THE POWER OF SILENCE
There is a profound saying by Umar Farooq: “Kill falsehood by remaining silent about it.” (Abu Nu’aym al-Asfahani, Hilyat al-Awliya, Vol. 1, p. 55) It is a fact that sometimes, remaining silent about evil and falsehood and refraining from acting against it is enough to end it.
There are various forms of this silence. One pertains to individuals who spread lies out of personal animosity or publish nonsensical articles. Responding to such propaganda would only be a waste of time. Therefore, the best answer to such provocations is not to respond and abide by the saying: “Dogs keep barking, elephants keep walking.” By disregarding it, the harm caused by malicious individuals becomes meaningless.
Imagine someone throwing garbage into your home, and you become angry and start fighting with them. In doing so, you inadvertently assist them in achieving their goals because your reactionary approach provides them with more opportunities to harm you. However, if their provocation fails to provoke a reaction from you, it is as if you have neutralized their strategies. This wisdom has been expressed in the Quran as “avoidance.” Avoidance is not a passive action but a proactive and potent one. It serves as a silent response, superior to a verbal retort.
The truth is that the power of silence surpasses the power of speech. That is why there are numerous instances where ignoring the situation is the most effective means of repelling evil, and taking no action becomes the most significant.
Suppose an individual fabricates a groundless lie against someone and publishes it as a book. The wise approach would be to ensure that this book remains unpopular, eliminating the need for anyone to read it.
The most effective way to achieve this goal is through silence. If you create a commotion about the book, it will receive publicity, attracting unnecessary attention. However, the book will lose popularity if you remain silent, eventually fading naturally.
This is a recurring reality of life observed and documented throughout history. An English writer described this phenomenon succinctly: “Scandal ever improves by the opposition.”
If someone accuses you falsely, maintaining silence is the key. Speaking out against the accusation only serves to give it publicity. On the other hand, remaining quiet about it confines the falsehood to its initial fabrication.
