حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللهِ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَامِرٍ الْعَقَدِيُّ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا زُهَيْرٌ عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ أَسْلَمَ قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ ابْنَ عُمَرَ يَقُولُ: قَدِمَ رَجُلاَنِ مِنَ الْمَشْرِقِ خَطِيبَانِ عَلَى عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم، فَقَامَا فَتَكَلَّمَا ثُمَّ قَعَدَا، وَقَامَ ثَابِتُ بْنُ قَيْسٍ، خَطِيبُ رَسُولِ اللهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَتَكَلَّمَ، فَعَجِبَ النَّاسُ مِنْ كَلاَمِهِمَا، فَقَامَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَخْطُبُ فَقَالَ: يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ، قُولُوا قَوْلَكُمْ، فَإِنَّمَا تَشْقِيقُ الْكَلاَمِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ، ثُمَّ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم: إِنَّ مِنَ الْبَيَانِ سِحْرًا.
Ibn 'Umar said, "Two men came from the east as orators in the time of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. They stood up, spoke and then sat down. Thabit ibn Qays, the orator of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, stood up and spoke and the people liked what he said. The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, stood up and said, 'O people, say what you have to say. seeking to present words is the best manner is from Shaytan.' Then the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, 'There is some magic in eloquence.'"
Cited in Al-Adab al-Mufrad (No. 875).