Correspondence of Hazrat Moulana Shah Hakeem Muhammad Akhtar Saheb (mudda zilluhu)
Condition:
I remain silent most of the time. However, when I get together with other girls and I engage in conversations as well as laugh and talk with them, etc, then I remain uncomfortable the entire night thinking to myself that I should not have done this, I have wasted my time. My heart is not attached to people of my age. My heart desires to be among pious people or among children. But this is not possible here. Most of the girls do not like my ways and they say that I have a “dry” temperament.
Answer:
Islam does not teach us to remain silent all the time and to abstain from talking and joking. This is especially so in today’s times. Remaining silent most of the time or remaining in solitude causes weakness to the nerves and is a cause of depression. It is not desirable to remain silent all the time or most of the time. The sole objective is to abstain from sins. Friendship with Allah Ta’ala (wilayat) is dependent on taqwa (piety). It is therefore not prohibited to joke, talk, etc. in order to occupy the heart. However, there has to be a balance. Spend more time in abstaining from sins whether you are among your elders, those of your age, or among children. Be conscious of Allah Ta’ala no matter in whose company you are. Abstaining from conversations, remaining silent all the time, and abstaining from laughing and talking are not the prerequisites for consciousness of Allah Ta’ala. The person who does not commit sins is a wali (friend) of Allah Ta’ala even if he talks and jokes a lot.