Asking Permission
كتاب الاسْتِئْذَانُ
Read the English translation first, with the original Arabic directly underneath.
Hadith
Anas said that he was ten years old when the Messenger of Allah, (ﷺ), came to Madina. He said, "My mothers decided that I would serve him and I served him for ten years. He died when I was twenty. I am the person who knows best about the business of the veil. The first instance that was revealed occurred when the Messenger of Allah, (ﷺ), built a room for Zaynab bint Jahsh. He celebrated the wedding there, invited the people who came, ate and then left. A group remained with the Prophet, (ﷺ). They stayed for a long time and then the Prophet (ﷺ) went out and I went out hoping that they would leave. He walked and I walked with him until he came to the threshold of 'A'isha's room. Then, thinking that they would have left, he returned and I returned with him. He went to Zaynab but they were still sitting there. He left again and I left with him until he once more reached the threshold of 'A'isha's room. When he thought that they would have gone, he went back again and I went back with him. This time they had indeed left. The Prophet, (ﷺ), then put up a curtain between me and him, and the veil was revealed."
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللهِ بْنُ صَالِحٍ قَالَ: حَدَّثَنِي اللَّيْثُ قَالَ: حَدَّثَنِي عُقَيْلٌ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ قَالَ: أَخْبَرَنِي أَنَسٌ، أَنَّهُ كَانَ ابْنَ عَشْرِ سِنِينَ مَقْدَمَ رَسُولِ اللهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم الْمَدِينَةَ، فَكُنَّ أُمَّهَاتِي يُوَطِّوَنَّنِي عَلَى خِدْمَتِهِ، فَخَدَمْتُهُ عَشْرَ سِنِينَ، وَتُوُفِّيَ وَأَنَا ابْنُ عِشْرِينَ، فَكُنْتُ أَعْلَمَ النَّاسِ بِشَأْنِ الْحِجَابِ، فَكَانَ أَوَّلُ مَا نَزَلَ مَا ابْتَنَى رَسُولُ اللهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِزَيْنَبَ بِنْتِ جَحْشٍ، أَصْبَحَ بِهَا عَرُوسًا، فَدَعَى الْقَوْمَ فَأَصَابُوا مِنَ الطَّعَامِ، ثُمَّ خَرَجُوا، وَبَقِيَ رَهْطٌ عِنْدَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم، فَأَطَالُوا الْمُكْثَ، فَقَامَ فَخَرَجَ وَخَرَجْتُ لِكَيْ يَخْرُجُوا، فَمَشَى فَمَشَيْتُ مَعَهُ، حَتَّى جَاءَ عَتَبَةَ حُجْرَةِ عَائِشَةَ، ثُمَّ ظَنَّ أَنَّهُمْ خَرَجُوا، فَرَجَعَ وَرَجَعْتُ مَعَهُ حَتَّى دَخَلَ عَلَى زَيْنَبَ، فَإِذَا هُمْ جُلُوسٌ، فَرَجَعَ وَرَجَعْتُ حَتَّى بَلَغَ عَتَبَةَ حُجْرَةِ عَائِشَةَ، وَظَنَّ أَنَّهُمْ خَرَجُوا، فَرَجَعَ وَرَجَعْتُ مَعَهُ، فَإِذَا هُمْ قَدْ خَرَجُوا، فَضَرَبَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَهُ السِّتْرَ، وَأَنْزَلَ الْحِجَابَ.
Tha'laba ibn Abi Malik al-Qurazi reported that he rode to 'Abdullah ibn Suwayd, one of the Banu Haritha ibn al-Harith, to ask him about the three times of nakedness. 'Abdullah used to observe these times. Tha'laba said, "'Abdullah asked, 'What do you want?' I replied, 'I want to observe them.' He said, 'When I take off my garment at midday, none of my family who have reached puberty comes to me without my permission unless I call them. Nor do they do that when it is Fajr until people know that I have prayed, nor when I have prayed 'Isha' and removed my clothes so that I can sleep.'"
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللهِ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ سَعْدٍ، عَنْ صَالِحِ بْنِ كَيْسَانَ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ ثَعْلَبَةَ بْنِ أَبِي مَالِكٍ الْقُرَظِيِّ، أَنَّهُ رَكِبَ إِلَى عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ سُوَيْدٍ، أَخِي بَنِي حَارِثَةَ بْنِ الْحَارِثِ، يَسْأَلُهُ عَنِ الْعَوْرَاتِ الثَّلاَثِ، وَكَانَ يَعْمَلُ بِهِنَّ، فَقَالَ: مَا تُرِيدُ؟ فَقُلْتُ: أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَعْمَلَ بِهِنَّ، فَقَالَ: إِذَا وَضَعْتُ ثِيَابِي مِنَ الظَّهِيرَةِ لَمْ يَدْخُلْ عَلَيَّ أَحَدٌ مِنْ أَهْلِي بَلَغَ الْحُلُمَ إِلاَّ بِإِذْنِي، إِلاَّ أَنْ أَدْعُوَهُ، فَذَلِكَ إِذْنُهُ. وَلاَ إِذَا طَلَعَ الْفَجْرُ وَتَحَرَّكَ النَّاسُ حَتَّى تُصَلَّى الصَّلاَةُ. وَلاَ إِذَا صَلَّيْتُ الْعِشَاءَ وَوَضَعْتُ ثِيَابِي حَتَّى أَنَامَ.
'A'isha said, "I used to eat date and butter mixture with the Prophet, (ﷺ). 'Umar visited and the Prophet (ﷺ) invited him and he ate. 'Umar's hand touched my fingers and he said, 'Oh! If I were to be obeyed about you, no eye would ever see you!' Then the veil was revealed."
حَدَّثَنَا الْحُمَيْدِيُّ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ مِسْعَرٍ، عَنْ مُوسَى بْنِ أَبِي كَثِيرٍ، عَنْ مُجَاهِدٍ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا قَالَتْ: كُنْتُ آكُلُ مَعَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم حَيْسًا، فَمَرَّ عُمَرُ، فَدَعَاهُ فَأَكَلَ، فَأَصَابَتْ يَدُهُ إِصْبَعِي، فَقَالَ: حَسِّ، لَوْ أُطَاعُ فَيَكُنَّ مَا رَأَتْكُنَّ عَيْنٌ. فَنَزَلَ الْحِجَابُ.
Umm Habiba bint Qays (Khawla) was heard to say, "My hand and that of the Messenger of Allah, (ﷺ), mixed together in the same vessel."
حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ أَبِي أُوَيْسٍ قَالَ: حَدَّثَنِي خَارِجَةُ بْنُ الْحَارِثِ بْنِ رَافِعِ بْنِ مَكِيثٍ الْجُهَنِيُّ، عَنْ سَالِمِ بْنِ سَرْجٍ مَوْلَى أُمِّ صَبِيَّةَ بِنْتِ قَيْسٍ وَهِيَ خَوْلَةُ، وَهِيَ جَدَّةُ خَارِجَةَ بْنِ الْحَارِثِ، أَنَّهُ سَمِعَهَا تَقُولُ: اخْتَلَفَتْ يَدِي وَيَدُ رَسُولِ اللهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي إِنَاءٍ وَاحِدٍ.
'Abdullah ibn 'Umar said, "When someone enters a house which is not lived in, he should say, 'Peace be upon the righteous slaves of Allah.'"
حَدَّثَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ الْمُنْذِرِ قَالَ: حَدَّثَنِي مَعْنٌ قَالَ: حَدَّثَنِي هِشَامُ بْنُ سَعْدٍ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، أَنَّ عَبْدَ اللهِ بْنَ عُمَرَ قَالَ: إِذَا دَخَلَ الْبَيْتَ غَيْرَ الْمَسْكُونِ فَلْيَقُلِ: السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى عِبَادِ اللهِ الصَّالِحِينَ.
Ibn 'Abbas said, "The verse, 'Do not enter houses other than your own until you have asked permission and greeted their inhabitants' (24:27) has an exception made to it when Allah says, 'There is nothing wrong in your entering houses where no one lives where there is some service for you. Allah knows what you divulge and what you conceal.'"
حَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ قَالَ: حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي، عَنْ يَزِيدَ النَّحْوِيِّ، عَنْ عِكْرِمَةَ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ قَالَ: {لاَ تَدْخُلُوا بُيُوتًا غَيْرَ بُيُوتِكُمْ حَتَّى تَسْتَأْنِسُوا وَتُسَلِّمُوا عَلَى أَهْلِهَا}، وَاسْتَثْنَى مِنْ ذَلِكَ، فَقَالَ: {لَيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ جُنَاحٌ أَنْ تَدْخُلُوا بُيُوتًا غَيْرَ مَسْكُونَةٍ فِيهَا مَتَاعٌ لَكُمْ وَاللهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا تُبْدُونَ وَمَا تَكْتُمُونَ}.
Regarding the ayat, "Those you own as slaves should ask your permission to enter" (24:56), Ibn 'Umar said, "That applies to men rather than women."
حَدَّثَنَا عُثْمَانُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ الْيَمَانِ، عَنْ شَيْبَانَ، عَنْ لَيْثٍ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ: {لِيَسْتَأْذِنْكُمُ الَّذِينَ مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُكُمْ}، قَالَ: هِيَ لِلرِّجَالِ دُونَ النِّسَاءِ.
Ibn 'Umar reported that when his children had reached puberty and he had withdrawn to his room, none of them entered where he was except with his permission.
حَدَّثَنَا مَطَرُ بْنُ الْفَضْلِ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ بْنُ هَارُونَ، عَنْ هِشَامٍ الدَّسْتُوَائِيِّ، عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ أَبِي كَثِيرٍ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، أَنَّهُ كَانَ إِذَا بَلَغَ بَعْضُ وَلَدِهِ الْحُلُمَ عَزَلَهُ، فَلَمْ يَدْخُلْ عَلَيْهِ إِلا بِإِذْنٍ.
'Alqama said, "A man came to 'Abdullah and said, 'Should I ask permission to go in where my mother is?' He said, 'At all times. Do you want to see her (exposed)?'"
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنْ عَلْقَمَةَ قَالَ: جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى عَبْدِ اللهِ قَالَ: أَسْتَأْذِنُ عَلَى أُمِّي؟ فَقَالَ: مَا عَلَى كُلِّ أَحْيَانِهَا تُحِبُّ أَنْ تَرَاهَا.
Muslim ibn Nadhir said, "A man asked Hudhayfa, 'Should I ask permission to enter where my mother is?' He replied, 'If you were not to ask her permission, you would see what you dislike.'"
حَدَّثَنَا آدَمُ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ مُسْلِمَ بْنَ نَذِيرٍ يَقُولُ: سَأَلَ رَجُلٌ حُذَيْفَةَ فَقَالَ: أَسْتَأْذِنُ عَلَى أُمِّي؟ فَقَالَ: إِنْ لَمْ تَسْتَأْذِنْ عَلَيْهَا رَأَيْتَ مَا تَكْرَهُ.
Musa ibn Talha said, "I entered where my mother was with my father. He went in and I followed him. He turned and pushed me in the chest so that I fell on my bottom. Then he said, 'Will you enter without permission!'"
حَدَّثَنَا فَرْوَةُ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا الْقَاسِمُ بْنُ مَالِكٍ، عَنْ لَيْثٍ، عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللهِ، عَنْ مُوسَى بْنِ طَلْحَةَ قَالَ: دَخَلْتُ مَعَ أَبِي عَلَى أُمِّي، فَدَخَلَ فَاتَّبَعْتُهُ، فَالْتَفَتَ فَدَفَعَ فِي صَدْرِي حَتَّى أَقْعَدَنِي عَلَى اسْتِي، قَالَ: أَتَدْخُلُ بِغَيْرِ إِذْنٍ؟.
Jabir said, "A man should ask permission from his son and his mother, even if she is old, his brother, his sister and his father."
حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ أَبَانَ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُسْهِرٍ، عَنْ أَشْعَثَ، عَنْ أَبِي الزُّبَيْرِ، عَنْ جَابِرٍ قَالَ: يَسْتَأْذِنُ الرَّجُلُ عَلَى وَلَدِهِ، وَأُمِّهِ، وَإِنْ كَانَتْ عَجُوزًا، وَأَخِيهِ، وَأُخْتِهِ، وَأَبِيهِ.
'Ata' said, "I asked Ibn 'Abbas, 'Does one ask permission of one's sister?' He replied, 'Yes.' I repeated it and said, 'My two sisters live in my room and I provide for them and spend on them, so do I ask them for permission?' He said, 'Yes. Do you want to see them naked?' Then he recited, 'O you who believe! Those you own as slaves and those of you who have not as yet reached puberty should ask your permission to enter at three times:
before the Dawn Prayer and when you have undressed at noon and after the Night Prayer - three times of nakedness for you.' (24:56) Ibn 'Abbas said, 'He did not command these individuals to ask permission other than at these three times of nakedness.' Then he went on to say, 'The verse in Surat an-Nur:57 is: 'Once your children have reached puberty, they should ask your permission to enter as those before them also asked permission.'"
حَدَّثَنَا الْحُمَيْدِيُّ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا عَمْرٌو، وَابْنُ جُرَيْجٍ، عَنْ عَطَاءٍ قَالَ: سَأَلْتُ ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ فَقُلْتُ: أَسْتَأْذِنُ عَلَى أُخْتِي؟ فَقَالَ: نَعَمْ، فَأَعَدْتُ فَقُلْتُ: أُخْتَانِ فِي حِجْرِي، وَأَنَا أُمَوِّنُهُمَا وَأُنْفِقُ عَلَيْهِمَا، أَسْتَأْذِنُ عَلَيْهِمَا؟ قَالَ: نَعَمْ، أَتُحِبُّ أَنْ تَرَاهُمَا عُرْيَانَتَيْنِ؟ ثُمَّ قَرَأَ: {يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لِيَسْتَأْذِنْكُمُ الَّذِينَ مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُكُمْ} إِلَى {ثَلاَثُ عَوْرَاتٍ لَكُمْ}، قَالَ: فَلَمْ يُؤْمَرْ هَؤُلاَءِ بِالإِذْنِ إِلاَّ فِي هَذِهِ الْعَوْرَاتِ الثَّلاَثِ، قَالَ: {وَإِذَا بَلَغَ الأَطْفَالُ مِنْكُمُ الْحُلُمَ فَلْيَسْتَأْذِنُوا كَمَا اسْتَأْذَنَ الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ}
'Abdullah said, "A man asks permission of his father, his mother, his brother and his sister."
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا عَبْثَرٌ، عَنْ أَشْعَثَ، عَنْ كُرْدُوسٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ قَالَ: يَسْتَأْذِنُ الرَّجُلُ عَلَى أَبِيهِ، وَأُمِّهِ، وَأَخِيهِ، وَأُخْتِهِ.
'Ubayd ibn 'Umayr reported that Abu Musa al-Ash'ari asked permission of 'Umar ibn al-Khattab, but he did not grant him permission. It seemed that he was busy. Abu Musa came back and 'Umar had finished. He said, "Didn't I hear the voice of 'Abdullah ibn Qays? Give him permission to enter." He was told, "He has gone away," so he sent after him. Abu Musa said, "We were commanded to behave like that (i.e. to go away after having asked permission to enter three times)." 'Umar said, "Bring me a clear proof of it." He then went to the gathering of the Ansar and questioned them. They said, "Only the youngest of us will attest to that - Abu Sa'id al-Khudri." He went with Abu Sa'id. 'Umar said, "Is something of what the (ﷺ),, (ﷺ), commanded hidden from me? Doing business in the markets distracted me," i.e. going out to trade.
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ سَلاَمٍ، قَالَ: أَخْبَرَنَا مَخْلَدٌ، قَالَ: أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ جُرَيْجٍ قَالَ: أَخْبَرَنِي عَطَاءٌ، عَنْ عُبَيْدِ بْنِ عُمَيْرٍ، أَنَّ أَبَا مُوسَى الأَشْعَرِيَّ اسْتَأْذَنَ عَلَى عُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ، فَلَمْ يُؤَذَنْ لَهُ، وَكَأَنَّهُ كَانَ مَشْغُولاً، فَرَجَعَ أَبُو مُوسَى، فَفَرَغَ عُمَرُ فَقَالَ: أَلَمْ أَسْمَعْ صَوْتَ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ قَيْسٍ؟ إِيذَنُوا لَهُ، قِيلَ: قَدْ رَجَعَ، فَدَعَاهُ، فَقَالَ: كُنَّا نُؤْمَرُ بِذَلِكَ، فَقَالَ: تَأْتِينِي عَلَى ذَلِكَ بِالْبَيِّنَةِ، فَانْطَلَقَ إِلَى مَجْلِسِ الأَنْصَارِ فَسَأَلَهُمْ، فَقَالُوا: لاَ يَشْهَدُ لَكَ عَلَى هَذَا إِلاَّ أَصْغَرُنَا: أَبُو سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيُّ فَذَهَبَ بِأَبِي سَعِيدٍ، فَقَالَ عُمَرُ: أَخَفِيَ عَلَيَّ مِنْ أَمْرِ رَسُولِ اللهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم؟ أَلْهَانِي الصَّفْقُ بِالأَسْوَاقِ، يَعْنِي الْخُرُوجَ إِلَى التِّجَارَةِ.
Regarding the person who asks for permission to enter before he gives the greeting, Abu Hurayra said, "He is not given permission until he has first given the greeting."
حَدَّثَنَا بَيَانُ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْمَلِكِ بْنُ أَبِي سُلَيْمَانَ، عَنْ عَطَاءٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ فِيمَنْ يَسْتَأْذِنُ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُسَلِّمَ قَالَ: لاَ يُؤْذَنُ لَهُ حَتَّى يَبْدَأَ بِالسَّلامِ.
Abu Hurayra said, "When someone comes in and does not say, 'Peace be upon you,' then say, 'No,' until he brings the key which is the greeting (salam)."
حَدَّثَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ مُوسَى، قَالَ: أَخْبَرَنَا هِشَامٌ، أَنَّ ابْنَ جُرَيْجٍ أَخْبَرَهُمْ قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ عَطَاءً، قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ يَقُولُ: إِذَا دَخَلَ وَلَمْ يَقُلِ: السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكُمْ، فَقُلْ: لاَ، حَتَّى يَأْتِيَ بِالْمِفْتَاحِ: السَّلامِ.
Abu Hurayra reported that the Prophet, (ﷺ), said, "If a man looks into your house and you take some pebbles and gouge out his eye, there is no fault in you."
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْيَمَانِ، قَالَ: أَخْبَرَنَا شُعَيْبٌ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الزِّنَادِ، عَنِ الأَعْرَجِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ: لَوْ اطَّلَعَ رَجُلٌ فِي بَيْتِكَ، فَخَذَفْتَهُ بِحَصَاةٍ فَفَقَأْتَ عَيْنَهُ، مَا كَانَ عَلَيْكَ جُنَاحٌ.
Anas said, "The Prophet, (ﷺ), was standing in prayer and a man looked into his room. He took an arrow from his quiver and aimed it at his eyes."
حَدَّثَنَا حَجَّاجٌ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادٌ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللهِ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ قَالَ: كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَائِمًا يُصَلِّي، فَاطَّلَعَ رَجُلٌ فِي بَيْتِهِ، فَأَخَذَ سَهْمًا مِنْ كِنَانَتِهِ، فَسَدَّدَ نَحْوَ عَيْنَيْهِ.
Sahl ibn Sa'd told him that a man looked from a room through the door of the Prophet, (ﷺ), while the Prophet, (ﷺ), had a comb with which he was scratching his hair. When the Prophet, (ﷺ), saw him, he said, "If I had known that you were looking at me, I would have stabbed you in the eye with this!"
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللهِ بْنُ صَالِحٍ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا اللَّيْثُ قَالَ: حَدَّثَنِي ابْنُ شِهَابٍ، أَنَّ سَهْلَ بْنَ سَعْدٍ أَخْبَرَهُ، أَنَّ رَجُلاً اطَّلَعَ مِنْ جُحْرٍ فِي بَابِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم، وَمَعَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم مِدْرًى يَحُكُّ بِهِ رَأْسَهُ، فَلَمَّا رَآهُ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ: لَوْ أَعْلَمُ أَنَّكَ تَنْتَظِرُنِي لَطَعَنْتُ بِهِ فِي عَيْنِكَ.