On the prohibition against vowing a day of silence - SunniPath Library - Hadith

Riyad as-Salihin (The Meadows of the Righteous)

 

by Imam Nawawi

 

366. Chapter: On the prohibition against vowing a day of silence

1800. 'Ali said, "I memorised from the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, "There is no orphanhood after puberty. There is no vow to remain silent for the day until nightfall." [Abu Dawud]

In discussing this hadith, al-Khattabi said that one of the practices of the Jahiliyya was a vow of silence, and they were forbidden that in Islam and commanded to do dhikr and speak good things.

1801. Qays ibn Abi Hazim said, "Abu Bakr as-Siddiq visited a woman of Ahmas called Zaynab and saw that she did not speak. He said, 'Why does she not speak?' They said, 'She made hajj silent.' He said to her, 'Speak. This is not lawful. This is one of the practices of the Jahiliyya.' So she started speaking.'" [al-Bukhari]