The phenomenon you described, a bright flash that illuminates the sky but is short and silent, could potentially be a meteor or a fireball. Here are two possibilities to consider:
Meteor: Meteors, often called shooting stars, are small particles of debris from space that enter Earth's atmosphere. As they travel through the atmosphere at high speeds, they heat up due to friction, causing them to glow brightly. The flash you witnessed could have been a particularly bright meteor streaking across the sky. Meteors are typically very fast-moving and can create brief but intense flashes of light. They often disintegrate completely before reaching the ground, which is why you did not hear any sound associated with it.
Fireball: A fireball is a specific type of meteor that appears exceptionally bright, often rivaling or surpassing the brightness of Venus in the night sky. Fireballs are caused by larger and more substantial objects entering the Earth's atmosphere. They can produce intense and brief flashes of light that can illuminate the surroundings. Again, the lack of sound is because the flash is caused by the object's entry and disintegration in the atmosphere, rather than an impact on the ground.
Both meteors and fireballs are relatively common occurrences, and it's not unusual to witness them on a dark night. If you're curious and want to learn more about the event you witnessed, you can search for meteor sighting reports in your area or consult with local astronomical societies or meteor observing organizations, as they often keep records of such observations.