Question

What is the authenticity of this statement of Sayyiduna Abud Darda (radiyallahu ‘anhu)?

الصمت حكم وقليل فاعله

Silence is wisdom, and those who practice it are few

Answer

Imam Ibn ‘Abdil Barr (rahimahullah) has cited this as the statement of Sayyiduna Abud Darda (radiyallahu ‘anhu) without mentioning the full chain of narrators.

(Jami’u Bayanil ‘Ilmi wa Fadlihi: 921)

I have not come across the chain of narrators for this statement nor found it in any other primary Hadith source. Therefore, I am unable to verify its attribution to Sayyiduna Abud Darda (radiyallahu ‘anhu).

However, these words have also been reported as a Hadith of Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) and as a saying of Luqman al-Hakim. See further details here

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.

Answered by: Mawlana Suhail Motala

Approved by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar

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التخريج من المصادر العربية

جامع بيان العلم وفضله: (١/ ٤٤٩)
(٩٢١) – وعن أبي الدرداء رضي الله عنه أنه كان يقول: «الصمت حكم وقليل فاعله».