We live in a media-centered society. TV, radio, blogs, websites, DVDs, newspapers, magazines…much of our days are spent communicating and/or listening. As this is the case, in order for us, as Muslim youth, to be successful and to improve the state of the Muslim community in America and abroad, we must excel not only in our studies and in our personal ethics, but also in communication.
Communication is an art, not a science. There is no magic formula that makes you an amazing orator or a brilliant writer. That being said, there are many universal rules about the art of communication just as there are universal rules about painting, sculpture, and music. I’d like to share with you my thoughts on effective public speaking in an effort to spark a movement among young Muslims to use our voices for the sake of Allah (swt).
Objectives
1. To give you a solid working definition of Public Speaking
2. To explain why public speaking is important as Muslim Youth
3. To tell you a little bit about what Allah says about Public Speaking
4. To give you quick tips from A-Z on how to effectively give a speech or carry on a debate as a young Muslim
What is Public Speaking?
The art and process of conveying useful information with certain knowledge, wisdom, and beauty, solely for the purpose of seeking the pleasure of Allah
Why is Public Speaking Important as Muslim Youth?
First of all, Allah gave us the power of speaking to one another and speaking to the world as an amanah – not something to brag about, show off about, joke about, compete over. It is a trust. It’s a heavy trust and we are the fiduciaries, the ones that have the burden to use our speech beautifully, powerfully, and with wisdom and humility.
With this trust, we must use our voices to communicate our way of life to those around us. We must participate in effective daw’ah efforts to show the world the true spirit of Islam. In order to do this, we must be effective public speakers.
Thirdly, we are Americans. We have a duty and an obligation to involve ourselves in the political process, to vote, to understand the issues that face our country, and to help this country be the best it can possibly be. One of the ways that we can help this country is by getting involved in politics, because this country needs Islam. I’m not suggesting that we set up khilafah in Washington, DC. What I’m suggesting is that this country inherently loves Islam. The people just don’t know it. It is our job to let them know what Islam is all about and how beautifully it meshes with our democratic system and our country’s expressed values. In order to show the American public the beauty of Islam, we must know how to express our core values properly.
Next, we have a prescription from Allah swt to seek knowledge, to question and think and analyze and wonder at the miracles that surround us. No matter what the subject, we are to pursue the deepest level of knowledge and understanding. In order to effectively speak in public or in private conversation, we must have true knowledge about the subject that we are discussing. Therefore, public speaking promotes seeking knowledge and associating with scholars and intelligent people.
Public speaking also builds confidence. The youth in our communities are mainly children of immigrants. Our parents have done an amazing job to establish a solid foundation for us in this country. However, they don’t have the confidence or the cultural tools to solidify the institutions and organizations that we need to succeed as a unified Muslim community. It is our generation, the youth in high schools and colleges in this nation that must rise to the occasion and establish the non-profits, the community centers, the recreation centers, the small businesses, the non-governmental organizations, etc., to establish the Muslims as a permanent fixture in this country so that our children are able to easily assume control and glide smoothly into high roles in our society. We can only achieve this if we have the confidence to forge strongly ahead. One way of attaining this level of confidence is to speak publicly about the issues that we are passionate about.
Lastly, and most importantly, public speaking and the research that goes into preparing a speech deepens our knowledge of Islam and in turn, strengthens our love for Allah, for the Prophet (pbuh) and for this deen. When we must prepare a speech about ihsan or fajr or hijab or jihad or taqwa, we delve deep into the Qur’an and sunnah, we look at the stories of the Prophet (pbuh) and his companions, we feel the connection start to form between our lives and the lives of those we seek to emulate. We develop a softness, a tenderness toward our beloved Prophet (pbuh) and his struggles to establish our faith. We feel a love and a longing for the words of Allah and we find ourselves going to it and feeling a deeper understanding of how its pages relate to our lives. SubhanAllah, it is amazing how simply preparing to deliver a speech can bring us so much closer to our deen.
What does Islam say about Public Speaking?
Islam has an answer for everything. Ask any useful question and its answer can be found within Qur’an and sunnah. With respect to public speaking, Allah swt has given us much wise information. SubhanAllah, the way public speaking is approached in Qur’an and sunnah is a very interesting dichotomy. Two opposing, yet harmonious, views about public speaking are clear when studying this subject from an Islamic standpoint. On one hand, Allah swt encourages us to engage in public speaking and rewards those who do so with a pure, sincere intention to please Him. On the other hand, Allah swt warns us about the dangers of public speaking and tells us of the punishment that awaits those who engage in it for the wrong reasons. Let’s take a look at how this subject is tackled.
• Surat An-Nahl (125): Invite Mankind to the truth with wisdom and fair dealing, and debate with them in fine manners.
• Surat Al-Fussilat (33): Who is better in speech than one who calls men to what is right (Islam), works righteous deeds and says, “I am of those who bow in Islam?”
• Malik narrated that the Prophet (pbuh) said, “Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should talk what is good or stay quiet and should think clearly before uttering, for the tongue is mankind’s worst enemy on the Day of Judgment.”
• Surat Al-Baqarah (204-206): “And among you are some whose speech may please you in this dunya, and he calls Allah to witness as to that which is in his heart, yet these are the most contentious opponents. When they turn away from you, their efforts are to make mischief and to cause destruction. Allah does not like mischief. And when it is said to these, “Fear Allah,” they are led by arrogance to more bad deeds. So enough for him is Hell, and worst indeed is that place to rest! And among you are those who would sell themselves, seeking the Please of Allah, and Allah is full of kindness to His followers.”
• Surat As-Saff (2-3): “Oh you who believe! Why say you that which you do not? Grievously hateful is it in the sight of Allah that you say that which you do not.”
• Abu Hurairah narrated that the Prophet pbuh said: “On the Day of Resurrection, Allah will not accept repentance or ransom from him who learns excellence of speech to captivate the hearts of the people.”
TIPS ON HOW TO SPEAK EFFECTIVELY A-Z
a. Form a clear, pure, sincere INTENTION
First hadith ever related was by Umar ibn al-Khattab. The Prophet pbuh said, “The reward of deeds depends upon the intention and every person will get the reward according to what he has intented.”
“Verily, my prayers, my sacrifice, my living and my dying are for Allah, the Lord of the Worlds.” Surat Al-A’raf 162
A public speaker will only succeed if he does it for the pleasure of Allah and not for Riah (showing off).
b. Make DU’AA
“ My Lord! Increase me in knowledge! Open for me my heart and grant me self-confidence, contentment, and boldness. Ease my task for me and correct any defects from my speech so that the people may understand. Bestow wisdom on me, and join me with those who are righteous, and make me one of the inheritors of al-jan’aa.”
(Derived from Surat Ta’Ha 25-28. 114 and Surat Ash-Shu’ara’ 83-84)
c. OVER-PREPARE
d. Make an OUTLINE for yourself to follow, but do not use it as a “crutch”
e. KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE
Who are you speaking to? (young, old, mixed, ethnic group, hostile audience)
What are you speaking about? (clear topic that is interesting)
Where are you speaking? (City, town, suburb, farm, church, mosque, temple, park)
When are you speaking? (morning, evening, middle of the night)
Why are you speaking? (objectives)
How are you speaking? (make sure it’s at their level, not condescending and lofty)
f. Ensure that your PERSONAL APPEARANCE is clean, neat, simple, and distinguished
g. Begin your talk with the MENTION OF ALLAH (whether aloud or silently to yourself)
h. Outline your OBJECTIVES to your audience so they know what they will gain
This helps your audience to form a mental picture of what they are about to hear. Remember, a large percentage of the population is assisted most powerfully by visual images. So to supplement you audio, you must allow your audience to have a running “mental video” of what you’re saying and where you’re trying to reach. Try never to have more than 3 or 4 objectives, otherwise it gets confusing and long
i. Speak with CONFIDENCE
Allah (swt) told us, “You, the true believers of Islam and the followers of the Prophet are the best of people ever raised up for mankind! You enjoin the good (al-ma’ruf) and forbid the evil (al-munkar), and you believe in Allah!”(Surat Al-Iman 110). Therefore, why should we fear anything or anybody? If our intentions are pure and we have given our 100% effort, Allah (swt) will come to our aid.
The four main ingredients we need in public speaking, and in all activities we engage in as Muslims:
DIGNITY INTEGRITY HONESTY HUMILITY
j. Always TELL THE TRUTH and be HONEST in your assertions
k. Be FRIENDLY, DO NOT ATTACK or use vicious or vulgar language
There are many times when we, as Muslims, get into heated debates about topics that are very close to our hearts. There are many times when our enemies bait us by using horrific language when referring to the Muslims or Islam. There are many times when people’s illogical assertions are so frustrating and when we get so caught up in the madness of what we see around us, that our blood is boiling. It is at these times when we need to refrain from talking to others and when we need to just talk to Allah (swt). When we are fueled by anger, rage, frustration, and anxiety, nothing good will proceed from our lips. It is at these times when the best of us will know that we need to be silent and to go to Allah seeking the peace that only He can bring. Only when our minds are clear and our hearts are calm and set purely in pursuit of Allah’s pleasure should we again feel safe to take up talk and debate. Our enemies love to enrage us because then we provide them with sensational quotes for their newspapers and “newsworthy” material for YouTube.
l. Be HUMBLE and refrain from thinking highly of yourself. Your gifts are from Allah and all praise for your talents is due to Him.
m. DO NOT SLANDER no matter what others may say about you or the Prophet (pbuh) or Allah.
Allah is in charge of this dunya. I’m not in charge. You’re not in charge. Zionists are not in charge. George Bush is not in charge. Allah is in charge. Let the people call each other names. Let them say horrific things about Islam and the Prophet (pbuh). We can hold rallies and protests, etc. But Allah is in charge. The rantings and vulgarities of the ignorant should not affect us, and we should calmly proceed knowing that our duty is portray Islam with wisdom and beauty. We are not so low as to sink to levels like barbaric animals. The Muslims are dignified, we stand with integrity. We are the best of mankind. And it is our duty to show our virtues in our good spech and in our refined manners.
n. AVOID USELESS TALK, ARGUMENTATION or DEBATE
o. Choose your VOCABULARY wisely
Do not speak to small children using complex words. And do not speak to scholars as you would your homies on the street. Choose your level of speech wisely. There is nothing worse than having an audience feel that you are trying to make them look stupid or that you view them as childish. Your speech conveys just as much about your views about the people you are talking to as it does about your views on the subject you are speaking about.
p. Use ANALOGIES and STORIES to connect with your audience
The Qu’ran and the stories of the Prophet and the companions are beautiful examples of how to effectively use analogies and story-telling to convey a deep message. Everyone in the entire world loves a good story. Instead of telling people x, y, and z, show them. Show them through vivid stories and analogies. Sports analogies are great. They go over really well with the brothers especially, and they are always very relevant.
q. Adjust your TONE OF VOICE properly
Show emotion. If you don’t, how do you expect your audience to care about what you’re saying? Don’t be afraid to show excitement, frustration, curiosity, thoughtfulness, fear, sadness, amazement, tenderness, love. Each of these emotions can be displayed through your tone of voice. Allow your audience to not just hear you, but to feel you.
r. Use RHETORICAL DEVICES and QUESTIONS to make the audience think with you
Allah (swt) did this in such an amazing manner in Surat Ar-Rahman. You can see my discussion of the rhetorical devices in this surah in my blog entry about ihsan.
s. Be as BRIEF but as THOROUGH as possible and stay as long as your audience wishes you to
t. Have SINCERE PASSION about your topic
u. Be CLEAR in your explanations
v. REPEAT important points
w. Use VISUAL AIDS when proper
x. ANTICIPATE & INVITE QUESTIONS
y. LISTEN to the speeches of others with the intention of bettering yourself in knowledge and eloquence
z. End with a DU’AA
Subhannaka Allahumma was bihamdik. Ashadu a la ilaha illa ant. Astaghfiruka was atoubu ilaik.
How perfect you are Oh Allah and I praise you. None has the right to be worshipped except You. I seek Your forgiveness and turn in repentence to You. (Tirmidhi)
He is successful whose heart Allah has made sincere toward faith, whose heart He has made free from unbelief, his tongue truthful, his soul calm, his nature straight, whose ear He has made attentive and his eye observant. The ear is a funnel and the eye is a repository for what the heart learns. He is successful whose heart is made retentive. (related by Abu Darr in Tirmidhi)

