Silence is a blessing from Almighty Allah. Silence cultivates one’s spirituality and feeling of nearness to Allah. Silence 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 silence was one of the very characteristic qualities of the companions of the Prophet and the Imams. Allah says:
قُلْ مَن يُنَجِّيكُم مِّن ظُلُمَاتِ الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ تَدْعُونَهُ تَضَرُّعًا وَخُفْيَةً لَّئِنْ أَنجَانَا مِنْ هَٰذِهِ لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الشَّاكِرِينَ
Say, “Who saves you from darkness[es] (of) the land and the sea, you call Him humbly and secretly, “If He saves us from this, surely we will be among the grateful ones.” (Surah Al-An`am 6:63)
Silence is the goal of all answers. If an answer does not silence the mind, it is no answer. Silence makes thoughts more coherent, makes one more intelligent. Silence is a sign of many virtues, such as a strong intellect and wisdom. Therefore, we should strive to make silence one of the defining qualities of our personality. Allah says:
وَلَا تَقُولُوا لِمَا تَصِفُ أَلْسِنَتُكُمُ الْكَذِبَ هَٰذَا حَلَالٌ وَهَٰذَا حَرَامٌ لِّتَفْتَرُوا عَلَى اللَّهِ الْكَذِبَ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَفْتَرُونَ عَلَى اللَّهِ الْكَذِبَ لَا يُفْلِحُونَ
“But say not – for any false thing that your tongues may put forth,- “This is lawful, and this is forbidden,” to ascribe false things to Allah. For those who ascribe false things to Allah, will never prosper.” (Surah An-Nahl, 116)
Silence is often associated with the characteristics of an introvert and is mostly looked down upon. 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. Silence and talking a little have been praised in Islam. The more someone is silent, the wiser he gets. Allah says:
ثَلَاثَةٌ لَا يُكَلِّمُهُمْ اللَّهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَلَا يُزَكِّيهِمْ وَلَا يَنْظُرُ إِلَيْهِمْ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ شَيْخٌ زَانٍ وَمَلِكٌ كَذَّابٌ وَعَائِلٌ مُسْتَكْبِرٌ
“There are three to whom Allah will not speak on the Day of Resurrection, nor will He purify them, nor will He look at them: an old man who commits adultery, a king who lies, and an arrogant person in poverty.” (Sahih Muslim 107)
Islam, however, praises the quality of staying silent. 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. There is an old saying that silence is golden.
Here are some benefits of being silent in the light of Islam:
- Silence teaches us to listen to other people very intently
- Silence guards secrets, get rid of nonsensical thoughts
- Silence teaches us that what we are saying is correct
- Silence gives a very correct response and input
- Silence makes a powerful mind and invokes joy
- Silence is a quality and a dimension all its own
- Silence is also a good way to show our protest
- Silence is a means of safeguarding Faith (Iman)
- Silence strengthens the Faith in Allah SWT
- Silence also gives us the time to thank God
- Silence guards us against wrong Ideas
- Silence is the mother of all creativity
- Silence, fixing your eyes on one spot
- Silence distaste at something bad
- Silence makes the heart stronger
- Silence allows inner reflection
- Silence is the key to success
- Silence helps gain wisdom
- Silence protects from sins
- Silence is a text easy to misread
- Silence makes the heart stronger
- Silence keeps one in a happy frame
- Silence produces integrity in a person
- Silence is one of the small good deeds
- Silence is a true friend who never betrays
- Silence is the sleep that nourishes wisdom
- Silence and reflection play a great part in self-correction
- Silence is golden when you can’t think of a good answer
- Silence offers us the best opportunity to evaluate ourselves
- Silence changes the rudeness of others into a realisation of folly
The fewer words they utter, the less their ugly talk. Unfortunately, many people seek pleasure from one another’s conversation and wish to ease their minds with diverse thoughts, when the best remedy for peace of mind lies in reading the Holy Quran and engaging in religious matters. 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.” (Surah Al-Zumar 39:16-17)
Silent 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. Silence in Islam calms our minds and results more positively. As we are silent and reflect on things, we can make good decisions about things. It also gets rid of stress and anxiety.
Allah Almighty says in The Holy Quran:
- “That will be a Day when they shall not be able to speak.” (Surah Al-Mursalat, 35)
- “When will this promise come to pass,- if ye speak the truth?” (Surah Yunus, 48)
- “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)
- “And that cry of theirs ceased not, till We made them as a field that is mown, as ashes silent and quenched.” (Surah Al-Anbiya, 15)
- “O, believers! Always fear Allah (The Almighty) and say what is correct and straight.” (Quran 33:70)
- “They speak not before He speaks, and they act (in all things) by His Command.” (Surah Al-Anbiya, 27)
Silence means to shut the mouth and open the mind more. It also means observing what you are doing as well as what others are doing. Silence allows you to observe the surroundings without judging. By doing this for a long time, you will be able to sift and organise thoughts in your head. You simply reflect on what you have done so far and sort out the rubbish on your head. 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) the same for you whether you call them or you remain silent.” (Surah Al-A`raf 7:193)
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. Allah says:
إِذْ تَلَقَّوْنَهُ بِأَلْسِنَتِكُمْ وَتَقُولُونَ بِأَفْوَاهِكُم مَّا لَيْسَ لَكُم بِهِ عِلْمٌ وَتَحْسَبُونَهُ هَيِّنًا وَهُوَ عِندَ اللَّهِ عَظِيمٌ
“Behold, ye received it on your tongues, and said out of your mouths things of which ye did not know; and ye thought it to be a light matter, while it was most serious in the sight of Allah.” (Surah An-Nur, 15)
Islam is a complete religion guiding Muslims every step of the way. There is an old saying that silence is golden. Silence is indeed gold since it gives people time to think twice before they talk. It is to filter whether things are appropriate or not. May Allah bless us with the wisdom that is acquired through silence and give us the ability to think before we speak. Ameen.
