This study examines silence from the perspectives of hermeneutics and the principles of Islamic jurisprudence (uṣūl al-fiqh) and seeks to clarify its role in textual interpretation and legal deduction. The central question of the research is whether silence merely signifies the absence of speech or whether it can possess semantic value and epistemic significance in uncovering the speaker’s intent and deriving legal rulings. The research employs a descriptive-analytical method and is based on library research, drawing upon jurisprudential, legal-theoretical, and hermeneutical sources.

From a hermeneutical perspective, the study investigates the concept of silence, its various forms, the characteristics of profound silence, and its interpretive and semantic capacities. From the perspective of uṣūl al-fiqh, it analyzes the role of silence in legal reasoning, the foundations and scope of its authority, its function in the approval of rational practices (sīrah al-ʿuqalāʾ), major debates concerning its evidentiary value, and the issue of conflict between silence and explicit speech. The findings indicate that silence, in many instances, extends beyond the mere absence of expression and may convey implicit meanings and legally relevant indications. Moreover, the evidentiary force and significance of silence depend on contextual indicators, the status of the speaker, and the circumstances surrounding the communication. Accordingly, silence can, under specific conditions, serve as a valid instrument for understanding religious texts and deriving legal rulings.