38/7. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 2153f — Permission and Verification
Seeking Permission To Enter A House
Seeking Permission Three Times: Umar Accepts the Evidence
Sahih Muslim : 2153f
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 2153f
وَحَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ حَاتِمٍ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ سَعِيدٍ الْقَطَّانُ، عَنِ ابْنِ جُرَيْجٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَطَاءٌ، عَنْ عُبَيْدِ بْنِ عُمَيْرٍ، أَنَّ أَبَا مُوسَى، اسْتَأْذَنَ عَلَى عُمَرَ ثَلاَثًا فَكَأَنَّهُ وَجَدَهُ مَشْغُولاً فَرَجَعَ فَقَالَ عُمَرُ أَلَمْ تَسْمَعْ صَوْتَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ قَيْسٍ ائْذَنُوا لَهُ . فَدُعِيَ لَهُ فَقَالَ مَا حَمَلَكَ عَلَى مَا صَنَعْتَ قَالَ إِنَّا كُنَّا نُؤْمَرُ بِهَذَا . قَالَ لَتُقِيمَنَّ عَلَى هَذَا بَيِّنَةً أَوْ لأَفْعَلَنَّ . فَخَرَجَ فَانْطَلَقَ إِلَى مَجْلِسٍ مِنَ الأَنْصَارِ فَقَالُوا لاَ يَشْهَدُ لَكَ عَلَى هَذَا إِلاَّ أَصْغَرُنَا . فَقَامَ أَبُو سَعِيدٍ فَقَالَ كُنَّا نُؤْمَرُ بِهَذَا . فَقَالَ عُمَرُ خَفِيَ عَلَىَّ هَذَا مِنْ أَمْرِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَلْهَانِي عَنْهُ الصَّفْقُ بِالأَسْوَاقِ .
'Ubaid bin 'Umair Narrated from:
Abu Musa brought permission from Umar (to enter the house) three times, and finding him busy came back, whereupon Umar said (to the Inmates of his house): Did you not hear the voice of 'Abdullah b. Qais (the Kunya of Abu Musa Ash'ari)? He was called back. and he (Hadrat 'Umar) said: What did prompt you to do it? Thereupon, he said: This is how we have been commanded to act. He (Hadrat 'Umar) said: Bring evidence (in support of) it, otherwise I shall deal (strictly) with you.So he (Abu Musa) set out and came to the meeting of the Ansar and asked them to bear witness before hadrat Umar about this. They (the Companions present there) said: None but the youngest amongst us would bear out this fact. So Abu Sa'id Khudri (who was the youngest one in that company) said: We have been commanded to do so (while visiting the house of other people). Thereupon 'Umar said: This command of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) had remained hidden from me up till now due to (my) business in the market.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2153fIn-book reference : Book 38, Hadith 46USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 25, Hadith 5359
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 2153f
This hadith about seeking permission three times shows both manners and verification. Abu Musa sought permission from Umar three times. Finding him busy, he went back. Umar later called him and asked why he had done that. Abu Musa replied that this was how they had been commanded to act. Umar asked him to bring evidence. Abu Musa went to the gathering of the Ansar, and they said the youngest among them would testify. Abu Sa'id then said that they had been commanded to do so. Umar accepted the matter and said that this command of Allah's Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) had remained hidden from him because of his business in the market. The hadith teaches humility in learning, respect for privacy, and the value of evidence in matters of Sunnah.
What we learn from this hadith
- A person may miss knowledge even if he is respected.
- Evidence can settle a question about a Prophetic command.
- Seeking permission three times protects the rights of the host.
- Umar accepted the testimony when the matter became clear.
