The importance of listening is something that is stressed in Islam. This is a step towards growing ourselves so as to attain ‘Emaan’
In the name of Allah most Beneficient ever Merciful.
“Surely, the worst of animal that walks or crawls in the sight of Allah are those that are DEAF and dumb and who are devoid of UNDERSTANDING. Had Allah found any good in them, He would have certainly made them LISTEN…” Al Quran 8:22.
The above verse refers to people who have a fixed notion of life and are not prepared to change no matter the argument before them. It does not refer to literal deafness.
In order to grow oneself and further ones learning and understanding, it requires humbleness and the ability to listen and learn from those around us. Even the simplest and most powerless person may have something to teach.
And it is only those who are humble and willing to learn who are able to grasp the lesson. Having a high opinion about oneself being a good Muslim or good person is having pride. This attitude closes the doors to improving one’s characters.
Hazrath Ebrahim AS demonstrated to his people one hundred percent that the idols they worshipped did not have any power at all, yet they continued worshipping it and even tried to kill him because of his argument.
It was the same with Firone. Hazrath Moosa AS practically won the challenge that he, Firone, challenged him with, yet he still did not believe.
Of a surety, when we pray, we will be inclined to think that we are pious. With our outer Islamic acts and dress we might even think that we have achieved it all. If we do this then we’re basically shutting off the doors to listening & learning because we think too highly of ourselves.
Along the path of gaining knowledge, our biggest hurdle would be overcoming our own ego and pride.
And this ego may be very subtle and very passive in the way it manifests itself. In simple conversation, with those around us, one may unconsciously vie for the position of most knowledgeable by sharing interesting religious facts while at the same time not allowing others to share their thoughts and input. And thus holding the conversation while shutting down those around us. This attitude is wrong and stems from pride..
It also closes the doors to learning.
Take social media for instance, many individuals forward religious texts. Most of these messages, not even verified, overwhelms the platform making it difficult to be an efficient means for both learning and teaching.
The fly was lifting up his head, like a pilott, on a blade of straw in (a pool of) donkey’s urine.
That urine was boundless in relation to him: where was the vision that should see it truly?...
So too, with the false interpreter (of the Qur’án): like the fly, his imagination is (foul as) donkey’s urine and his conception (worthless as) a straw.
If the fly leave off interpreting by (following his own) opinion, Fortune will turn that fly into a humáy (a mythical bird). Matnawi
We all want to do “dawah” but we fail to realise that if we do not know our religion properly ourselves, we are going to teach the wrong message and make it extremely difficult for the truly knowledgeable to teach the correct way.
Before we get to giving “dawah” to others, we need to first correct ourselves. The Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW) meditated for years in the cave of Hira and only began to preach when Allah SWT instructed him to do so. This is the correct way to do “dawah“.
So before we open our mouths or post that message, we should ask ourselves if we have permission to do so. It is wrong to preach without proper instruction from Allah via His Chosen Ones.
“Give ear to (the Divine command), “Keep silence,” be mute; since you have not become the tongue (mouthpiece) of God, be an ear, listen). And if you speak, speak in the form of a request for explanation: speak to the (spiritual) emperors as a lowly beggar.” Mathnawi
To take heed, to listen, to obey or to submit is a very important, essential character trait of a Mo’min/believer.
From the holy Quraan (16:106), not listening is a sign of disbelief or hypocrisy stemming from love of this world and this explanation ends with this verse:
“Those are they whose hearts, ears, and eyes Allah has sealed up, and they take no heed.” 16:108
What a horrible, delusional existence. They might not realise it but they are like blinded oxes turning the milling wheel.
Not listening stems from pride and thinking well of ourselves and wanting to show off ourselves as knowing it all.
“So give glad tidings to My servants, Who listen to the word (of advice) and follow the best (injunction productive of the best results) thereof. It is they whom Allah has guided and it is they who are endowed with pure and clear understanding.” Al Quraan 39:18
It is “Only those who listen (that will) respond (to the truth).” Al Quran 6:36.
“And be not like those who say, `We listen’ while they do not listen and do not accept.” Al Quran 8:21.
Remember, Islamic knowledge is vast and there is always something to learn even if it is from a simpleton. Hazrath Moosa AS thought badly of the simpleton. He was fortunate that Allah SWT, the most merciful, corrected him.
And a quote from the Mathnawi which shows that we can take listening to another level, a level which leads to a higher form of hearing. This is what the prophets and the Aulia Allah are capable of… Receiving revelations (“Wahy” or “Ilhaam” respectively.
Listen “If you do not want the mind of your spirit in perplexity then do not stuff this cotton wool into your spiritual ear,
So that you may understand those riddles of His (Allah), so that you may apprehend (both) the secret sign and the open.
Then the spiritual ear becomes the place where “wahy” (inspiration) descends. What is wahy? A speech hidden from sense-perception. Mathnawi
Its not easy to shut up and listen. This is trying to overcome our carnal desires and this is extremely difficult but if we get it right then we become the masters of ourselves. This is a truly great achievement. This is what Allah wants of us, this is all empowering. This is becoming what we’re suppose to become.
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