Waannahum yaqooloona ma la yafAAaloon (surah Shuara: 226)

Tafseer Tafheem-ul-Quran by Syed Abu-al-A'la Maududi

(26:226) and say that which they do not practise: themselves. *144

Wa annahum yaqooloona ma laa yaf`aloon

*144) This characteristic of the poets was just the antithesis of the Holy Prophet's conduct and practice. Everybody knew that the Holy Prophet said what he practised and practised what he said. The fact that there was complete conformity between his word and deed, could not be denied by anybody. On the contrary, everyone was well aware that the poets said one thing and practised just the opposite of it. For instance, they would express noble themes of generosity, indifference to worldly wealth, contentment and self-respect in their poetry, but, in practical life, they would turn out to be extremely stingy and cowardly, avaricious and selfish. They would find fault with others on trifles, but would themselves be involved in grave moral weaknesses.