A Voice that is Silent

Voices are powerful tools. Whereas creatures such as ants communicate with chemicals, and honeybees by movement, humans primarily rely on language for communication. It is the foundation for building relationships, voicing our concerns, and sharing our ideas. It is an essential aspect of day-to-day life. In medical school, we are taught the importance of communication. Likewise, within Islam, communication and mutual respect are emphasised. 

وَإِذَا حُيِّيتُم بِتَحِيَّةٍۢ فَحَيُّوا۟ بِأَحْسَنَ مِنْهَآ أَوْ رُدُّوهَآ ۗ …٨٦  

And when you are greeted, respond with a better greeting or at least similarly… Surah Al Nisa (4:86)

But communication isn’t something that comes naturally to everyone- and that is okay. A nice analogy I was once given compared life experiences to a deck of cards: everyone will have a different set of skills and disadvantages. It’s how we learn to play our cards and adapt to the challenges that make or break the game. 

I am someone who views the world as a set of formulas, so I made sense of communication in the way I knew best. I tried to ‘answer’ medical interviews, peer discussions, and any social interactions like equations in order to reach my desired results. But the reality is, humans are not a set of numbers and symbols; unpredictability is a trait of humanity, both complex and beautiful. 

Sometimes, a voice can be silent. It wants to be heard, but it struggles to make a sound. Lately, as I’ve been trying to make my silent voice louder, I have found strength and comfort through one of my favourite duas:

رَبِّ اشْرَحْ لِي صَدْرِي وَيَسِّرْ لِي أَمْرِي وَاحْلُلْ عُقْدَةً مِّن لِّسَانِي يَفْقَهُوا قَوْلِي

(Moses) prayed, “My Lord! Uplift my heart for me, and make my task easy, and remove the impediment from my tongue so people may understand my speech… Surah Ta-Ha (20:25)

In recent years, I have found myself repeating it to myself often.

’and remove the impediment from my tongue so people may understand my speech…’

For some context, these ayahs describe Musa (AS) receiving the revelation that he would be a prophet. It is said that the Prophet Musa (AS) had a speech impediment due to a childhood injury, which caused him to worry that he may not be able to make himself understood once he gave dawah to the pharaoh. Even a prophet, the best of humanity, struggled with communication, but by God’s will, he fulfilled his duty.

 وَٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ قَدِيرٌۭ ٢٩

“...And Allah is Most Capable of everything.” Surah Ali ‘Imran (3:29) 

 

Overcoming communication challenges is easier said than done, but like any challenge, they can be addressed with practice, accommodations to help, and perseverance. There are many reasons why someone may struggle- lisps, stammers, social anxiety, neurodivergence, shyness, and more. But it’s important to remember that you are not alone. Even silent voices can impact others, as I hope mine does through this article. Every voice matters, and even when silent, it has the potential to inspire, support, and teach.

I finish this article off with a question for you, the reader, to reflect on: what prophet’s story do you most resonate with? And how can you use this to better yourself as a student and a Muslim?

Progress may be slow, but the journey itself holds value, shaping you into a wiser and better person.

Thank you for reading.

Jazakum allahu khair