Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah

Hazrat Amr bin Aws narrates that his father Hazrat Aws said: We were sitting with the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, while he was relating stories to us and giving us advice and admonition.

Hazrat Malik bin Mughul states that Hazrat Abu Abdur Rahman Salmi said: Do not attend the gathering of any storyteller except Hazrat Abu Al-Ahwas.

Ismail narrates that some people mentioned to Imam Shabi that sitting with a storyteller is equal to freeing a slave! Upon this, he said: To me, freeing one slave is more preferable than sitting in the company of a storyteller for four months.

Hazrat Mughira narrates that Ibrahim used to deliver sermons and admonitions at the house of Abu Wa'il. And Abu Wa'il used to tremble just as birds tremble.

Hazrat Mughira says that Hasan Basri used to narrate stories and Hazrat Saeed bin Jubair used to narrate stories.

Hazrat Dawood bin Shaboor narrates that Hazrat Mujahid said: We used to take pride among people through four persons: through the jurist, the storyteller, the muezzin, and the reciter of the Qur'an. And our jurist was Hazrat Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them). And our muezzin was Hazrat Abu Mahzoorah. And our storyteller was Hazrat Ubaid bin Umair. And our reciter of the Qur'an was Hazrat Abdullah bin Saib.

Hazrat Mujahid says that Hazrat Yazid bin Shajrah used to give sermons and advice, and his words were in accordance with his actions.

Hazrat Abdul Malik bin Maisarah states that Hazrat Kardus used to preach and give advice through storytelling, and he said that a companion of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) narrated to me that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "For me to sit in the gathering of a storyteller is more beloved to me than freeing four slaves."

Hazrat Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) narrates that I saw Hazrat Tamim Dari delivering sermons and admonitions through storytelling during the time of Hazrat Umar bin Khattab.

Hazrat Abdullah bin Habib bin Abi Thabit narrates that I saw Hazrat Muhammad bin Ka'b Qarzi giving advice and admonition.