79/11. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 6242 — Do Not Peep Into Rooms
Asking permission because of looking
Do Not Peep Into Rooms: A Hadith on Privacy in Islam
Sahih Bukhari : 6242
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 6242
حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ، عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ، عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، أَنَّ رَجُلاً، اطَّلَعَ مِنْ بَعْضِ حُجَرِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَامَ إِلَيْهِ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِمِشْقَصٍ ـ أَوْ بِمَشَاقِصَ ـ فَكَأَنِّي أَنْظُرُ إِلَيْهِ يَخْتِلُ الرَّجُلَ لِيَطْعُنَهُ.
Anas bin Malik Narrated from:
A man peeped into a room of the Prophet. The Prophet (ﷺ) stood up, holding an arrow head. It is as if I am just looking at him, trying to stab the man.
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 6242In-book reference : Book 79, Hadith 16USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 8, Book 74, Hadith 259
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 6242
This Hadith gives a serious warning about peeping into private rooms. Anas bin Malik reported that a man looked into one of the Prophet’s rooms. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم stood up holding an arrow head, and Anas described the scene as if he could still see him trying to stab the man. The Hadith about privacy in Islam is brief, but its message is clear. A person must not look into places where he has no right to look. Privacy is protected, and entering or looking into a home needs proper permission. This narration supports careful manners around people’s private spaces.
What we learn from this hadith
- Peeping into a private room is strongly warned against.
- A person should not look where he has no permission.
- Private spaces must be respected.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم responded firmly to a breach of privacy.
