The Practice Of Listening.

[Abu Fauzi]

As-Salaam alaikum,
Do you know that listening is not only a sensory or mental act, but also a contemplative practice? It is indeed both a sensory and contemplative act in Islam. In this regard, consider ayat 37 of chapter 50 of the Holy Qur'an, which reads:--

"Verily in this is a Message
For any that has a heart and understanding;
Or who gives ear
[listens] and earnestly witnesses (the truth)." (50:37)

About this, Sayyadi al-Harith Ibn Asad al-Muhasibi (d. 243/857) in his book, 'Watchfulness in Observing God's Duties', said that:--

"He who, out of yearning for Allah, listens to Allah's Book, or to a word of Wisdom, or to
a portion of knowledge, or to a piece of counsel while not conversing with his self at all but
[concentrating] his attention and allowing his heart to see what he hears, such a one will
derive counsel and remembrances (from the words he hears); for they are Allah's words.

Allah described the believers (as listeners) saying:--

"My Servants who give ear to the Word and follow the fairest of it.
Those are whom Allah has guided: those- they are men possessed of mind". (39:18)..Surat Zumar

In other words, with our attentive hearing sense, we can listen to Allah's words when reciting the Holy Qur'an, for example... and with our heart we can witness what we hear from Him, Azzah-Wa- Jallah, who witnesses us.