Chapter 2.5. Seeking Permission To Enter

If family members are resting in their rooms, and you want to join them, it is appropriate to ask for permission and/or knock on the door. Otherwise, you may see them in a condition that you, or they for that matter, may not like. This applies to your
 
entire household; your immediate family or otherwise. In the Muwata by 'Ata ibn Yasãr,

Imam Malik narrated that a man asked the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) the following: 'Should I seek permission to enter my mother's room?' The Prophet answered, 'Yes.' The man said, 'We live together in the same house.' The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, 'Ask for permission to join her.' The man argued, 'But, I am her servant.' The Prophet said, 'Ask for permission. Would you like to see her naked?' The man replied, 'No!' The Prophet said, 'Then ask permission when entering.'

A man asked 'Abdullah bin Masud: 'Should I ask permission to enter my mother's room?' He answered him, 'Yes. There are certain circumstances in which you would rather not see her. ' Zaynab, the wife of 'Abdullah ibn Masud said that upon reaching the door, 'Abdullah used to make noise, fearing that he might surprise us and encounter an embarrassing situation. A man asked Huzaifa ibn Al-Yamãn, 'Should I ask permission to enter my mother's?' Huzaifa replied, 'Yes, if you do not ask for her permission, you may encounter an embarrassing situation.'

Müsa the son of the companion Talha ibn 'Obaidillah said: 'My father went to my mother's room. I followed him as he entered, he turned toward me and pushed me down forcing me to sit. Then he reprimanded me: 'How dare you to enter without permission?'

Nafi,' the patron of 'Abdullah bin Omar said: 'When any of Ibn Omar's children come of age, Ibn Omar would assign him/her another room. He would not allow any of them to enter his room without permission.'

'Ata bin Abi Rabãh asked Ibn 'Abbas: 'Should I seek permission when calling on my two sisters?' Ibn Abbas answered, 'Yes.' I said: 'I am their guardian, supporter and provider of their needs.' He said, 'Would you rather see them naked?' Then he read the Quranic verse, 'And when the children among you come of age, let them ask for permission, as do those senior to them in age; thus does Allah make clear His signs. Allah is full of knowledge and wisdom.' Thus, Ibn 'Abbas concluded that asking permission is obligatory for all people. Ibn Masud said: 'A person should seek permission whenever entering the room of a father, mother, brother and sister.' Jãber also said: 'A person should seek permission whenever entering the room of a son, a daughter, a mother -even if she is old, a brother, a sister, or a father.'

• Announcing Your Presence
• Knocking And Ringing

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