32: Silence is indeed Golden
[Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)]
Control the Tongue
There is a popular saying that the more you speak the more you are prone to mistakes. Remember
that every word uttered makes us more accountable, as the Qur'an states: a person utters no word but
it is observed and recorded [Q 50:18].
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was asked "which act is much loved by Allah?" There followed a prolonged
silence when nobody said anything, then the Prophet responded "Control of the tongue". The silence
before the response may have been the primary part of the answer. He also said that "nothing is more
deserving of longer imprisonment than the tongue."
Listen
Human beings are social by nature and interact through communication.
The most common method of communication among human beings is speaking or verbal communication. If talking
and listening are the two acts of verbal communication, listening is indeed the noble half.
Listening should include all three dimensions of Effective Listening (EL)
- Listening with awareness and due attention [Qur'an 5:83]
- Listening with the intention to fully understand [Qur'an 39:18]
- Listening with the willingness to respond with the most appropriate response. [Qur'an 24:51]
Some Talk Much yet Say Nothing
If what we are to say is not truthful, beneficial, appropriate or timely; then do not say it. Take note of the following ...
- "Of those who have nothing to say, few are silent." [Historian, Thomas Carlyle]
- It has been said that "the best of talk is that which is short and straight to the point." [Arabian proverb]
- "Blessed is the person, who having nothing to say, abstains from giving evidence of it." [Writer, George Eliot]
- "For the foolish there is no better rule than silence and if he knew its advantage he would be less foolish." [Sheikh Saadi Shirazi]
- "I have often regretted my speech, but never my silence." [Ancient Syrian-Roman orator, Publilius Syrus]
- "Let thy speech be better than thy silence, or be silent." [Dionysus]
- "Silence is the leader of good character." [Prophet Muhammad]
Silence
The problem of modern day living is that it has become so complicated. We are constantly caught up in a life filled
with noise and images. When these things are not there; instead of feeling at ease, we feel bored, lonely, depressed and
even scared.
Silence is not merely the absence of sound or the lack of noise, but is rather synonymous with tranquility, meditation,
contemplation, reflection, stillness and peace. Think at a practical level of the times in our lives when the silence
we experienced or witnessed was prominent ...
- the somber silence at a funeral or the romantic silence when gazing into the eyes of a beloved ... all so overwhelming with emotion; and despite the absence of sound, so full of meaning.
- the judicial silence experienced in a court room, the reverential silence in a mosque, synagogue or a temple ... all so respectful.
- the awkward silence when a public speaker at the podium forgets his words, or when we are about to receive the results of an exam ... so uncomfortable.
- the silence of sleep and the mystery of dreams which is a simple reminder of the gentle stillness within us that energizes the body and nourishes the mind ... so relaxing and restful.
- the silence of death that returns us to the stillness of our pre-existence and all that is left behind are memories ... so touching yet so real.
- the awesome and wondrous silence when looking at the stars or the trees. When contemplating nature and looking at the sky, the mountains, the oceans, the clouds; one can sense a continuous 'echo' of stillness; almost as if nature communicates its beauty and wonder to us in silence ... so gentle, so unhurried, so open, so free, so honest, so tranquil, oh so silent.
Jaluddin Rumi said, " be quiet, be still and listen for a voice within you that will say - 'BE MORE SILENT!' Move outside the prison of pre-occupied thinking and live in silence."
"Learn to get in touch with the silence within yourself and know that everything in life has a purpose."
[Psychiatrist, Elizabeth Kubler-Ross]
"True silence is the rest of the mind; it is to the spirit what sleep is to the body ... nourishment and
refreshment." [Quaker philanthropist, William Penn]
There is an inherent stillness in you despite the exterior noise. All you need to do is stop for a moment and relax
in order to connect to the inner stillness of your being. Little wonder that Buddha sat under the Bodhi tree, Prophet
Jesus and Moses (peace be upon them) retreated to the desert and Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) to the Cave of Hira.
"Silence is the language of God. It is also the language of the heart." [Diplomat, Dag
Hammarskjold]
"I think the first virtue is to restrain the tongue, he approaches to God who knows how to be silent."
[Ancient Roman orator, Cato]
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said:
He also said:
my silence be reflective and contemplative,
my speech be mindful
and my looking be insightful."
"Glad tidings to the person who learns from looking, who reflects when silent, whose conversation is filled with awareness of the Divine and people feel secure from the potential evil he could commit." [Hadrat 'Ali]
do not say anything except what is good.
[Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)]