Riyad as-Salihin · Chapter 328

Undesirability of Pretentiousness and Exaggeration during Conversation

باب كراهة التقعير في الكلام والتشدق فيه وتكلف الفصاحة واستعمال وحشي اللغة ودقائق الإعراب في مخاطبة العوام ونحوهم

An-Nawawi closes this run with a caution against showy, over-polished speech, the affected eloquence that aims to impress rather than to communicate. The Arabic mutanatti'un names those who strain and overreach in their words, and the Prophet (peace be upon him) repeats their ruin three times for emphasis.

Across these hadith the measure is the heart, not the vocabulary. What draws a believer near to the Messenger on the Day of Resurrection is good character, while affected, boastful, tongue-rolling speech pushes a person far away. The lesson is plain talk and sincerity over performance.

Hadith 1736

Ibn Mas'ud (May Allah be pleased with him) said:

عن ابن مسعود رضي الله عنه أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال‏:‏ ‏"‏هلك المتنطعون‏"‏، قالها ثلاثًا‏.‏ ‏(‏‏(‏رواه مسلم‏.‏‏"‏المتنطعون‏"‏‏:‏ المبالغون في الأمور‏)‏‏)‏‏.‏

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Ruined are Al-Mutanatti'un." He repeated this thrice. [Muslim].

In plain words

The Prophet warned, repeating it three times, that those ruined are the people who strain and overreach in their words and deeds. A caution against excess.

Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1736 In-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 226

Hadith 1737

'Abdullah bin 'Amr bin Al-As (May Allah be pleased with them) said:

وعن عبد الله بن عمرو بن العاص رضي الله عنهما أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال‏:‏ ‏ "‏إن الله يبغض البليغ من الرجال الذي يتخلل بلسانه كما تتخلل البقرة‏" ‏‏.‏‏(‏‏(‏رواه أبو داود والترمذي وقال حديث حسن‏)‏‏)‏‏.‏

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Verily, Allah dislikes an eloquent person who rolls his tongue as a cow rolls its tongue (while eating)." [Abu Dawud and At- Tirmidhi].

In plain words

Allah dislikes the person who shows off with affected, tongue-rolling eloquence, likened to a cow chewing. Sincerity matters more than performance.

Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1737 In-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 227

Hadith 1738

Jabir bin 'Abdullah (May Allah be pleased with them) said:

وعن جابر بن عبد الله رضي الله عنهما أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال‏:‏ ‏ "‏إن من أحبكم إلي، وأقربكم مني مجلسًا يوم القيامة، أحاسنكم أخلاقًا، وإن أبغضكم إلي وأبعدكم مني يوم القيامة، والثرثارون، والمتشدقون، والمتفيهقون‏" ‏‏.‏‏(‏‏(‏رواه الترمذي وقال حديث حسن‏)‏‏)‏‏.‏ وقد سبق شرحه في باب حسن الخلق‏.‏

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) 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].

In plain words

The dearest to the Prophet on the Day of Resurrection are those best in character; the farthest are the talkative, the pretentious, and those who show off in speech. Choose plain sincerity over display.

Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1738 In-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 228