The Prophet, may Allah bless and grant him peace, had command over the Arabic language, including the dialects of the tongue spoken by different tribes. His speeches were both fluent and eloquent. He expressed his views in a concise and organised manner with clarity. He had to communicate with people belonging to different mental and social levels and varied strata of the society. He succeeded in taking along with the person or group of persons he interacted.
The manner of communication with his audience in Makkah was not the same as with those in Madinah or in Hijaz or Najd or, for that matter, those coming from other places. He knew their respective dialects, including characteristic proverbs and linguistic preferences that developed in their own local traditions. At times, when he talked with a particular person or group of them belonging to any particular area in their accent and idioms, his companions in Madinah expressed exclamation and asked for their meaning.
The prophet, may Allah bless and grant him peace, had to interact with different classes and types of persons. His manner of conversation with all of them were not the same, although the purpose of such communications and the message being imparted was always the same. Such communications are recorded in the books of traditions of the Prophet.
A number of scholars have worked on the characteristic features of such dissemination of his message through conversations. Such research works, in addition to providing references, describe the words, idioms, apparent and extended meanings of the words and expressions used by the prophet. Such records include the letters he dictated which were sent to kings, governors and chieftains inviting them to Islam. A comparative study of these addresses with those he did with Bedouins of Arabia, children, women and his wives (mothers of the believers), may Allah be pleased with all of them, and other family members shows his efficacies in interactions in consideration of the addressees.
It is obvious that the qualities of the prophets, including the last Prophet, were special favours bestowed upon them severally by Almighty Allah. A special favour of Allah that was gifted to Prophet Muhammad, may Allah bless and grant him peace, was to express words of wisdom in short sentences. He once talked about the special favours upon him by Allah that included him being JawamiulKalim (ability to express meaningfully in few words). Besides being full of meanings, these few words are clear, succinct and effective. Scholars have compiled several collections of such Prophetic narrations/traditions. We would suffice by reproducing some of them hereunder.
“A man is with the one he loves.”
“There is no good in a company that does not share with you what you share with them.”
“One who was best in Ignorance-Days is the best in Islam too.”
“One who knows his worth is saved from destruction.”
“Allah bestows His mercy on the believer who either speaks good or keeps silence.”
“Do a good work after you committed anything wrong as the good will erase the bad.”
“Middle path is the best path.”
“Injustice shall be the darkness on the Day of Judgement.”
These are a few of more than 12000 like traditions of The Prophet, may Allah bless and grant him peace. The beauty and real worth of the original words and expressions in the Arabic language cannot be transcribed in translations in any other language. However, one can reach near their wisdom on contemplations.
The companions of the Prophet were also astonished by his talks and speeches and at times enquired about this. They exclaimed that they were unable to find any other person more eloquent than him. His reply was that this was because the Qur’an, the marvel of Arabic language, was revealed on his tongue. At another occasion, he said that this was because he belonged to the tribe of Quraish and was raised among the tribe of Saad, which was considered to marvel in their purity of the language.
One companion described the characteristic features of the speech of the Prophet as sweet and distinct without using too little or so many words. It was like pearls sewed in a thread. The melody of his voice was an added feature.