 abu uthman amr ibn bahr aljahiz said i went to the commander of the faithful almutasim billah and said to him o commander of the faithful the tongue has ten qualities a tool by which eloquence is revealed a witness by which one informs about ones conscience a judge by which one decides between speeches a speaker by which one returns an answer an intercessor by which one realizes a need a describer by which things are known a preacher by which one recognizes the ugly a comforter by which one repels sorrows a special person by whom one is proud of ones deeds and a religion that charms the ears.
قال أبو عثمان عمرو بن بحر الجاحظ دخلت على أمير المؤمنين المعتصم بالله فقلت له يا أمير المؤمنين، في اللسان عشر خصال أداة يظهر بها البيان، وشاهد يخبر عن الضمير، وحاكم يفصل بين الخطاب، وناطق يرد به الجواب، وشافع تدرك به الحاجة، وواصف تعرف به الأشياء، وواعظ يعرف به القبيح، ومعز يرد به الأحزان، وخاصة يزهى بالصنيعة، وملة يونق الأسماع.