The Quran represents God’s voice on earth, representing one of God’s attributes, Speech. By living in a loud world, what are your strategies for facing overthinking and noisy voices inside your head? Do Muslims seek God’s voice to escape from this noisy world?
It was said: “If you want to hear God, then read the Quran. If you want to speak to God, then pray. If you want to speak to God and hear Him, then pray.” From an Islamic perspective, we will know the way to know god’s voice from your own, seven (7) ways to hear God’s voice, and the sign of hearing god’s voice when making a decision.
How to Know God’s Voice From Your Own
We first need to define the meaning of God’s voice and what God’s voice is on earth. We need to know that hearing God’s voice is undeniable. Then, we will discuss the relationship between the devoted servants and God’s voice and Ways to differentiate between good and evil voices.
1. God’s Voice on Earth
Allah Almighty sent Prophets and Messengers and wrote Scriptures to guide us to His path. We, Muslims, follow Prophets to reach God’s voice.Thus, when reading the Quran we are certain that it is God’s voice. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) is the seal of all Prophets and the Quran is the last Scripture. God Almighty says:
“Muhammad is not the father of any of your men, but is the Messenger of Allah and the seal of the prophets. And Allah has ˹perfect˺ knowledge of all things.”
2. Hearing God’s Voice is undeniable
Muslims believe that Allah communicates with humans in specific forms.
- Forms of Divine Communication with Humans mentioned in the Quran:
- Special Case: Prophet Moses
Muslims believe that God Himself only spoke directly to the Prophet Moses. This was not in Moses’s head, nor a dream, nor a vision, it was God’s actual voice. That’s why the Prophet Moses is called Kalemullah (the one who had spoken to Allah), as Kalemah in Arabic means word.
3. Devoted servants and God’s Voice
Muslims believe that Divine inspiration and Karamât (miraculous events) may happen to the pious who are devoted servants to Allah. Karamah means extraordinary events given by Allah to the Awliya’ (those who are most near to Allah) as a sign of their glory in worshipping Him.
4. Ways to differentiate between the good and evil voices
God has put both the good and evil voices in us and also the power to distinguish, choose and act upon the same.
Being aware of the devilish plot, purifying one’s soul and understanding the three categories of voices are ways to distinguish between these two voices.
a. Beware of the devilish plot
- Our Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said that satan runs through us like our blood stream. (A Prophetic Hadith)
- Satan can make the misdeeds of a person appealing to him. Someone may be blind from seeing the truth.
- One must not assume the voice they hear is God’s voice — it may be Satan’s delusion.
- People living in sin may falsely believe they are guided while being distanced from Qur’anic and Prophetic teachings.
b. Purify your soul
Having a pure soul you can differentiate between good and bad.
c. Differentiate between the three voices of our soul; Nafs-ul-Ammarah, Nafs-ul-Lawwamah and Nafs-ul-Mutmainnah.
- Nafs-ul-Ammarah is the self that tempts to evil,
- Nafs-ul-Lawwamah is the self-critical soul, and
- Nafs-ul-Mutmainnah is that soul which has reached a state of serenity.
The Ulimate Goal
We can say that these are three stages through which every person will experience. Reaching the stage of having Nafs-ul-Mutmainnah is the goal of all true believers and we have to strive in our lives to achieve it.
Seven (7) Ways to Hear God’s Voice
We can introduce seven ways to hear God’s voice as mentioned in the Quran and Sunnah. Believing in the unseen, reading the Quran, gaining the Quranic guidance, performing prayer, uttering supplications, remembering Allah frequently, and purifying one’s soul are the seven ways.
1. Believe in the unseen to Hear God’s Voice
To believe without the need to see evidence is the core of faith.
Believing in the Divine wisdom behind every thing strengthens one’s faith and makes him steadfast. This is a way to be pious to be closer to Allah.
2. Read the Quran, God’s Voice on Earth, to Hear God’s Voice
- Muslims believe that the Quran is the Speech of Allah Almighty delivered to Muhammad, His Messenger, via Gabriel, the head of the angels.
- When reading the Quran or even listening to its recitation Muslims believe that Allah is the Speaker. It’s a pure speech from Heaven to mankind sent to guide them to the right path.
3. Gain the Quranic Guidance to Hear God’s Voice
The Quran is a Book of guidance. If one’s heart is not ready to receive the Quranic guidance, it is hard to feel a change or taste the sweetness of the Quranic verses. That’s why Istia’dhah (saying: A’odhu billahi min ash-shaytaan-ar-rajeem) is recommended before reading the Quran.
What Is Istia’dhah?
- Istia’dhah is a supplication to seek refuge with Allah from the cursed Satan.
- For Muslims, the dhikr helps a person purify his soul and make his heart ready to receive the Quranic message.
- A person seeking the guidance of the Quran should first prepare himself to receive this divine message.
4. Perform Prayers (Salah) to Hear God’s Voice
Performing prayers is a worshipping act which connects a servant to his Lord. When Muslims pray they feel that they are speaking with God. Being the first pillar of Islam, it is a way to make Muslims closer to Allah Almighty.
“Allah made a covenant with the Children of Israel and appointed twelve leaders from among them and ˹then˺ said, “I am truly with you. If you establish prayer, pay alms-tax, believe in My messengers, support them, and lend to Allah a good loan, I will certainly forgive your sins and admit you into Gardens under which rivers flow….”
5. Utter Supplications to Hear God’s Voice
Muslims believe that Allah is the All-Hearing. He hears our supplications and responds to them.
“Your Lord has proclaimed, “Call upon Me, I will respond to you. Surely those who are too proud to worship Me will enter Hell, fully humbled.”
6. Remember Allah Frequently (Dhikr) to Hear God’s Voice
When your tongue is moist with the remembrance of The God, it blocks out satan’s whispers and make you ready to receive the Divine inspirations.
7. Purify one’s soul to Hear God’s Voice
- Every person should understand the three sides in his nature; a heart, soul and body.
- Every person has to take care of his three sides.
- Self-purification is the key to taking care of one’s heart.
- When speaking about taking care of the soul one has to Know how to manage his beliefs and how to answer his doubts through knowledge derived from the Quran and Sunnah.
- Every person should know that he has with him a companion from among the angels and a companion from among the devils.
How to Hear God’s Voice When Making a Decision
When speaking about hearing God’s voice when making a decision, we have to raise two important questions: (1) What should Muslims do when making a decision? (2) Is Istikharah important when making a decision?
1. What should Muslims do when Making a decision?
Muslims believe that when making a decision they need first to seek Allah for help to support them in finding the best way for themselves. Allah the All-Wise will prescribe for them the good. As Muslims, they accept the Divine destiny being good or harm. Istikharah in Islam is asking Allah to help one make a choice.
2. Is Istikharah important when making a decision?
For Muslims, Istikharah is not a superficial action, as it implies deep meanings and reflect strong faith and total submission.
- Istikharah is an announcement that we are poor creature and we need a higher power to save us and guide us to the right choice which is good for our earthly life and Hereafter.
- The meaning of Istikharah is reflected through its supplication required after performing the the prayer.
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) added that the person should then mention his need.
3. Some Misconceptions about hearing God’s voice when making a decision
Some people may wrongly believe that after Istikharah they will definitely see a sign from God showing them the best choice for themselves. Yet, this is not true. It’s not a magical tool to win magical clues to make our lives easier. We are not living the life of Harry Potter here. If one sees no signs, then he has to believe that whichever of the two choices naturally took its course, was the best for him.
As Muslims, we believe in the unseen and part of this belief is accept the Divine destiny. So why does a true believer need to rely on a sign to comfort himself and make a decision while his heart deeply believes that Allah supports him and through this support, he will make the right choice?
Conclusion
It was said: “If you want to hear God, then read the Quran…” Through this article, we discussed the following:
- How to know God’s voice from your own?
- Seven ways to hear God’s voice.
- The sign of hearing god’s voice when making a decision from an Islamic perspective.
I invite you to know more about the Quran, God’s voice on earth. Check this link, if you need some tips on how to read the Quran if you are a non-Muslim. You can also read this article about some heart-touching Quranic verses.
Success comes from Allah, and Allah knows best.
