The Narratives – Mohamed Miah

Mohamed Miah | The Narratives

The hidden hum of existence

Silence, as we imagine it, does not exist. Sit in a forest or stand alone at night and you will still hear the shifting of leaves, the beating of your heart, or the faint rush of wind. Science now tells us the universe itself is never quiet. Every atom vibrates, every star pulses, and even black holes emit resonant frequencies.

NASA has even managed to capture some of this cosmic music. In 2022, astronomers released a sonification of sound waves rippling through the Perseus galaxy cluster — pressure waves caused by the activity of a supermassive black hole. If we could hear them naturally, they would be a B-flat note 57 octaves below middle C, far outside the human range of hearing. To make them audible, scientists shifted them upwards by 57-58 octaves — around 144 to 288 quadrillion times higher than their original frequency.

These aren’t just curiosities. Those waves carry energy, which helps regulate the temperature of the cluster’s gas and even slows its cooling — influencing the birth of stars and the evolution of galaxies. What we call “sound” in this case is real physical vibration, written into the very fabric of space.

To physicists, this is energy. To believers, it is dhikr — the constant remembrance of Allah.

Tasbih the vibration of worship

The Qur’an makes this truth clear:

“The seven heavens and the earth and all that is in them glorify Him. There is nothing that does not glorify Him with praise, but you do not understand their glorification.” (Qur’an 17:44)

Every movement in creation — from the buzzing of an insect to the orbit of planets — is tasbih. What science calls oscillation, the Qur’an calls glorification. The hum of the universe is not random noise; it is worship.

Angels and the resonance of light

Angels, created from light, are themselves vibrations. Light is nothing more than electromagnetic waves travelling through space. Hadith describe the heavens as “creaking” under the weight of angels in constant prostration. Picture that: every corner of the sky resonating with beings of light, submitting in perfect synchrony.

Here lies a symmetry between the seen and unseen: waves of light in physics, and waves of worship in faith.

Our hearts as receivers

Human beings are part of this same orchestra. When we pray or recite Qur’an, our voices vibrate with divine sound. Even non-Arabic speakers who cannot understand the words still feel peace when listening — because the power is not only in meaning but in the vibration itself.

Neuroscientific studies show that rhythmic recitation and breathing can slow the heartbeat, lower stress, and even synchronise brainwaves. Prayer is not simply a ritual; it is resonance. It aligns the human body and soul with the cosmic rhythm of tasbih.

The Qur’an as calibration

Think of life like a musical instrument. Strings that are too loose or too tight fall out of harmony. Our lives, overwhelmed by noise, distraction, and chaos, are like untuned strings. The Qur’an is our divine tuner.

Its tajweed — the rules of elongation, pause, and emphasis — are more than technicalities. They form a soundscape of symmetry, balance, and rhythm that restores harmony within us. Allah describes the Qur’an as shifa — healing. And true healing is nothing more than restoring balance where there was once dissonance.

The secret of peace

Perhaps this is why we feel serenity in nature. Mountains, oceans, and forests are already vibrating in dhikr, and when we sit among them, our bodies sense it. But the Qur’an is deeper still. Nature vibrates in obedience, but the Qur’an is the direct speech of Allah — the purest vibration, the original frequency of creation.

When we bow in salah, when we whisper SubhanAllah, or when we allow the Qur’an to pass over our tongues, we are not isolated. We are harmonising with the angels, with the mountains, with the hum of galaxies, all resonating in praise of the One who created us.

Closing reflection

Science calls it resonance. Islam calls it tasbih. Both point to the same truth: that nothing is random, and nothing is ever silent. The universe is a vast symphony of worship, and prayer is our invitation to re-join the chorus.

© Mohamed Miah | The Narratives

If this reflection touched you, share it with others and let the reminder spread.