His voice ﷺ and his language
The beauty of his voice ﷺ
The voice of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was among the most beautiful and sweetest. Al‑Bara' ibn 'Azib, may Allah be pleased with him, said: "If you heard the recitation of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ at night, it would simply take hold of your heart." And Abu Musa al‑Ash'ari, may Allah be pleased with him, said: "If you had seen me listening to his ﷺ recitation that night, attentive to him, you would think I had been given a pipe from the flutes of the people of Dawud." — narrated by al‑Bukhari and Muslim [al‑Bukhari and Muslim].
- His voice in recitation ﷺ was like the mizmar (flute) of the people of Dawud — said by Abu Musa al‑Ash'ari in the Two Sahihs
- It would take hold of hearts when he recited — said Al‑Bara' ibn 'Azib
- He had a strong, resonant voice — it would fill the space when he raised it
- He used to recite with tartil (measured, melodious cadence) and make every letter heard clearly — narrated by Abu Dawud [Abu Dawud]
His eloquence and oratory ﷺ
A'isha, may Allah be pleased with her, said: "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ did not narrate as you narrate; rather he spoke in clear, distinct words, articulated, which those who sat with him would retain." — narrated by al‑Bukhari and Muslim [al‑Bukhari and Muslim]. And Anas, may Allah be pleased with him, said: "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ would repeat a word three times so that it would be understood from him." — narrated by al‑Bukhari [al‑Bukhari]. And the Prophet ﷺ said: "I have been given jawami' al‑kalim," meaning concise speech that gathers many meanings — [Muttafaqun 'alayhi].
- Jawami' al‑kalim: His ﷺ speech was few in words yet broad in meaning — [Muttafaqun 'alayhi]
- His speech was clear and distinct and remembered by every companion who sat with him — [Muttafaqun 'alayhi] from A'isha
- He would repeat a word three times so it would be understood — narrated by al‑Bukhari from Anas [al‑Bukhari]
- He spoke with words of tartil and a flowing cadence — narrated by Abu Dawud [Abu Dawud]
- He addressed each people in their own tongue and understood their intentions
His language and his teaching ﷺ
The Prophet ﷺ was the most eloquent of the Arabs in tongue, and he said: "I am the most eloquent of the Arabs, although I am of Quraysh and I was raised among Banu Sa'd ibn Bakr." He was taught the tongues of Arabs and non‑Arabs and would match the eloquence of every tribe; in his upbringing among Banu Sa'd he attained the utmost eloquence of Arabic speech. He taught people with gentleness and kindness, and he never treated a teacher harshly.
- Most eloquent of the Arabs in tongue — raised among Banu Sa'd, the most eloquent of the tribes
- From Quraysh — and Quraysh are the most eloquent of the Arabs
- He mastered the tongues of the Arabs and would address each people in what suited them
- He taught with gentleness and ease — he never treated a teacher harshly