Practising daily moments of silence can calm us and make us attentive to people and things around us. Silence does not mean we need to be away from noise. It means that even in the midst of noise we are still able to hear and listen to our inner voice and keep calm.
We often voice our supplications to Allah, but rarely do we practise silence to hear His answers to our questions because we are caught up in reacting to circumstances.
We behave similarly with other people as well. Have you noticed how we talk more and listen less?
We sometimes ask people how they are but we do not pause to listen to their response. We either walk right past them or busy ourselves with other chores, or we start talking about ourselves.
Sometimes, when another person is speaking, instead of listening to them attentively, we start formulating a reply to their words to make a point.
When we practise silence, we become aware of the incessant chatter that interferes with maintaining inner calm. This awareness enables us to discern, through emotions and physical sensations in the body, thoughts that serve us and thoughts that exacerbate anxiety.
The incessant chatter of the mind is what robs you off your peace in the present moment. Instead, it conjures up mental images of the past or causes anxiety about the future – both existing in the mind as imagination.
It is only through the practise of silence that one can listen to one’s own inner voice – the voice of intuition, the voice of one’s soul. Outside chatter that replays in the mind causes noise that blocks out this inner, soulful, intuitive voice.
The inner voice is quiet, calming, and grounding in nature. It does not cause anxiety. Instead, it guides us to calmly surrender to Allah’s plans. It grounds us to be in the present moment and to experience life as it is unfolding in that very moment. It brings a sense of peace and tranquillity.
Here is a 30-seconds silence practice that you can incorporate in your daily life.
- After salah, sit in silence on your prayer mat or go outside in nature.
- Straighten your back and let your upper body feel tall.
- Breathe in slowly and deeply, so that you feel your belly expanding.
- Hold for a few seconds.
- Breathe out slowly.
- Repeat for 10 long, deep breaths in and 10 long, deep breaths out. Repeating long, deep in-breaths and out-breaths supplies oxygen to all the organs in your body. This abundant supply of oxygen energises the mind and calms the nervous system.
- If there is an issue that is bothering you, ask Allah’s guidance to find answers to your questions. With each in-breath and out-breath, submit to Allah’s wisdom and His Plans for you. Let go.
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