What is the story of, your God is not deaf or absent?
Abu Musa reported:
We were along with Allah’s Apostle (ﷺ) on a journey when the people began to pronounce “Allahu Akbar” in a loud voice. Thereupon Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said:
O people, show mercy to yourselves for you are neither calling One who is deaf nor absent. Verily, you are calling One who is All-Hearing (and) Near to you and is with you. Abu Musa said that he had been behind him (the Prophet) and reciting:There is neither might nor power but that of Allah.” He (the Prophet), while addressing ‘Abdullah b. Qais, said: Should I not direct you to a treasure from amongst the treasures of Paradise? I (‘Abdullah b. Qais) said: Allah’s Messenger, do it, of course. Thereupon he (the Prophet) said: Then recite: “There is no might and no power but that of Allah.” [Hadith] (1)
“You are not calling upon a deaf or absent;” simple words but very deep meaning. Have you ever thought of those meanings before? If not then let’s give it some thought together. And if yes, then let’s remind ourselves of it.
Allah, The All Hearing
Allah is one name for the Creator. Another name for Him is “Al-Samie’ ”which means in Arabic “The All Hearing.” Allah is the all Hearing. He hears everything, from the faintest whispers to the loudest shouts. Allah hears it all. All of your uncertainties, troubles and problems, all of your supplications, callings and prayers; He hears it all. You don’t even have to raise your voice for Him to hear, as you aren’t even able to get the words out except by His aid.
Do you seek guidance? Do you seek answers? Do you seek a better life? Do you have an issue you need to be solved? The One who has everything is hearing you, so why don’t you ask Him? Ask Him, anytime, anywhere, even if it is whispered and be sincere. Gather up all those pleas, entreaties, prayers and supplications and direct it all to Him alone. He will hear you, and He will answer you.
Outcomes of Believing in The All Hearing
When we are aware of the fact that Allah hears it all, a lot of things should change. We are of course comforted that He hears all our supplications, and is even promising to answer them. But we should also be aware that whichever vulgar expressions we say -He also hears them. Purify your tongue, not because the people around you are telling you so, but because Allah is hearing you. Even if all those around you use vulgar language, and you struggle to omit such expressions from your own speech, your Creator hears you. Don’t you think it’s worth it?
Wouldn’t you like that He hears you struggling to purify your speech for His sake even when everyone else isn’t? Wouldn’t you like that He knows you are minding what comes out of your mouth For His sake? So when you call upon Him you do so knowing that just like He heard your struggles He is now hearing your pleas.
And when My servants ask you, [O Muḥammad], concerning Me – indeed I am near. I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Me. So let them respond to Me [by obedience] and believe in Me that they may be [rightly] guided.” [Quran 2:186] (2)
Allah Is with You; He Is Not Deaf Or Absent
In the Hadith the Prophet correlated hearing of Allah with His presence: Allah is not deaf or absent. This is also one of the greatest meanings you can be aware of in regards to your Creator. He is always with you. He is present and near. Allah’s presence isn’t by any means physical. The Creator isn’t like anything of His creation. The point you need to understand here is that: even though Allah’s presence isn’t physical, He is still present. He is present by His knowledge, power, hearing and sight, as in the Ayah:
They said, “Our Lord, indeed we are afraid that he will hasten [punishment] against us or that he will transgress. [Allah] said, “Fear not. Indeed, I am with you both; I hear and I see.” [Qur’an 20:45-46] (3)
Prophet Moses: Example for Belief in The All Hearing
That was at the beginning of Moses’ Journey. “Indeed, with me is my Lord; He will guide me.” Later, these were Moses’ words when the sea was in front of him and the tyrant and his army were behind and just a few miles away from killing him and his people. Moses was concerned at the beginning, but now he knows, there is nothing to be afraid of.
Your God is not deaf or absent. Even when everything else is against you? Well, let me ask you this: This “everything else”, any ability they have, where did they get it from? Who gave it to them? Didn’t they get it from The One who created them and you? The sea and its ability to block the path on Moses, wasn’t it something Allah gave to it? The swords and men and power that Pharaoh had, that he used to torment the people and defy his Creator; wasn’t all of that given to him by That Same Creator? And what was the end result? Well, read the rest of the verses in the Quran and see.
And when the two companies saw one another, the companions of Moses said, “Indeed, we are to be overtaken!” [Moses] said, “No! Indeed, with me is my Lord; He will guide me.” [Qur’an 26:61-62] (4)
Your God Is Not Deaf Or Absent: The Forgotten Fact
We are often forgetting of this fact: Nothing that anyone has is their own. Instead, it is something that The Creator Has given. This is the same for you, me and anyone else you could think of. Think of the wealthiest men alive today, think of the most powerful men, think of whomever you like, it is all blessings of the Creator on that person. What we are all supposed to do is be unimaginably grateful for all of that. Instead what is done is forgetting about the one who gave us all of that!
Forget His blessings, and forget His presence!
Be Grateful to your Creator, and know that whichever blessing that you have is from Him and Him alone. If He is with you then there is nothing to fear. Just like He split the sea for Moses, and striped pharaoh from all that power He gave him, He can open any blocked path for you. Just be with Him.
Fear Him! Don’t fear what He created. Simply, it’s because your God is not deaf or absent.
Conclusion
Narrated by Ibn Abbas that he said what means: The Prophet (Peace be upon him said):
O youth, I shall teach you words [of advice]: Be mindful of Allah and Allah will protect you. Be mindful of Allah and you will find Him in front of you. If you ask, then ask Allah [alone]; and if you seek help, then seek help from Allah [alone]. And know that if the nation were to gather together to benefit you with anything, they would not benefit you except with what Allah had already prescribed for you. And if they were to gather together to harm you with anything, they would not harm you except with what Allah had already prescribed against you. The pens have been lifted and the pages have dried.”[Hadith] (5)
Indeed, these words summarize the correct relation that every servant has to deal with his Creator according to it to achieve inner peace in this life and in the hereafter. Believe that your God is not deaf or absent. It really deserves!
References:
(1) Prophet’s Saying (Hadith).
(2) Verse (2:186) of Qur’an (English Interpretation of Meaning).
(3) Verse (20:45-46) of Qur’an (English Interpretation of meaning).
(4) Verse (26:61-62) of Qur’an (English Interpretation of Meaning).
