38/7. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 2153a — Seek Permission Three Times
Seeking Permission To Enter A House
Seeking Permission Three Times in Islam: A Clear Rule of Respect
Sahih Muslim : 2153a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 2153a
حَدَّثَنِي عَمْرُو بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ بُكَيْرٍ النَّاقِدُ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ بْنُ عُيَيْنَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا - وَاللَّهِ، - يَزِيدُ بْنُ خُصَيْفَةَ عَنْ بُسْرِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيَّ، يَقُولُ كُنْتُ جَالِسًا بِالْمَدِينَةِ فِي مَجْلِسِ الأَنْصَارِ فَأَتَانَا أَبُو مُوسَى فَزِعًا أَوْ مَذْعُورًا . قُلْنَا مَا شَأْنُكَ قَالَ إِنَّ عُمَرَ أَرْسَلَ إِلَىَّ أَنْ آتِيَهُ فَأَتَيْتُ بَابَهُ فَسَلَّمْتُ ثَلاَثًا فَلَمْ يَرُدَّ عَلَىَّ فَرَجَعْتُ فَقَالَ مَا مَنَعَكَ أَنْ تَأْتِيَنَا فَقُلْتُ إِنِّي أَتَيْتُكَ فَسَلَّمْتُ عَلَى بَابِكَ ثَلاَثًا فَلَمْ يَرُدُّوا عَلَىَّ فَرَجَعْتُ وَقَدْ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِذَا اسْتَأْذَنَ أَحَدُكُمْ ثَلاَثًا فَلَمْ يُؤْذَنْ لَهُ فَلْيَرْجِعْ " . فَقَالَ عُمَرُ أَقِمْ عَلَيْهِ الْبَيِّنَةَ وَإِلاَّ أَوْجَعْتُكَ . فَقَالَ أُبَىُّ بْنُ كَعْبٍ لاَ يَقُومُ مَعَهُ إِلاَّ أَصْغَرُ الْقَوْمِ . قَالَ أَبُو سَعِيدٍ قُلْتُ أَنَا أَصْغَرُ الْقَوْمِ . قَالَ فَاذْهَبْ بِهِ .
Abu Sa'id al-Khudri Narrated from:
I was sitting in Medina in the company of the Ansar when Abu Musa came trembling with fear. We said to him: What is the matter? He said: 'Umar (Allah be pleased with him) sent for me. I went to him and paid him salutation thrice at (his) door but he made no response to me and so I came back. Thereupon he ('Umar) said: What stood in your way that you did not turn up?I said: I did come to you and paid you salutations at your door three times but I was not given any response, so I came back as the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) has said: When any one of you seeks permission three times and he is not granted permission, he should come back. Umar said: Bring a witness to support that you say, otherwise I shall take you to task. Ubayy b. Ka'b said: None should stand with him (as a witness) but the youngest amongst the people. Abu Sa'id said: I am the youngest amongst the people, whereupon he said: Then you go with him (to support his contention).
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2153aIn-book reference : Book 38, Hadith 41USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 25, Hadith 5354
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 2153a
This hadith about seeking permission three times teaches a simple rule for visiting someone: do not keep waiting, calling, or pressing after three attempts. Abu Musa came to Umar, greeted at his door three times, and received no response. So he returned. When Umar later asked why he had not come in, Abu Musa explained that he was following the words of Allah's Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم): when one seeks permission three times and is not granted permission, he should go back. Umar then asked him to bring a witness, and Abu Sa'id supported him. The main lesson is respect for people’s space and time. The Hadith also shows that a statement about the Sunnah could be checked and supported by witness. It is a strong teaching on Islamic manners, visiting etiquette, and careful reporting.
What we learn from this hadith
- Permission should be sought three times, not endlessly.
- If no permission is given, the visitor should return.
- Respecting someone’s door and privacy is part of good manners.
- A Hadith report may be supported by a witness when needed.
