In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Beware of Those Who have Been Suddenly Given Access to Global Mainstream Media, Utilise Political Rhetoric, Present Themselves As Moral Arbiters to The World to Appeal For That Which Prolongs Bloodshed and Given Standing Ovations!

Abdullah Ibn Umar [may Allaah be pleased with him and his father] said, “Two men came from the East and addressed the people who wondered at their eloquent speeches, so Allah’s Messenger [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] said, “Indeed, some eloquent speech is as effective as magic”. [Al-Bukhaari 5767]

The Messenger [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] said, “The most hated of men in the sight of Allaah is the one who is most quarrelsome”. Al-Allaamah Zayd Bin Haadi [may Allaah have mercy upon him] commented on this hadeeth as follows: A warning against (blameworthy) argumentation, falling into wicked behaviour and its severe (evil consequences), especially if the argumentation is based on falsehood. As for when it is based on truth, there is nothing wrong with that for the one who has a right to do so; but he should be just in his argument so that he does not enter into oppression or error, and Allaah knows best. The hadeeth is related to warning against lying during argumentation- [a warning against] bringing falsehood and adorned speech into it until one change falsehood into truth and truth into falsehood – not bothered about making an oath, lying or giving false witness. All this occurs from a person who is extremely quarrelsome, goes into excess in the affair and does not feel shy in the presence of Allaah- neither fears punishment in this life nor in the next life. And when it is the case that the extremely quarrelsome person is blameworthy, then indeed the person who has good conduct – if entitled to something – during an argument and other affairs, he will not utter except truth, and will not seek after anything except the truth- neither lies nor deceives the Sharee’ah judge. This is from the characteristics of the people of Eemaan – those whom Allaah praised in the Qur’aan and the Prophet praised them in the pure Sunnah. (1)

The Hypocrite With a Sharp Tongue

The Messenger [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] said, “What I fear most for my nation, is those leaders who will lead astray and they are those who lead them to misguidance”. And he said, “What I fear most for my ummah is every hypocrite with an eloquent tongue”. Al-Allaamah Abdul Muhsin Al-Abbaad [may Allaah preserve him] commentated on the above narrations as follows: “This is the one who possesses eloquent impressive speech and he is able to promote his dubious views, whilst falsifying the reality and delivering it to the people. Then the ignorant one thinks that it is knowledge and proof, whilst it is illusion and deceit”. (2)

“Indeed, Allaah hates the eloquent one among men who moves his tongue round (within his teeth), as cattle do”. (3) Al-Allaamah Abdul Muhsin Al-Abbaad [may Allaah preserve him] said: The person intended in this hadeeth is the one who speaks eloquently, while using obscure or ambiguous language, immerses himself in speech and burdens himself. He burdens himself in speech and thus utters something blameworthy. However, if this [eloquence] is not done by way of burdening oneself in speech, such as the one whom Allaah has granted eloquence and he utilises it in his speech in order to clarify the truth, then this is not blameworthy. Allaah hates the person who speaks eloquently and utters that which is blameworthy due to deliberately utilising obscure, ambiguous and burdensome speech. This person is likened to a cow that moves its tongue round [among its teeth] when eating. It is said that a cow is not like other animals-because other animals use their teeth but a cow uses its tongue. This hadeeth forbids the likes of this action [i.e. eloquent burdensome speech] and the one who does so is hated by Allaah. (4)

[Ref 1: An Excerpt from ‘At-taleeqaatul Maleehah Alaa Silsilatil Ahaadeeth As-Saheehah. Vol 1. Page 26. slightly paraphrased]
[Ref 2: Explanation of Sunan Abu Dawud. Audio number 569]
[Ref 3: Reported by Imaam Abu Dawood (rahimahullaah). Hdeeth Number 5005 & declared authentic by Imaam Albaani (rahimahullaah) in his checking of Sunan Abu Daawud].
Ref 4: Explanation of Sunan Abu Dawud. Audio number 569]