Riyad as-Salihin, 1801

Qais bin Abu Hazim (May Allah be pleased with him) said:

Abu Bakr (May Allah be pleased with him) came upon a woman named Zainab from the Ahmas tribe and noticed that she was observing total silence. He said: "What has happened to her? Why does she not speak?'' People informed him that she had sworn to remain silent. He then said to her: "You should speak, it is not permissible (to observe silence), for it is an act of the Days of Ignorance (Jahiliyyah)." (After hearing this) she started speaking. [Al-Bukhari].

وعن قيس بن أبي حازم قال‏:‏ دخل أبو بكر الصديق رضي الله عنه على امرأة من أحمس يقال لها‏:‏ زينب، فرأها لا تتكلم‏.‏ فقال‏:‏ ما لها لا تتكلم‏؟‏ فقالوا‏:‏ حجت مصمته، فقال لها‏:‏ تكلمي فإن هذا لا يحل، هذا من عمل الجاهلية‏!‏ فتكلمت‏.‏ رواه البخاري

References1 variant

In-Book Reference: Book 17, Hadith 291

Sharh · explanationclick to expand

Guidance from the Hadiths: 1) It is obligatory to differ from the people of the pre-Islamic period of ignorance in terms of their deeds and conditions. So, it is not permissible for a person to worship Allah by keeping silent till night because this is not part of the Islamic guidance. 2) If a person makes a vow to be silent, his vow should not be fulfilled, for it is a vow of sin and not a valid one. ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Whoever makes a vow to obey Allah should obey Him; and whoever makes a vow to disobey Allah should not disobey Him.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri]