Seeking the consent of virgins and previously-married women Sunan Ibn Majah 1870
Arabic hadith text
حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ مُوسَى السُّدِّيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا مَالِكُ بْنُ أَنَسٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الْفَضْلِ الْهَاشِمِيِّ، عَنْ نَافِعِ بْنِ جُبَيْرِ بْنِ مُطْعِمٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ " الأَيِّمُ أَوْلَى بِنَفْسِهَا مِنْ وَلِيِّهَا وَالْبِكْرُ تُسْتَأْمَرُ فِي نَفْسِهَا " . قِيلَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ الْبِكْرَ تَسْتَحْيِي أَنْ تَتَكَلَّمَ . قَالَ " إِذْنُهَا سُكُوتُهَا "
Translation
It was narrated from Ibn Abbas that
the Messenger of Allah said: “A widow has more right (to decide) concerning herself than her guardian, and a virgin should be consulted”. It was said: “O Messenger of Allah, a virgin may be too shy to speak.” He said: “Her consent is her silence.”