Silence is a blessing from Almighty Allah. The fewer words they utter, the less their ugly talks. Unfortunately, many people seek pleasure from one another’s conversation and wish to ease the mind by diverse thoughts when the best remedy for peace of mind lies in reading the Holy Quran and engaging in religious matters. Allah says:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَقُولُوا قَوْلًا سَدِيدًا
“O you who believe! Consciously revere Allah and speak a word right.” (Surah Al-Ahzab 33:70)
In some cases, being silent is not good but in most situations, it helps a lot. Other than trying to make friends with others, it is better to stay silent because a tongue can act like a sword that can kill you. It is not a weakness to remain silent. It takes real strength. What others say will only hurt you if you let it. Construct within yourself a “refuse treatment plant” and try to turn other people’s insults into something constructive and positive that you can use for your betterment and the betterment of others. Allah says:
هَا أَنتُمْ هَٰؤُلَاءِ حَاجَجْتُمْ فِيمَا لَكُم بِهِ عِلْمٌ فَلِمَ تُحَاجُّونَ فِيمَا لَيْسَ لَكُم بِهِ عِلْمٌ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ وَأَنتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ
“Behold! You are they who disputed about that of which you knew; why then do you dispute about that of which you do not know? And Allah knows while you do not know.” (Surah Al-Imran 3:66)
Silence and talking a little has been praised in Islam, of course, it does not mean that always being silent is good, for example, silence and being indifferent in the time of watching cruelty that is done to the oppressed, or in the time of listening to backbiting is not good, or if our words are good and religious it is better to talk, but we mean that in general, it is better not to talk so much. 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)
By being silent, we will talk less, close our mouths and open our minds wider at the same time. We could observe our surroundings and have a better understanding of what happens. It freed us from prior judgement and we will be able to organize our thoughts, in the end, to reflect on things a lot. The more someone is silent, the wiser he gets.
“The wiser the man is, the less he will speak.” Talking less also increases the value of the words as Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq once said “one knows the value of his speech will also know the value of silence. If one adopts silence, he will value his speech and therefore guard it like he guards his wealth.” (Imam Ali)
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. Wisdom is not a thing that can gain out of nothing but through experience and reflection in every single thing. Allah says:
Here are some benefits of being silent in Islam:
- Silence teaches us to listen to people very intently
- Silence gives a very correct response and input
- Silence makes a powerful mind and invokes joy
- Silence is the most perfect expression of scorn
- Silent strengthening the Faith to Allah SWT
- Silence showing the intelligent side
- Silence makes the heart stronger
- Silence easy to reflect on things
- Silence is the key to success
- Silence protecting from the Sins
- Silence makes us internally strong
- Silence keeps one in a happy frame
- Silence deliberate on various issues
- Silence is the mother of all creativity
- Silence guarding us against wrong Ideas
- Silence allows you to think, breathe, listen
- Silence is the sleep that nourishes wisdom
- Silence plan exactly what you’re going to say
- Silence is also a good way to show our protest
- Silence is a quality and a dimension all its own
As reported by Abu Hurairah (RA), the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Those who believe in Allah and doom day should always speak good deed or stay silent.”
Islam has specified several characteristics of a good Muslim, one of them is keeping silent. Being silent is extremely important in Islam that the Holy Quran also stressed. It is more than just being quiet and not talking too much, but it’s about a good akhlaq that defined the real Muslim. Even though it seemed simple, not everyone is capable of being silent. Allah says:
وَتَوَلَّىٰ عَنْهُمْ وَقَالَ يَا أَسَفَىٰ عَلَىٰ يُوسُفَ وَابْيَضَّتْ عَيْنَاهُ مِنَ الْحُزْنِ فَهُوَ كَظِيمٌ
“And he turned away from them and said, “Alas, my grief over Yusuf!” And became white his eyes from the grief, and he (was) a suppressor.” (Surah Yusuf 12:84)
The tongue is the easiest and most available thing that almost all people despite their differences in culture, wealth, etc. have; and its speed of action is more than anything else. So we must be so careful about our tongue, we can liken it to an explosive substance, that in every time it is possible to be exploded. Allah says:
وَاعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ وَلَا تُشْرِكُوا بِهِ شَيْئًا وَبِالْوَالِدَيْنِ إِحْسَانًا وَبِذِي الْقُرْبَىٰ وَالْيَتَامَىٰ وَالْمَسَاكِينِ وَالْجَارِ ذِي الْقُرْبَىٰ وَالْجَارِ الْجُنُبِ وَالصَّاحِبِ بِالْجَنبِ وَابْنِ السَّبِيلِ وَمَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُكُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ مَن كَانَ مُخْتَالًا فَخُورًا
“Worship God and associate nothing with Him, and show kindness to parents, relatives, orphans, the poor, the near neighbour, the distant neighbour, the companion at your side, the traveller, and those whom your right hands possess. Indeed, God does not like those who are conceited and boastful.” (Surah an-Nisa 4:36)
A lot of sins are committed by the tongue, like backbiting, vilification, telling lies, accusing others etc. and on the other hand, a lot of righteous deeds can be done by it, like reciting the holy Quran, performing prayer and the supplications, joining good and forbidding evil, etc. Two things are the signs of having slight intellect, the first is silence at the time in which must talk, and the second is talking at the time that must be silent.
As reported by Ar Razi, Ali ibn Abi Thalib said, “No good in silence when it comes to knowledge, just as there is no good in speaking when it comes to ignorance.”
One of the biggest benefits of being silent in Islam is calming our minds and resulting in more positively. As we are silent and reflect on things, we can make a good decision for things. It also gets rid of stress and anxiety. Thus, Islam strongly recommended Muslims keep their silence for their own sake. Being silent serves as a guardian from wrong ideas between people. Allah says:
لَّا خَيْرَ فِي كَثِيرٍ مِّن نَّجْوَاهُمْ إِلَّا مَنْ أَمَرَ بِصَدَقَةٍ أَوْ مَعْرُوفٍ أَوْ إِصْلَاحٍ بَيْنَ النَّاسِ وَمَن يَفْعَلْ ذَٰلِكَ ابْتِغَاءَ مَرْضَاتِ اللَّهِ فَسَوْفَ نُؤْتِيهِ أَجْرًا عَظِيمًا
“No good is there in much of their private conversation, except for those who enjoin charity or that which is right or bring reconciliation between people. And whoever does that seeking God’s pleasure, then we shall grant him a great reward.” (Surah an-Nisa 4:114)
Keeping silent establishes piety, brings about the blessings of Allah (SWT), increases wisdom, brings peace and happiness and is the gateway to beneficial knowledge. One should also know that Allah (SWT) is most easily reached through silence. Stop and think about what type of person are you? May Allah (SWT) bless us with the wisdom that is acquired through silence and give us the ability to think before we speak. Ameen.
