fame and popularity instead of pleasing Allâh I;
and if he speaks nothing but forged speech instead of the Qur’ân and the
authentic Ahâdîth, the
speaker gains nothing but punishment in the life Hereafter.
Allâh I
says:
“There is the type of man whose speech about this world's life may dazzle you and he calls Allâh to witness about what is in his heart; yet is he the most contentious of enemies. When he turns his back his aim everywhere is to spread mischief through the earth and destroy crops and cattle. But Allâh loves not mischief. When it is said to him ‘Fear Allâh’ he is led by arrogance to (more) crime. Enough for him is Hell; an evil bed indeed (to lie on)!” (2: 204-206)
In line with the above Qur’ânic Ayâh (Verse) our Messenger r makes it very clear that learning the art of speaking just to get the attention and praise of the public is a sin. The same holds true in talking forged and/or evil speeches in the public. Let us take admonitions in the following Ahâdîth :
Abu Hurairah t
narrated that the Prophet r
said: “On the Day of resurrection Allâh will not accept repentance or
ransom from him who learns excellence of speech to captivate thereby the hearts
of men, or of people.”
(Abu Dawud 4988)
Abu Hurairah narrated t that the Prophet r said, "Whoever does not give up forged speech and evil actions, Allâh is not in need of his leaving his food and drink (i.e. Allâh will not accept his fasting.)” (Bukhâri 3/127)
Malik t narrated that the Prophet r said, “Who believes in Allâh and the Last Day should talk what is good or keep quiet. (i.e. abstain from dirty and evil talk, and should think before uttering).” (Bukhâri 8/157)
Authentic
knowledge of Islâm and effective public speaking are taken as inseparable
concepts in Islâm. Muslims who
want to earn Allâh’s pleasure and eternal reward must strive to have
authentic knowledge of Islâm and be effective public speakers based on the
Qur’ân and the Sunnah. Total
personality development in Islâm includes knowledge of the Qur’ân and the
authentic Sunnah (and or Ahâdîth
) and effective public speaking. Effective public speaking requires
that we must have authentic knowledge of Islâm so that we become
righteous and that we practice what we say.
Allâh I
says:
“Do you enjoin right conduct on the people, and forget (to practice it) yourselves, and yet you study the scripture? Will you not understand?” (2: 44)
“O you who believe! Why say you that which you do not? Grievously hateful is it in the sight of Allâh that you say that which you do not.” (61: 2-3)
We Muslims must follow Allâh’s Messenger r who has the best personality and who calls people to Islâm. We must follow the Prophet r because by doing so, we please Allâh I and earn His ultimate reward. We must work hard to follow the Prophet r whose mission is to convey the Message of Islâm. Let us help one another in enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong. The Almighty not only praises those Muslims (men and women) who enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong but also promises His Mercy to them:
“You are the best of peoples, evolved for mankind. You enjoin what is right, forbid what is wrong, and believe in Allâh...” (3:110)
“The Believers, men and women, are protectors, one to another. They enjoin what is just, and forbid what is evil. They observe regular prayers, pay zakat and obey Allâh and His Messenger. On them will Allâh pour His mercy: for Allâh is Exalted in power, Wise.” (9:71)
Certainly,
it is righteousness to have ample knowledge of Islâm and be effective public
speakers based on the Qur’ân and the Sunnah by enjoining what is right and
forbidding what is wrong. We
Muslims must work for righteous deeds especially through effective speeches in
conveying the Message of Islâm so that we will be among those whom Allâh I
will admit in Paradise:
“Truly, Allâh will admit
those who believe and work righteous deeds, to Gardens beneath which rivers
flow. They shall be adorned therein with bracelets of gold and pearls; and their
garments there will be of silk. For they have been guided (in this life) to the
purest of speeches; they have been guided to the Path of Him Who is Worthy of
(all) Praise.” (22:23-24)
Let us show our love and devotion to Allâh I and earn His ultimate reward by following His Messenger r. We must remember that one way by which we show love to our Creator is by following the Prophet r. Allâh I tells us:
“Say: "If you do love Allâh follow me: Allâh will love you and forgive you your sins for Allâh is Oft-Forgiving Most Merciful." (3:31)
Let us follow the Prophet r in conveying Islâm to others, as it is his very Sunnah. To do this, we must have first of all the correct knowledge of Islâm. This is not only essential but also a divine commandment from Allâh I, which we must do. The Most High says:
"Say (O Muhammad):
'This is my Way; I do invite unto Allâh with a certain knowledge.
And whoever follows me (must also invite others to Allâh, Oneness of Allâh
with sure knowledge). Glory to Allâh! And
I am not of the polytheists.'” (12:
108)
The
above injunction implies that to be successful in our Da’wah, we must
have the correct knowledge of the Qur’ân and the Sunnah.
These divine sources of knowledge develop us to have firm and sincere
belief in Allâh I,
His Book (the Qur’ân), in His Messenger r
and in Islâm as a whole and be
able to do righteous deeds for the
pleasure of the Almighty. In
this way, we attain the ultimate success that Allâh the Exalted promises to the
Muslim believers:
“But those who believe and do deeds of righteousness. We shall soon admit them to Gardens, with rivers flowing beneath, to dwell therein forever. Allâh’s promise is the truth, and whose word can be truer than Allâh’s?” (4:122)
“The believers, men and
women, are protectors one of another: they enjoin what is just and forbid what
is evil: they observe regular prayers practice regular charity and obey Allâh
and His Messenger. On them will Allâh
pour His mercy: for Allâh is Exalted in power Wise. Allâh has promised the
believers, men and women, gardens under which rivers flow to dwell therein and
beautiful mansions in gardens of everlasting bliss.
But the greatest bliss is the Good Pleasure of Allâh: that is the
supreme success.” (9:71-72)
/
If
you are interested to learn how to be an effective writer and public speaker or
to know more about Islâm in order to attain success, click on
WISDOM.
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Wisdom
Enrichment Foundation (WEFOUND)
http://www.wefound.org
“Our
Rabb (Cherisher and Sustainer)! Accept
(this service) from us. Verily, You are the All-Hearing, the All Knowing.” (Qur’ân
2:127)
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