Silence cultivates one’s spirituality and feeling of nearness to Allah. This is an encouragement to speak what is good and beneficial; at the same time, it is a warning, cautioning us to be careful in what we say, lest we say something harmful or false. The more we adopt the practice of silence in our lives, the more beautiful we will find it to be. Allah says:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَرْفَعُوا أَصْوَاتَكُمْ فَوْقَ صَوْتِ النَّبِيِّ وَلَا تَجْهَرُوا لَهُ بِالْقَوْلِ كَجَهْرِ بَعْضِكُمْ لِبَعْضٍ أَن تَحْبَطَ أَعْمَالُكُمْ وَأَنتُمْ لَا تَشْعُرُونَ

“O you who believe! (Do) not raise your voices above (the) voice (of) the Prophet, and (do) not be loud to him in speech like (the) loudness (of) some of you to others, lest become worthless your deeds while you (do) not perceive.” (Surah Al-Hujurat, 49:2)

There is an old saying that silence is gold. Silence is indeed gold since it gives people to think twice before he talks. It is to filter whether things that he is about to say is appropriate or not. Doing a good deed is an obligation for every Muslim and it’s the fastest way for us to enter Jannah. There is one good deed that is the easiest to be done without having to try much, which is being silent.

Some ways to adopt silence in your life:

1. Ten minutes before beginning your prayer, sit on the prayer mat and just be silent whilst fixing your eyes on one spot
2. Before you say anything, plan exactly what you’re going to say
3. Be quiet during “discussions” devoid of knowledge and facts. Also, if you see a discussion heading towards an argument, be silent
4. If you don’t know, say you don’t know
5. If you’re getting angry, be silent. If someone else is getting angry at you, be silent. Imam Khomeini mentioned this piece of advice to his daughter and son-in-law

Wisdom comes from nothing. It will come to those who reflect on everything. Adopting silence in everyday activity is indeed a smart thing to do. It guards secrets, get rid of nonsensical thought and speech, and also controls the tongue. We should avoid speaking ill of others. We should rather remain silent unless we are seeking justice for some wrong that has been perpetrated against us. Allah says:

وَمَا كَانَ لِبَشَرٍ أَن يُكَلِّمَهُ اللَّهُ إِلَّا وَحْيًا أَوْ مِن وَرَاءِ حِجَابٍ أَوْ يُرْسِلَ رَسُولًا فَيُوحِيَ بِإِذْنِهِ مَا يَشَاءُ إِنَّهُ عَلِيٌّ حَكِيمٌ

“It is not fitting for a man that Allah should speak to him except by inspiration, or from behind a veil, or by the sending of a messenger to reveal, with Allah.s permission, what Allah wills: for He is Most High, Most Wise.” (Surah Ash-Shura, 42:51)

Our tongues are like double-edged swords. They can work for us and against us, both in this world and the Hereafter. We will be held accountable for what we say. Allah tells us: Silence is the best protector we can have. We won’t be wasting our time blurting out unnecessary things that won’t do any good for us. By using the time better, we also get closer to Allah SWT.

Here are some benefits of being silent in Islam:

1. Silent is golden when you can’t think of a good answer
2. Silent teaches us to listen to other people very intently
3. Silence takes us to the crux of some problems faced
4. Silence teaches us to listen to people very intently
5. Silence gives a very correct response and input
6. Silence makes a powerful mind and invokes joy
7. Silent strengthening the Faith to Allah SWT
8. Silence  showing the intelligent side
9. Silence makes us internally strong 
10. Silence makes the Heart Stronger
11. Silence easy to reflect on things
12. Silence protecting from the Sins
13. Silence is the key to success
14. Silence keeps one in a happy frame
15. Silence deliberate on various issues
16. Silence is the mother of all creativity
17. Silence guarding us against wrong Ideas
18. Silence allows you to think, breathe, listen
19. Silence is the sleep that nourishes wisdom
20. Silence  plan exactly what you’re going to say
21. Silence is a quality and a dimension all its own
22. Silence is also a good way to show our protest 
23. Silence is the most perfect expression of scorn
24. Speak only when someone wants to listen to us
25. Silence teaches us what we are saying is correct

Silence also gets rid of stress and anxiety. Practising silence for at least ten minutes during worship helps you reach tranquillity and easier to concentrate. The great benefit of talking less is tranquillity. Silence reflects one’s intellectual because people who think before they act and think before speak will never say foolish things. Allah says:

لَّا يُحِبُّ اللَّهُ الْجَهْرَ بِالسُّوءِ مِنَ الْقَوْلِ إِلَّا مَن ظُلِمَ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ سَمِيعًا عَلِيمًا

“Allah does not like that evil should be mentioned in public except by one who has been done an injustice. And Allah is all-hearing, all-knowing.” (Surah An-Nisa 4: 148)

Insha’Allah, if we decide to adopt the way of silence, we will find ourselves tearing one more veil that separates us from our Creator. And surely He knows best. Keeping silent establishes piety, brings about the blessings of Allah, increases wisdom, brings peace and happiness and is the gateway to beneficial knowledge.

Allah Almighty says in The Holy Quran:

• “That will be a Day when they shall not be able to speak.” (Surah Al-Mursalat, 35)
• “Let them then produce a recital like unto it,- If (it be) they speak the truth!” (Surah At-Tur, 34)
• “The Day that the Spirit and the angels will stand forth in ranks, none shall speak except any who is permitted by ((Allah)) Most Gracious, and He will say what is right.” (Surah An-Naba, 38)
• “Then, by the Lord of heaven and earth, this is the very Truth, as much as the fact that ye can speak intelligently to each other.” (Surah Adh-Dhariyat, 23)
• “He does not utter a statement except that there is an observer by him ready to record it.” (Quran 50: 18)

Silence strengthens the iman when they think of Allah, remembering the blessing they receive and thinking of death. In Islam, thinking before speaking is considered good deeds with rewards. A person who talks carelessly and speaks sinful speech, the heart is full of illness. Those people have an indomitable heart. Allah says:

وَقُل لِّعِبَادِي يَقُولُوا الَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ ۚ إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ يَنزَغُ بَيْنَهُمْ ۚ إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ كَانَ لِلْإِنسَانِ عَدُوًّا مُّبِينًا

“And tell My servants to say that which is best. Indeed, Satan induces [dissension] among them. Indeed Satan is ever, to mankind, a clear enemy.” (Surah Al-Isra’ 17:53)

Muslims always practice silence and does not speak carelessly usually spent most of their time thinking. The Nafs feeds on thoughtless and impulsive action which mostly leads to careless speech. Thus, Islam strongly advises its people to talk less and practice more silence. This is because silent people will always be protected from trouble for not being able to tame their tongues. Allah says:

فَبَشِّرْ عِبَادِي الَّذِينَ يَسْتَمِعُونَ الْقَوْلَ فَيَتَّبِعُونَ أَحْسَنَهُ أُوْلَئِكَ الَّذِينَ هَدَاهُمْ اللَّهُ وَأُوْلَئِكَ هُمْ أُوْلُوا الْأَلْبَابِ

“Therefore give good news to my servants: Those who listen to the word then follow the best of it; those are they whom Allah has guided and those it is who are the men of understanding.” (Quran 39:16-17)

Being silent is gold, and it is better to hold up the unnecessary at times. One should also know that Allah is most easily reached through silence. Stop and think about what type of person are you? May Allah bless us with the wisdom that is acquired through silence and give us the ability to think before we speak. Ameen.