Hadith 80

Sahih Muslim

Book 16: The Book of Marriage

Chapter 9

Seeking permission of a previously-married woman in words, and of a virgin by silence

باب اسْتِئْذَانِ الثَّيِّبِ فِي النِّكَاحِ بِالنُّطْقِ وَالْبِكْرِ بِالسُّكُوتِ ‏

Sahih Muslim 1421c
وَحَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي عُمَرَ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ وَقَالَ ‏"‏ الثَّيِّبُ أَحَقُّ بِنَفْسِهَا مِنْ وَلِيِّهَا وَالْبِكْرُ يَسْتَأْذِنُهَا أَبُوهَا فِي نَفْسِهَا وَإِذْنُهَا صُمَاتُهَا ‏"‏ ‏.‏ وَرُبَّمَا قَالَ ‏"‏ وَصَمْتُهَا إِقْرَارُهَا ‏"‏ ‏.‏
Sufyan reported on the basis of the same chain of transmitters (and the words are):

A woman who has been previously married (Thayyib) has more right to her person than her guardian; and a virgin's father must ask her consent from her, her consent being her silence, At times he said: Her silence is her affirmation.