The Best Speech Is The Concise One

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 18 September 2024 Persian language is known for its crisp and pithy sayings. Though all tongues have beautiful sayings, it's Persian that has the biggest repertoire of the shortest maxims. Let me adduce two examples: Sukhan Chok, Khirad Kam (Much talk, little wisdom) and Zubaan Daraaz, Aql Kootah (Long tongue, short intellect). Have you noticed that these adages are not only short (having only four words), they also emphasise the importance of being succinct and brief. Didn't the Bard of Avon say, 'Brevity is the soul of wit' ? Remember, where there's much volubility, there's little utility. So, it amused me when one 'omniscient' (ironically, of course) 'gentleman' wrote that my article was less than 400 words because it's his wont to write hopelessly long and meandering articles that amount to nothing. Coming back to the importance of being brief, a short story from Hakim Sanai's life will make it clear. The great Persian mystic spoke very little. He was often monosyllabic. Once someone asked him the reason for his exiguous replies. Sanai said, 'When a few words can convey what I want to say, why should I use an ocean of words?' So, very true. It's always advisable to be laconic than being loquacious. Muhammad also advises in one of his teachings: Iktar Sarah (Be concise or Be Brief) because Ajmal Al-Kalaam Bi-Al-Qaul Al-Mukhtasar (The best speech is the concise one). So, Taqleel Al-Kalaam (shorten your speech). When the legendary editor of the TOI, Sham Lal, was at the helm, he ordered the staff writers and journos to write pieces, not exceeding 650 words. Though there were no restrictions on the length of the write-ups sent by the contributors, he'd seldom carry a submission exceeding 800 words even on the edit page! The point is, when you use too many words, you lose your way. We're all too deep into unnecessary self-expression, nay, self-eulogy. This tendency makes us voluble and garrulous. No one likes a talkative person. Here in this forum as well, there're a couple of 'polymaths' who've been sent by Allah to 'educate' the ignorant ones. They don't know how to shorten their points. We're all more or less like these individuals. We write long treatises but no one reads them because who has time to go through long drivels and fiddlesticks? So, be brief. World will respect you. Ek Hi Aansoo Ho Magar Ho Jaane-Hayaat/ Us-Se Kya Haasil Agar Laakh Dariya Bah Chale (One drop of tears can carry the essence of life/ Which even a flowing river of tears cannot achieve). ----- A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian. URL: https://www.newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/speech-concise-polymaths/d/133223 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism