79/13. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 6245 — Ask Permission Three Times
To greet and ask permission thrice
Ask Permission Three Times: A Hadith on Entering with Manners
Sahih Bukhari : 6245
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 6245
حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ بْنُ خُصَيْفَةَ، عَنْ بُسْرِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ، قَالَ كُنْتُ فِي مَجْلِسٍ مِنْ مَجَالِسِ الأَنْصَارِ إِذْ جَاءَ أَبُو مُوسَى كَأَنَّهُ مَذْعُورٌ فَقَالَ اسْتَأْذَنْتُ عَلَى عُمَرَ ثَلاَثًا، فَلَمْ يُؤْذَنْ لِي فَرَجَعْتُ فَقَالَ مَا مَنَعَكَ قُلْتُ اسْتَأْذَنْتُ ثَلاَثًا، فَلَمْ يُؤْذَنْ لِي فَرَجَعْتُ، وَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِذَا اسْتَأْذَنَ أَحَدُكُمْ ثَلاَثًا فَلَمْ يُؤْذَنْ لَهُ، فَلْيَرْجِعْ ". فَقَالَ وَاللَّهِ لَتُقِيمَنَّ عَلَيْهِ بِبَيِّنَةٍ. أَمِنْكُمْ أَحَدٌ سَمِعَهُ مِنَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ أُبَىُّ بْنُ كَعْبٍ وَاللَّهِ لاَ يَقُومُ مَعَكَ إِلاَّ أَصْغَرُ الْقَوْمِ، فَكُنْتُ أَصْغَرَ الْقَوْمِ، فَقُمْتُ مَعَهُ فَأَخْبَرْتُ عُمَرَ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ذَلِكَ. وَقَالَ ابْنُ الْمُبَارَكِ أَخْبَرَنِي ابْنُ عُيَيْنَةَ حَدَّثَنِي يَزِيدُ عَنْ بُسْرٍ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا سَعِيدٍ بِهَذَا.
Abu Sa'id al-Khudri Narrated from:
While I was present in one of the gatherings of the Ansar, Abu Musa came as if he was scared, and said, "I asked permission to enter upon `Umar three times, but I was not given the permission, so I returned." (When `Umar came to know about it) he said to Abu Musa, "Why did you not enter?'. Abu Musa replied, "I asked permission three times, and I was not given it, so I returned, for Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "If anyone of you asks the permission to enter thrice, and the permission is not given, then he should return.' " `Umar said, "By Allah! We will ask Abu Musa to bring witnesses for it."(Abu Musa went to a gathering of the Ansar and said). "Did anyone of you hear this from the Prophet (ﷺ) ?" Ubai bin Ka`b said, "By Allah, none will go with you but the youngest of the people (as a witness)." (Abu Sa`id) was the youngest of them, so I went with Abu Musa and informed `Umar that the Prophet (ﷺ) had said so. (See Hadith No. 277, Vol. 3)
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 6245In-book reference : Book 79, Hadith 19USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 8, Book 74, Hadith 262
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 6245
This Hadith teaches a clear rule for seeking permission to enter. Abu Musa asked permission to enter upon Umar three times. When permission was not given, he returned. Umar later asked why he did not enter. Abu Musa explained that Allah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم said: if anyone asks permission three times and permission is not given, he should return. Umar asked for a witness, and Abu Sa’id Al-Khudri went with Abu Musa and informed Umar that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم had said it. The Hadith about asking permission three times protects privacy and teaches a polite limit when visiting or entering.
What we learn from this hadith
- Permission to enter may be sought three times.
- If permission is not given after three times, the person should return.
- The rule protects the privacy of others.
- The companions were careful to confirm the Prophet’s words.
