TAKING PERMISSION BEFORE ENTERING A HOUSE

The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam has taught us that when a person wants to meet anyone and go into his house or join his company, he should first take permission and never go in without it, for who knows what he is doing at that time and whether he is in a position to have a visitor or not.

It is related by Kildah Ibne Hanbal radhiyallahu anhu that once his step-brother Safwaan Ibne Umayyah, sent him to the Apostle of Allah sallallahu alayhi wasallam with some milk, a young deer and a few cucumbers. It was at a time when the Apostle of Allah sallallahu alayhi wasallam lived in the upper part of the valley of Makkah. Kildah radhiyallahu anhu narrates, "I went with these articles to where the Apostle of Allah sallallahu alayhi wasallam was, without greeting or obtaining permission. The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam, thereupon, told me to go back, and ask for permission by saying, Assalaamu Alaykum! May I come in?"

Tirmizi, Aboo Daawood

COMMENTARY:
Safwaan Ibne Umayyah was the son of Umayyah Ibne Khalaf, a well-known enemy of Islaam and the noble Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam. He had embraced Islaam after the victory of Makkah, and the incident mentioned above, probably had taken place during the stay after it. The noble Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam was then, staying at the upper part of the valley of Makkah, called Mu'allaa.

Kildah Ibne Hanbal radhiyallahu anhu did not know that when visiting someone, the visitor should make the salutation and obtain permission before entering the house. He therefore, went straight to the noble Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam without observing the etiquette. The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam, thereupon told him to go out and take permission by saying, "Assalaamu 'Alaykum! May I come in?" He, thus, not only told him what was the right thing to do on such an occasion, but also, made him act upon it. A lesson imparted in this manner, is more effective.

It is narrated on the authority of Ataa Ibne Yasaar radhiyallahu anhu that once a person asked the Apostle of Allah sallallahu alayhi wasallam, "Should I take permission even when going to my mother?" "Yes; you should”, the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam replied. Ataa ibne Yasaar radhiyallahu anhu then asked, "I live in the same house with my mother. Is it necessary for me, even then to take permission before entering?" "Yes", the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam said,  "First take permission." The man said again, "I am her sole attendant, (and I do all the things for her). (I therefore, have to go to her frequently)." "Go in, only after obtaining the permission",  replied the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam. "Would you like to see her naked?" "Never",  the man replied. "Then go in after taking the permission'( the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam observed.

Muwatta

COMMENTARY:
It shows that even if a person went into his mother's apartment, he should, first obtain the permission for it would have been quite possible that she would have had taken off her clothes for some reason, at the time he went in.

Rib'ee Ibne Hiraash relates that once a person asked the Apostle of Allah sallallahu alayhi wasallam for permission to come in. He said: "May I come in?" The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam, thereupon, told his attendant to go and tell him that the correct way of taking the permission is, to say: 'Assalaamu 'Alaykum, may I come in?" The man heard the Apostle of Allah sallallahu alayhi wasallam (before the attendant could reach him and corrected himself) by saying, 'Assalaamu 'Alaykum, may I come in?" The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam gave the permission, and he came in.

Aboo Daawood

It Is related by Qays Ibne Sa'd radhiyallahu anhu that (one day), the Apostle of Allah sallallahu alayhi wasallam came to our house, and, (according to the recognised custom), said from the other side of the door, Assalaamu 'Alaykum Wa rahmatullaah!" (Instead of replying to the greeting with a loud voice and requesting the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam to come in), my father, (Sa'd Ibne 'Ubaadah radhiyallahu anhu), acknowledged the salutation in a very soil voice (which the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam could not hear). Upon seeing this, I inquired (from my father), 'Why do you not ask the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam to come in?' 'Keep quiet( replied my father, 'Let it be like that so that the Apostle of Allah sallallahu alayhi wasallam sends the salaam to us again and again (and we take its blessings).'
The Apostle of Allah sallallahu alayhi wasallam said again, Assalaamu 'Alaykum Wa rahmatullaah!' (When he, again, did not hear a reply from my father, the noble Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam said, Assalaamu 'Alaykum Wa rahmatullaah!' for the third time, and on still receiving no reply from my father, the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam turned back.
My father, thereupon, came out and catching up with the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam said to him, 'O Prophet of Allah sallallahu alayhi wasallam! I was hearing your greeting, and, deliberately, replying to it with a low voice in order that you send the salaam to us over and over again, (and we partook of its blessings).'
The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam, then returned with my father, and my father told the people of the house to get things ready for the Prophet's (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) bath. The noble Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam, then took the bath, and my father gave him a sheet dyed in saffron or waras (an odorous substance), which he tied around his waist like a tehband (a cloth worn round the waist), and then, raising his hands, made the prayer: Allaahummaj'al salawaatika wa rahmatika 'alaa aali Sa’d. (O Allah! Bestow Your Choicest Favours and Blessings upon the family of Sa’d ).'
After the prayer, the noble Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam ate something, and when he decided to go, my father offered him his donkey for riding, on which was placed a cushion made by folding a broad piece of cloth, and told me to accompany him (as an escort). So, I went along with the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam. The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam told me to sit on the donkey with him, but I respectfully declined, upon which the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam said 'Either sit with me or go back. (It is intolerable that you walk on foot while I ride ).' The narrator Qays Ibne Sa'd radhiyallahu anhu adds that, thereupon, he returned home.

Aboo Daawood

COMMENTARY:
It shows that when a person goes to visit someone, he should, first, seek his permission before entering by saying, Assalaamu 'Alaykum, and in case he receives no reply, he should do so thrice, and if still, there is no reply, he should return.
The way Sa'd Ibne Ubaadah radhiyallahu anhu behaved for the sake of being the recipient of the noble Prophet's ( sallallahu alayhi wasallam) salaam and its blessings over and over again, and owing to which the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam had to make the salutation thrice, and then, decided to return, apparently was improper. Since the intention behind it was good and noble, and Sa'd was motivated to act like that because he knew that the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam would not be angry, there was no harm in it. It also, turned out that way, and the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam, instead of showing displeasure, appreciated the sentiment of Sa'd Ibne Ubaadah radhiyallahu anhu, as it is evident from the prayer he made for him and his family.

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