Mikaeel Ahmed Smith

Prophetic Listening and How It Can Transform the World Within Us and Around Us

Hearing develops early, but deep listening needs to be taught. While many believe that listening is something that comes naturally, the truth is that listening is a complex skill that must be studied, practiced, and perfected over time. Listening is the foundation of human attachment and the binding glue of the early relationships that provide us with a sense of belonging. From the moment we come into this world we are searching for connection with others. We deeply desire to be understood. We deeply desire to be listened to.

When Hearing Becomes Listening is about the function of listening in the life of a Muslim, and how learning to listen can transform the cacophony of inner noises into a wonderful symphony. Allah SWT tells us in the Quran that Adam was created from clay, suggesting that we all have the capacity to mold and shape those around us, for better or worse. This book explores the religious and social implications of attachment theory, and how we can all help each other develop healthy models of attachment. When Hearing Becomes Listening explains why listening is a capacity unique to human beings, and describes obstacles that prevent us from being good listeners. In this book, we present a unique, interconnected, three-level approach to listening: listening to oneself, listening to others, and listening to Allah SWT.

This book picks up where With the Heart in Mind stopped, diving deeper into the primary tool that enabled the Prophet ﷺ to be so influential and leave such a profound impact on the people around him. The premise is simple. If you wish to be listened to like the Prophet ﷺ, you must first learn to listen like the Prophet ﷺ.

Shaykh Mikaeel Ahmed Smith embraced Islam at the age of 18, after reading the Quran and The Autobiography of Malcolm X. Soon after, he enrolled in Dar al-Ulam al-Madaniyya, where he completed his memorization of the Quran. In 2012, he earned his Alimiyya Degree from Dar al-Ulum Canada in Chatham, Ontario. Shaykh Mikaeel currently teaches Islamic law, theology, and hadith at Qalam Seminary in Dallas, Texas.

Contents
Introduction: When Hearing Becomes Listening
Part 1: Why is Listening Important?
1. The Importance of Listening in the Quran and Sunnah
2. Reclaiming Deep Listening Today
Part 2: What Prevents Us from Listening?
3. Understanding Communication
4. The Noise Detox Process
Part 3: The Reward of Listening
5. An Islamic Framework of Listening: Ibn al-Qayyim’s Levels of Listening
6. What Do We Gain From Deep Listening?
Conclusion: Moving Forward to Becoming Better Listeners Bibliography