Riyad Us-Saliheen (Gardens of the Righteous)
Chapter 328
Undesirability of Pretentiousness and Exaggeration during Conversation
1736. Ibn Mas`ud (May Allah be pleased with him) said: The Prophet (PBUH) said, "Ruined are Al-Mutanatti`un.'' He repeated this thrice.
[Muslim].
Commentary: Mutanatti`un are those people who are in the habit of making unnecessary and unreasonably fine distinctions, exaggeration, artificial and eloquent speech in simple matters. We learn from this Hadith that in all matters one should adopt simplicity and avoid exaggeration no matter whether in speech or action.
1737. `Abdullah bin `Amr bin Al-As (May Allah be pleased with them) said: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "Verily, Allah dislikes an eloquent person who rolls his tongue as a cow rolls its tongue (while eating).''
[Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi].
Commentary: The person referred to in this Hadith is one who speaks with affection to display his eloquence.
1738. Jabir bin `Abdullah (May Allah be pleased with them) said: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "The dearest and the closest of you to me on the Day of Resurrection will be those who are the best in behaviour; and the most hateful and the farthest from me on the Day of Resurrection will be the talkative and the most pretentious and the most rhetorical.''
[At-Tirmidhi].
Commentary: Ath-Thartharun (most voluble) is the plural of Tharthar which comes from the word Thartharah, meaning to speak repeatedly in an artificial manner. Mutashaddiqun (loud-mouthed) is the plural of Mutashaddiq, which means a person who speaks loudly to display his eloquence. Mutafaihiqun is the plural of Mutafaihiq which is from the word Fihq, meaning to fill. This Hadith is a reference to those people who speak in a loud and lofty manner. All these characteristics of speech are indicative of artificiality and affectation which are condemned by Shari`ah, and people having these defects will be far away from the Prophet (PBUH) and will face the Wrath of Allah. Islam likes simple, polite and natural style of conversation. In fact, all moral virtues will be a means of the nearness of the Prophet (PBUH) and the Pleasure of Allah. May Allah enable us to adopt these virtues.