38/7. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 2153d — Three Requests for Entry
Seeking Permission To Enter A House
Seeking Permission Three Times: Respect at the Door
Sahih Muslim : 2153d
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 2153d
حَدَّثَنَا نَصْرُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ الْجَهْضَمِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا بِشْرٌ، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ مُفَضَّلٍ - حَدَّثَنَا سَعِيدُ، بْنُ يَزِيدَ عَنْ أَبِي نَضْرَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ، أَنَّ أَبَا مُوسَى، أَتَى بَابَ عُمَرَ فَاسْتَأْذَنَ فَقَالَ عُمَرُ وَاحِدَةٌ . ثُمَّ اسْتَأْذَنَ الثَّانِيَةَ فَقَالَ عُمَرُ ثِنْتَانِ . ثُمَّ اسْتَأْذَنَ الثَّالِثَةَ فَقَالَ عُمَرُ ثَلاَثٌ . ثُمَّ انْصَرَفَ فَأَتْبَعَهُ فَرَدَّهُ فَقَالَ إِنْ كَانَ هَذَا شَيْئًا حَفِظْتَهُ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَهَا وَإِلاَّ فَلأَجْعَلَنَّكَ عِظَةً . قَالَ أَبُو سَعِيدٍ فَأَتَانَا فَقَالَ أَلَمْ تَعْلَمُوا أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " الاِسْتِئْذَانُ ثَلاَثٌ " . قَالَ فَجَعَلُوا يَضْحَكُونَ - قَالَ - فَقُلْتُ أَتَاكُمْ أَخُوكُمُ الْمُسْلِمُ قَدْ أُفْزِعَ تَضْحَكُونَ انْطَلِقْ فَأَنَا شَرِيكُكَ فِي هَذِهِ الْعُقُوبَةِ . فَأَتَاهُ فَقَالَ هَذَا أَبُو سَعِيدٍ .
Abu Sa'id Narrated from:
Abu Musa al-Ash'ari came to the door of 'Umar and sought his permission (to get into his house). Umar said: That is once. He again sought permission for the second time and 'Umar said: It is twice. He again sought permission for the third time and Umar said: It is thrice.He (Abu Musa) then went back. He (Hadrat 'Umar) (sent someone) to pursue him so that he should be brought back. Thereupon he (Hadrat Umar) said: If this act (of yours is in accordance with the command of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) you have preserved in your mind, then it is all right, otherwise (I shall give you such a severe punishment) that it will serve as an example to others. Abu Sa'id said: Then he (Abu Musa) came to us and said: Do you remember Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) having said this:" Permission is for three times"? They (Companions sitting in that company) began to laugh, whereupon he (Abu Musa) said: There comes to you your Muslim brother who had been perturbed and you laugh. Abu Sa'id said: (Well), you go forth. I shall be your participant in this trouble of yours. So he came to him (Hadrat Umar) and said: Here is Abu Sa'id (to support my statement).
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2153dIn-book reference : Book 38, Hadith 44USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 25, Hadith 5357
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 2153d
This narration shows the rule of seeking permission in action. Abu Musa came to Umar’s door and sought permission once, twice, and then a third time. Umar counted each request. After the third time, Abu Musa went back. Umar then called him back and asked whether this action was something he had preserved from Allah's Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم). Abu Musa went to the Companions and asked if they knew the saying, “Permission is for three times.” Abu Sa'id supported him and said he would share in the trouble if there was punishment. This hadith about permission before entering teaches that the visitor’s right is limited and the privacy of the home is respected. It also shows that a Muslim brother who is troubled should be supported, not mocked.
What we learn from this hadith
- Three requests for permission are enough.
- After the third time, the visitor should leave.
- A troubled Muslim brother deserves support.
- A claim about the Prophet’s words may be checked through witnesses.
