38/7. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 2154a — Seek Permission and Return
Seeking Permission To Enter A House
Seek Permission Three Times: A Prophetic Rule for Visiting
Sahih Muslim : 2154a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 2154a
حَدَّثَنَا حُسَيْنُ بْنُ حُرَيْثٍ أَبُو عَمَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا الْفَضْلُ بْنُ مُوسَى، أَخْبَرَنَا طَلْحَةُ بْنُ، يَحْيَى عَنْ أَبِي بُرْدَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى الأَشْعَرِيِّ، قَالَ جَاءَ أَبُو مُوسَى إِلَى عُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ فَقَالَ السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكُمْ هَذَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ قَيْسٍ . فَلَمْ يَأْذَنْ لَهُ فَقَالَ السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكُمْ هَذَا أَبُو مُوسَى السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكُمْ هَذَا الأَشْعَرِيُّ . ثُمَّ انْصَرَفَ فَقَالَ رُدُّوا عَلَىَّ رُدُّوا عَلَىَّ . فَجَاءَ فَقَالَ يَا أَبَا مُوسَى مَا رَدَّكَ كُنَّا فِي شُغْلٍ . قَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ " الاِسْتِئْذَانُ ثَلاَثٌ فَإِنْ أُذِنَ لَكَ وَإِلاَّ فَارْجِعْ " . قَالَ لَتَأْتِيَنِّي عَلَى هَذَا بِبَيِّنَةٍ وَإِلاَّ فَعَلْتُ وَفَعَلْتُ . فَذَهَبَ أَبُو مُوسَى قَالَ عُمَرُ إِنْ وَجَدَ بَيِّنَةً تَجِدُوهُ عِنْدَ الْمِنْبَرِ عَشِيَّةً وَإِنْ لَمْ يَجِدْ بَيِّنَةً فَلَمْ تَجِدُوهُ . فَلَمَّا أَنْ جَاءَ بِالْعَشِيِّ وَجَدُوهُ قَالَ يَا أَبَا مُوسَى مَا تَقُولُ أَقَدْ وَجَدْتَ قَالَ نَعَمْ أُبَىَّ بْنَ كَعْبٍ . قَالَ عَدْلٌ . قَالَ يَا أَبَا الطُّفَيْلِ مَا يَقُولُ هَذَا قَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ ذَلِكَ يَا ابْنَ الْخَطَّابِ فَلاَ تَكُونَنَّ عَذَابًا عَلَى أَصْحَابِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم . قَالَ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ إِنَّمَا سَمِعْتُ شَيْئًا فَأَحْبَبْتُ أَنْ أَتَثَبَّتَ .
Abu Musa Ash'ari Narrated from:
Abu Musa Ash'ari reported that he went to 'Umar b. Khattab and greeted him by saying: As-Salamu-'Alaikum, here is 'Abdullah b. Qais, but he did not permit him (to get in). He (Abu Musa Ash'ari) again greeted him with as-Salamu-'Alaikum and said: Here is Abu Musa, but he (Hadrat 'Umar) did not permit him (to get in). He again said: As-Salam-u-'Alaikum, (and said) here is Ash'ari, (then receiving no response he came back).He (Hadrat 'Umar) said: Bring him back to me, bring him back to me So he went there (in the presence of Hadrat 'Umar) and he said to him: Abu Musa, what made you go back, while we were busy in some work? He said: I heard Allah's Messenger (may. peace be upon him) as saying: Permission should be sought thrice. And if you are permitted, (then get in), otherwise go back. He said: Bring witness to this fact, otherwise I shall do this and that, i. e. I shall punish you.Abu Musa went away and 'Umar said to him (on his departure): It he (Abu Musa) finds a witness he should meet him by the side of the pulpit in the evening and it he does not find a witness you would not find him there. When it was evening he (Hadrat 'Umar) found him (Abu Musa) there. He (Hadrat 'Umar) said: Abu Musa, have you been able to find a witness to what you have said? He said: Yes. Here is Ubayy bin Ka'b, whereupon he (Hadrat 'Umar) said: Yes, he is an authentic (witness).He (Hadrat 'Umar) said: Abu Tufail (the kunya of Ubayy b. Ka'b), what does he (Abu Musa say? Thereupon he said: Ibn Khattab, I heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying so. Do not prove to be a hard (task-master) for the Companions of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ), whereupon he Hadrat 'Umar said: Hallowed be Allah. I had heard something (in this connection), but I wished it to be established (as an undeniable fact).
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2154aIn-book reference : Book 38, Hadith 48USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 25, Hadith 5361
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 2154a
This hadith gives a detailed example of seeking permission before entering. Abu Musa came to Umar and greeted him, identifying himself in different ways: Abdullah b. Qais, Abu Musa, and Ash'ari. Umar did not permit him because he was busy, so Abu Musa went back. When Umar asked why he returned, Abu Musa said he heard Allah's Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) say that permission should be sought three times. If permission is granted, enter; otherwise, go back. Umar asked for a witness, and Ubayy b. Ka'b confirmed that he heard the same from the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم). Umar then explained that he wanted the matter to be firmly established. This hadith about Islamic manners teaches respect at the door and careful confirmation of religious knowledge.
What we learn from this hadith
- A visitor should not force entry after three attempts.
- Greeting and identifying oneself are part of seeking permission.
- A witness can help confirm a reported Hadith.
- Umar wanted the matter to be clearly established.
