“Silence is Golden”

[N. Truth Seeker]

As Salam Alaykom to all.   

I think there is a hadith based on this phrase "silence is golden.”  At the same time it’s also an idiom in the English language. 

In our discussion session first week of December, InshAllah, we have this topic as a detailed agenda.  I have started my research.  Would really be helpful for me if any of you folks post some contents on the history and the evolvement of this idiom / phrase, its goal and development in the Muslim and western world along with your opinion.

[Heba E. Husseyn]

Walaikum as Salam.  Sure brother, InshAllah, I can help you with that.  It's an interesting topic to trace its path and discuss, and to clarify it is NOT a Quranic concept, in fact quite the opposite.

If you just give a day or two, InshAllah, as I'm a bit busy with a minor renovation work going on at our place, I will be right here with some contents you may wish to compile for this agenda.    

[N. Truth Seeker]

Thanks a million Sister Heba.  No problem, take your time.  I will put the notification on so I know when you post the information, InshAllah.

[Zainab_M]

Walaikum as Salaam dear brother and sister.  Fore sure this topic needs clarification. I am also waiting to read some contents from Sister Heba, InshAllah.  There's a lot to say on this, basically an ideology distorted by humans to suit their ends .. certainly NOT a Quranic principle.

[N. Truth Seeker]

Exactly sister Zainab.  I am still into some research and I can sense it's laced with surreptitious manupulations both from traditional Hadithist Muslims as well as Western hypocrites-cum-autocrats. 

[Heba E. Husseyn]

Salam again brother TS and everyone else.  My earnest apology to keep you waiting.  Last few days have been just so tiring for all of us with all the clean up to be done after the reno.

OK, so let me start on the topic ..

This concept is 100% from Hadith and is a  harbinger of dictatorship.

“Silence is golden” is an idiom that means it's often better to remain silent than to speak. In fact, it originated from the culture of hadith when it started blooming in the Arab world in the 8th and 9th centuries after the era of the four Righteous Caliphs and the start of dynasty rule in the History of Islam. The Ommayads, Abbasids and various other monarchical rules that sprouted in different parts of the Muslim world were not too beholden to the Quranic concept of consulting with people on conducting the system as elucidated in Verse 3:159 quote “and consult with them upon the conduct of affairs.”  The idea of ‘silence is golden’ plainly opposes the ideology of Verse 3:159. 

Later on, in early 1800s the same notion of ‘silence is gold’ was picked up in Europe when the autocratic rule of the Catholic church dominated the region. The phrase was officially introduced in English language in 1940s by Scottish historian and philosopher, Thomas Carlyle, often known as the Father of Fascism, through his book, Sartor Resartus, the allusion of which is to reject existing human values and replace them with new ones, by force if necessary. It’s a glaring reminder of the current global political climate in which the fascist post WW2 western establishment is trying to reorder the world promoting pro-Zionism. 

In all such situations, from Hadith times until the western autocracy in support of Zionism, the entitlement to the people to speak needs to be denied to remove all obstacles within a centralized or totalitarian entity.

Therefore the concept of silence is golden, regardless of how you slice it, is certainly symbolic of authoritarianism and denial of speech to the common people or to the audience of a presentation.

The Noble Quran does NOT support any such notion of unconditional silence to the assertions of others.

Many traditionalist shaikhs and muftis quote Verse 50:18 to support the hadith on silence, implying that it refers to silence as the best option.  As usual, they have completely misinterpreted the Verse.  It does NOT refer to silence as the best option.  Let us read the Verse, quote “Man does not utter any word except that with him is an observer prepared [to record].”  50:18   Surah Qaf.   As anyone will easily understand, that this Verse refers to the Recording angels who are writing everything, every word, we speak and every action we perform in this earthly life.  It is certainly a very relevant reason to be cautious, do good things and speak the truth.  But Verse 50:18 definitely does NOT uphold the Hadith and European concept of ‘silence is golden.’

A Bukhari hadith falsely attributed to the Final Messenger claims “Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him say what is good or be silent” implying if you agree with your sheikhs and muftis then speak;  if you disagree with them then shut up;  discouraging people from asking questions, expressing their opinion, speaking up against injustice and most of all disagreeing, no matter how respectful you are.

We all realize the significance of respect while asking questions, expressing opinions or debating.  But this cannot be construed as “saying good things or staying silent.” After all, who decides what is a “good thing” to speak or a “bad thing” to speak?  A good thing to mention for me might be a bad thing for someone else and vice versa.  Thus, Allah is the Judge.  There cannot be any single sweeping law to assert what is “good” for every aspect in life.  That sprouts from sycophancy to speak in support of people in authority and keeping all your disagreements bottled up in silence.  This is NOT a Quranic concept.  It was proven best by Hussein bin Ali on the battlefield of Karbala. The concept of ‘Amr bil al Maruf’ directly from the Noble Quran is the opposite of what is taught in the hadith on silence. 

Some jurists may link Verse 33:70 with the Hadith concept of silence is gold.  That would again be inaccurate and incorrect.
 
“O you who have believed, fear Allah and speak words of appropriate justice.” (33:70)  Al Ahzab.  (Translation Sahih International).

The translated expression “words of appropriate justice.” from original Arabic سديدًا  (“sadīdan “) has also been translated by other translators as “speak words straight to the point;” or “speak (always) the truth.” or “speak righteous words.”  The reference here is to speak the truth close to justice and piety, and not be a liar.   It has nothing to do with sitting in silence like a dummy to please your shaikhs and muftis. 

As for those facing injustice, Allah has granted them every entitlement to speak. 

"Allah does not love the public utterance of hurtful speech unless (it be) by one to whom injustice has been done; and Allah is Hearing, Knowing."  4:148  An Nissa.

"And whoso defends himself after he has suffered wrong - for such, there is no way (of blame) against them."   42:41  As Shura.


A related link:
-  Mutual consultation and teamwork in the Noble Quran.

[N. Truth Seeker]

Thanks Sister Heba.  This is an eye opener and a whole new approach from the lectures of our jurists.    Funny that until a couple of decades ago the Western society tried to teach us the importance of free speech in their discourse.  Now we have to endeavor to get the same ideology through their thick heads.   

Thanks again Sister.  Tremendously helpful .. have already started making notes from the contents here.

[Zainab_M]

lol .. exactly.    After the start of ethnic cleansing in Gaza in October 2023 by the genocidal Zionist death squads, speaking up your views is no more upheld in Western society, similar to the hadithists. All free speech is strictly prohibited if it goes against their priorities and the concepts of Western nationalism. To assist Western injustice supporting and financing the illegal Zionist state, clinical psychologists are touting similar values as in the hadith forgeries of “silence is golden.”  American culture is discreetly blaming America’s First Amendment of free speech and assertiveness as the causes for discord, raucous rhetoric and overwhelming conflicts within and outside of social media.  They claim “speaking up” often accomplishes little, is potentially destructive and seldom facilitates communication between people.  The bandwagon has suddenly taken a drastic U-turn!

[Heba E. Husseyn]

Correct.   Also, traditionalists who are in favor of “silence is golden” and eager that their audience be silent listeners, claim our society is painting introverts as insecure and self-effacing, that they are being encouraged to be quarrelsome, waste their time and exhaust their energy in hysterical arguments with no gain.  This is a fear rhetoric and a motivated notion largely based on self interest to deter people who opt to seek truthful knowledge with the help of discernment.  In plain terms, “silence is golden” it is a gag order.

[Ruhi_Rose]

In our masjid community centers we do almost always have Q&A session after a sheikh or mufti finishes his hadith rants.  But whatever is their response to the audiences’ questions must be accepted by the audience in silence. There is no such practice of debate-like discourse even in the most respectful manner from any audience, man or woman. 

[N. Truth Seeker]

Exactly, and that’s also largely because a lot of such audience are idiots.  They are totally hung up on the hadith rants delivered to them.

[Zainab_M]

Many of these audience don’t speak Arabic, but they read the Quran in Arabic, they don’t understand much of what they read, they are too lazy to read the translation, and their queries are always directed to the shaikhs for their hadith-laced answers that require talkback which is both difficult and embarrassing for the shaikhs considering the quantum of nonsense contained in hadith forgeries.  Thus, silence is golden.

[Ruhi_Rose]

.... that’s precisely the scenario.

[N. Truth Seeker]

What game players!

[Heba E. Husseyn]

If hadith influencers  really follow this hadith on silence is gold, then it’s an order from hadith itself to abandon this forrgery filled institution which talks and talks just nonsense and won’t accept silence for the betterment of humanity.