There is a saying that silence is gold. In Islam, talking less is something important as stressed in the Holy Quran. Talking less is not only rethinking what you want to say but restraining yourself from speaking what is unnecessary. It’s not a secret that now in the modern world, people talk too much and it sometimes causes disunity in society. It’s the importance of silence that is very beneficial for us Muslims. Stress is one of the most difficult aspects of modern life. Allah says:

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

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

Silence restores our cognitive resources. When we allow ourselves to disengage and relax, we are able to tap into our inner thoughts, ideas, and memories. All profound things and emotions of things are proceeded and attended by silence. Silence could be marketed just like clean water or wild mushrooms. Speak only when you feel your words are better than silence. Allah says:

وَإِن تَدْعُوهُمْ إِلَى الْهُدَىٰ لَا يَتَّبِعُوكُمْ سَوَاءٌ عَلَيْكُمْ أَدَعَوْتُمُوهُمْ أَمْ أَنتُمْ صَامِتُونَ

“And if you call them to the guidance, they will not follow you. (It is) same for you whether you call them or you remain silent.” (Surah Al-A`raf 7:193)

Silence offers opportunities for self-reflection and daydreaming, which activates multiple parts of the brain. In Islam, silence is considered to be one of the first stages of worship. Silence gives us time to turn down the inner noise and increase awareness of what matters most. It’s not a weakness to remain silent. It takes real strength. When you’re quiet, you avoid unnecessary talk that might lead to lying.

Here is the benefit of talking less in Islam for the better life of every Muslim:

1. Silence balances your natural rhythms and brings your spirit
2. Silence opens and puts intentional attention on the present
3. Silence is able to focus better and determine how success
4. Silence can lead to the development of new brain cells
5. Silence increases awareness and personal reflection
6. Silence brings your mind, and body to harmony
7. Silence develops willpower and self-discipline
8. Silence helps in discovering your purpose
9. Silence lowers heart disease and tinnitus
10. Silence concentrates better on any goal
11. Silence provides you with a sense of calm
12. Silence becomes better in decision-making
13. Silence able to spend more time with yourself
14. Silence enhances sleep and decreases insomnia
15. Silence attains a higher level of emotional stability
16. Silence has been used as a powerful tool in the lives
17. Silence is able to engage with mindfulness more often
18. Silence can grow your brain and slow the rate of ageing
19. Silence can prevent mental illnesses such as depression
20. Silence lowers our blood pressure and increases blood flow

Silence is often associated with the characteristics of an introvert and is mostly looked down upon. Islam praises the quality of staying silent. It is considered a characteristic that beautifies a believer and instils modesty. The last Prophet of Allah SWT, Muhammad SAW embodied the art of staying silent and speaking only when necessary.

Benefits of spending time with your own thoughts:

• Breathwork, and sit in silence: Silence can be uncomfortable and scary for some people because they are forced to sit alone with worrisome thoughts.
• Spend a few minutes every single day: It is as important as exercise and nourishment.
• Stimulates brain growth: Silence is Golden, and can really refresh your mind.
• Improves sleep patterns: Sleep helps you to stay fit physically, emotionally, and cognitively. When you practice silence, your sleep quality improves, and insomnia also reduces.
• Enhances memory: Just sitting in silence for 10-15 minutes can help to improve your memory.
• Relieves stress: Practice silence, your cortisol and adrenaline levels go down, and you feel relieved and relaxed.
• Improves heart health: Silence lowers blood pressure, reduces stress, and thus lowers the risk for heart disease.

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. The truth is silence cultivates spirituality and also a feeling of nearness to Allah. The less we talk in our lives and practice silence, the more benefits we find from it. Below is some elaboration on the benefits of talking less.

The benefit of talking less in Islam:

Talking less in Islam can be considered as doing good deeds because it is even mentioned in the Holy Quran. Here are more of the benefit of talking less in Islam for every Muslim to know:

1. Staying silent and talking less will not make you look dumb or stupid to others. In fact, it shows that you are a mature person who thinks carefully before opening your mouth.
2. You will not regret all the silence you have taken, even when you have the right to talk.
3. Rather than talking nonsense, silence will be better. Talking too much makes you look dumb, and you can cause harm from the things coming out of your mouth.
4. Talking less also keeps us away from sins. Many bad things come out when we are talking too much, and most of them will become our sins.
5. Allah honours His servants who are strong enough to control their mouths from opening so easily.
6. Whoever keeps his mouth silent from talking rubbish, Allah promised a huge fortune in the afterlife. We should focus on doing deeds that benefit us in the afterlife, not seeking worldly pleasure.
7. It’s no secret that a Muslim who is not talking too much is in a higher position than others. Allah loves those who restrain themselves from talking unnecessary things.
8. Muslims always practice silence and do not speak carelessly usually spent most of their time thinking.

Silence can help increase your self-awareness by giving you the chance to observe and accept your thoughts and feelings without judgment. When you’re sitting in stillness and silence, you become more aware of your body and mind. We all feel stress from time to time, but silence may help decrease stress levels by lowering cortisol and adrenaline levels.

Outstanding Benefits of Silence:

• Boost Your Intuition: One way to develop your intuition and gut feeling is through silence.
• Understand Yourself Better: People who manage to accomplish extraordinary results in life are people who understand themselves better.
• Improve Awareness: You have the awareness to find out what you do is correct. And when you are in silence, it improves your awareness.
• Taps Into Your Creativity: People who spend more time alone tend to be more creative. You can boost your creativity when you are engaged in your own imagination.
• Lower Your Stress and Pressure: Spend time by yourself and be in solitude to lower your stress regularly. When people are in silence, they are able to lower their level of stress and pressure.
• You Become Calmer: One of the most important benefits of being in silence is that it helps you become calmer.

Islam strongly recommended Muslims keep silent for their own sake. Being silent serves as a guardian from wrong ideas between people. Staying quiet isn’t an easy task for everyone and what one can do if their mind wanders off to terrains that are harmful and toxic; is do lots of zikr which helps in regaining the mental balance and removes the necessity to overindulge in conversations.

Allah Almighty says the Power of Silence in the Quran:

• “When will this promise come to pass,- if ye speak the truth?” (Surah Yunus, 48)
• “That will be a Day when they shall not be able to speak.” (Surah Al-Mursalat, 35)
• “If only we had had before us a Message from those of old.” (Surah As-Saffat, 168)
• “We should certainly have been Servants of Allah, sincere (and devoted)!” (Quran 169)
• “Except Thy servants among them, sincere and purified (by Thy Grace).” (Surah Hijr, 40)
• “They speak not before He speaks, and they act (in all things) by His Command.” (Surah Al-Anbiya, 27)
• “O, believers! Always fear Allah (The Almighty) and say what is correct and straight.” (Quran 33:70)

Islam has specified several characteristics of a good Muslim, one of them is keeping silent. Being silent is extremely important in Islam and the Holy Quran is also stressed. It is more than just being quiet and not talking too much, but it’s about a good akhlaq which defined the real Muslim. Even though it seemed simple, not everyone is capable of being silent. 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)

Silence can set the stage for the practice of mindfulness, which has a range of mental health benefits. One of the biggest benefits of being silent in Islam is calming our minds and resulting in a more positive manner. Every Muslim must remember that your tiger lives inside your mouth, so be careful not to unleash it. It’s true that your mouth can either be your blessing or your curse. Allah says:

وَإِذَا قُرِئَ الْقُرْآنُ فَاسْتَمِعُوا لَهُ وَأَنصِتُوا لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ

“And when is recited the Quran, then listen to it and pay attention so that you may receive mercy.” (Surah Al-Araf 7:204 )

Keeping silent establishes piety, brings about the blessings of Allah, increases wisdom, brings peace and happiness and is the gateway to beneficial knowledge. One should also know that Allah is most easily reached through silence. Stop and think 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.