🌌 Is Silence Necessary for Hearing the Voice of God

🌌 Is Silence Necessary for Hearing the Voice of God?

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> “Surely, in that is a Sign for him who has an ear.”
— The Holy Qur’an, Surah Qaf (50:38)

> “God speaks today as He spoke before.”
— Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, the Promised Messiah and Mahdi (as)

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🔮 Introduction: A Question Echoing Through Time

In the cacophony of modern life—filled with digital alerts, political turmoil, intellectual arrogance, and spiritual emptiness—one question quietly resonates in sincere hearts:

“Is silence necessary for hearing the voice of God?”

This question is not merely poetic or philosophical; it pierces the very veil that separates the Divine from humanity. It compels us to consider whether the absence of external noise is required for inner communion and whether silence is a door to God’s nearness or a result of it.

Hazrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad (rh), the fourth Khalifatul Masih of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, often approached such profound themes with sharp logic, deep Quranic insight, and universal spiritual appeal. Let us follow in his footsteps to uncover what it truly means to “hear” God—and whether silence is the path or the product of that sacred encounter.

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🌿 **1. What Does It Mean to Hear the Voice of God?**

For many, hearing the “voice of God” suggests an audible sound—a celestial whisper or a vision in the dark. Yet, in the light of the Qur’an and the teachings of Ahmadiyyat, “hearing” God transcends auditory perception; it signifies the heart’s awakening and the soul’s trembling recognition of the Divine presence.

> “It is not the eyes that are blind, but the hearts which are in the breasts that are blind.”
— The Holy Qur’an, 22:47

Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) teaches that divine communication manifests in various forms: Ilham (revelation), dreams, visions, inspirations, and the clear inner voice that rises with such clarity and certainty that it cannot be mistaken.

Thus, we now ask: What prepares the heart to receive that voice?

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🕊️ 2. The Nature of Divine Voice: A Whisper, Not a Shout

> “And it is not for a man that Allah should speak to him except by revelation, or from behind a veil, or by sending a messenger.”
— The Holy Qur’an, 42:52

God’s voice differs from human speech; it resembles a gentle breeze rather than a loud trumpet—subtle, delicate, inward, yet powerful in its impact. To hear this voice, one must quiet the internal dissonance of ego, desire, fear, and worldly obsession.

Hazrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad (rh) explained that the voice of God is not distant; it is the soul’s mirror reflecting Divine attributes when cleansed of rust. However, to perceive that reflection, one needs profound spiritual stillness.

🏞️ 3. The Role of Silence: Not the Goal, but a Condition

Returning to the central question: Is silence necessary?

Yes—but not just external silence. What is needed is inner silence, a heart emptied of noise, much like a still lake ready to reflect the moon. This silence is not passive; it is an active submission. It is achieved through:

– Regular Salat (Prayer): The five daily prayers are not mechanical rituals; they are sacred moments of pause. In sujood, we silence our pride. In Qiyam, we attune our ears to divine wisdom.
 
– Tahajjud (The Silent Hour Before Dawn): Highlighted by every Khalifa of Ahmadiyyat, this prayer time is not merely blessed; it serves as a training ground for divine dialogue.
 
– Righteous Action and Purity of Heart: As noted by Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad (ra) in Tafsir-e-Kabir, “the true silence that attracts the divine voice is not only the stillness of the tongue but also the silencing of hypocrisy and sin.”

So, silence is not a requirement like residing in a quiet cave but rather a spiritual state where all distractions—anger, greed, doubt—are hushed.

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🌌 4. God Still Speaks

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community stands as a testament that God continues to speak. Prophets have heard His voice; so can the righteous in every age. The Promised Messiah (as) affirmed:

> “I believe in a Living God, a God Who hears and speaks.”

His successors—Khilafat-e-Ahmadiyya—have upheld that living connection. Hazrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad (rh) documented numerous incidents, signs, and divine inspirations that validate that the silence lies not with God, but with us.

He warned that in our era, many have lost the ability to hear because they have forgotten how to listen—to the Qur’an, to nature, and their conscience. Therefore, he invited all of humanity not only to silence for reflection but to dynamic spiritual striving, stating:

> “When the heart speaks in truth, the ear of God listens; and when He responds, creation itself falls silent in awe.”

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🔥 5. Conclusion: The Silent Thunder

Is silence necessary to hear God?

Yes—but not the silence of the world. It is the silence of the ego, the pause of the self, and the stillness of the inner storm.

To those who seek God in solitude, in their tears before dawn, in cries for justice, and longings for peace—He answers.

But that answer arrives not with fanfare, but as silent thunder—a voice that shakes the very soul without uttering a sound.