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The art of public speaking (Tareq al-Suwaidan)

فن الإلقاء عند طارق السويدان

Public speaking as Tareq al-Suwaidan teaches it in the Leaders' Academy: the qualities of the outstanding speaker, his 'five Ps' model, rules for slides, managing fear, the introduction and conclusion, voice, pauses and body language.

Depth

At a glance

Region
Global / Diaspora

Education

Summary

"The art of public speaking" (fann al-ilqa') is the skill that Tareq al-Suwaidan teaches in two lessons of the Leaders' Academy, right after the art of authorship. 1 He says he normally gives this course over five days, five hours a day, and that the academy has only two hours for it. For more detail he points to his book on public speaking and to its video album, which he advises hearing four or five times. 2 3 The rules, models and percentages below are his teaching and his figures. Where he relies on studies he does not name them.

The outstanding speaker

He opens with the qualities of the outstanding speaker. They include knowledge, and preparation, which he repeats three times, with respect for the audience. He adds language, a clear goal, and confidence without arrogance. 4 5 6 He says the young men of his Ruwwad centre once listed eighteen differences between the arrogant and the self-confident. 7 Further qualities are truthfulness, awareness of the audience, good listening, and being an example of what one teaches. 8 9 10

The "five Ps" model

He calls his framework "al-Suwaidan's model of public speaking". He says he tried to make the initials of its parts spell a word and could not, so it became five words beginning with P: planning, preparation, pattern, presentation and performance evaluation. 11 12 Planning means knowing the audience and the venue. He advises visiting the hall at least two hours early. 13 14 It also means knowing one's goals: the general goal, the specific goal the audience wants, and any hidden goal. 15 16 One should never train for money. He says he once turned down six well-paid courses for an oil company because he had not refreshed the subject. 17

Every speech, he says, falls into one of three kinds: informative, persuasive, or for an occasion. Persuasion works through the speaker's credibility, emotion and logic. 16 18 19 For ordering the body of a talk he offers several patterns: by number or letter, cause and effect, problem and solution, importance, place and time. 20 Statistics should be recent. He quips that a figure from 1997 is already ten years old. 21 For timing he allows about two minutes per slide, one idea per slide, and blocks of about fifteen minutes. 22 23

Slides, fear and the shape of a talk

A speech should not be read, he says, except where the words carry legal weight. 24 He gives rules for slides:

  • the screen can be read from a distance of eight times its height;
  • avoid red text, which he says four per cent of people cannot see;
  • at most five lines of five words, better three by three;
  • one idea per slide;
  • always have a backup ready. 25 26 27 28 29 He calls fear of speaking natural, saying 71 per cent of people are terrified of it, and gives practical remedies for trembling, sweating and eye contact. 30 31 32

The introduction must win attention within forty seconds, because "speaking is like take-off". It should not begin with a joke. 33 34 35 The conclusion can end with a request, an example, a repeated line, a quotation, a summary, or a story. 36 37 He says studies put the share of content in a speaker's influence at about seven per cent. Voice takes most of the rest, together with movement. 38

Voice, pauses and body

He warns against four bad voices and against verbal tics, and advises varying speed and pitch. 39 40 41 He also advises against imitating a famous preacher. 42 Humour is prepared in advance and never aimed at people's bodies, disabilities or nationalities. 43 44 Colloquial speech is acceptable if it is understood, but simple Arabic should be the base. 45 He quotes a scholar of speaking: "speaking is the art of pauses". A short pause comes before and after the key word, and silence is better than "aah". 46 47 48 He speaks next of dress, then of the hands. They should be free, with natural gestures and no finger pointed at the audience. He says he read in the Sira that the Prophet ﷺ pointed with his whole hand. 49 50 51 The eyes rest on one listener for three to four seconds before moving on. Walking is better than standing still, and standing better than sitting. 52 53

He says he himself could not speak at all at first. The first time was at the end of secondary school, when a teacher made him read the morning address on the school radio. Afterwards he took courses in it. 54

Connections

Explore the connections

Subject of
Akadimiyyat I'dad al-Qada, the Academy for Preparing Leaders (filmed training course)

People and things also explored

Creativity and innovative thinking (Tareq al-Suwaidan)· The art of authorship (Tareq al-Suwaidan)· Life management and choosing one's field· Leadership and the leader's six roles· Situational leadership· Power and influence (Tareq al-Suwaidan)· Vision and mission in strategic planning· Family businesses

Sources

  1. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Leadership Development Academy 1, episode 5, at 00:02:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  2. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Leadership Development Academy 1, episode 5, at 00:02:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  3. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Leadership Development Academy 1, episode 5, at 00:03:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  4. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Leadership Development Academy 1, episode 5, at 00:06:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  5. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Leadership Development Academy 1, episode 5, at 00:07:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  6. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Leadership Development Academy 1, episode 5, at 00:09:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  7. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Leadership Development Academy 1, episode 5, at 00:09:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  8. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Leadership Development Academy 1, episode 5, at 00:11:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  9. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Leadership Development Academy 1, episode 5, at 00:12:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  10. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Leadership Development Academy 1, episode 5, at 00:14:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  11. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Leadership Development Academy 1, episode 5, at 00:17:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  12. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Leadership Development Academy 1, episode 5, at 00:18:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  13. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Leadership Development Academy 1, episode 5, at 00:20:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  14. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Leadership Development Academy 1, episode 5, at 00:21:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  15. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Leadership Development Academy 1, episode 5, at 00:24:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  16. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Leadership Development Academy 1, episode 5, at 00:26:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  17. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Leadership Development Academy 1, episode 5, at 00:23:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  18. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Leadership Development Academy 1, episode 5, at 00:29:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  19. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Leadership Development Academy 1, episode 5, at 00:34:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  20. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Leadership Development Academy 1, episode 5, at 00:35:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  21. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Leadership Development Academy 1, episode 5, at 00:44:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  22. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Leadership Development Academy 1, episode 5, at 00:47:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  23. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Leadership Development Academy 1, episode 5, at 00:48:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  24. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Leadership Development Academy 1, episode 6, at 00:01:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  25. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Leadership Development Academy 1, episode 6, at 00:03:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  26. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Leadership Development Academy 1, episode 6, at 00:04:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  27. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Leadership Development Academy 1, episode 6, at 00:07:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  28. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Leadership Development Academy 1, episode 6, at 00:07:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  29. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Leadership Development Academy 1, episode 6, at 00:09:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  30. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Leadership Development Academy 1, episode 6, at 00:11:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  31. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Leadership Development Academy 1, episode 6, at 00:14:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  32. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Leadership Development Academy 1, episode 6, at 00:14:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  33. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Leadership Development Academy 1, episode 6, at 00:18:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  34. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Leadership Development Academy 1, episode 6, at 00:18:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  35. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Leadership Development Academy 1, episode 6, at 00:19:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  36. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Leadership Development Academy 1, episode 6, at 00:23:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  37. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Leadership Development Academy 1, episode 6, at 00:24:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  38. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Leadership Development Academy 1, episode 6, at 00:27:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  39. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Leadership Development Academy 1, episode 6, at 00:29:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  40. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Leadership Development Academy 1, episode 6, at 00:31:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  41. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Leadership Development Academy 1, episode 6, at 00:33:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  42. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Leadership Development Academy 1, episode 6, at 00:33:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  43. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Leadership Development Academy 1, episode 6, at 00:35:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  44. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Leadership Development Academy 1, episode 6, at 00:35:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  45. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Leadership Development Academy 1, episode 6, at 00:36:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  46. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Leadership Development Academy 1, episode 6, at 00:37:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  47. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Leadership Development Academy 1, episode 6, at 00:38:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  48. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Leadership Development Academy 1, episode 6, at 00:39:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  49. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Leadership Development Academy 1, episode 6, at 00:40:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  50. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Leadership Development Academy 1, episode 6, at 00:44:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  51. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Leadership Development Academy 1, episode 6, at 00:47:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  52. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Leadership Development Academy 1, episode 6, at 00:51:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  53. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Leadership Development Academy 1, episode 6, at 00:52:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  54. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Leadership Development Academy 1, episode 6, at 00:50:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
Cite this page

islam.museum contributors. “The art of public speaking (Tareq al-Suwaidan)”. islam.museum, https://islam.museum/en/concept/fann-al-ilqa/. CC BY-SA 4.0. Last updated 2026-11-07.

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