38/9. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 2156a — Permission Protects Privacy
The Prohibition Of Looking Into A House
Permission Is Needed as Protection Against Glance
Sahih Muslim : 2156a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 2156a
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ رُمْحٍ، قَالاَ أَخْبَرَنَا اللَّيْثُ، - وَاللَّفْظُ لِيَحْيَى - ح وَحَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا لَيْثٌ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، أَنَّ سَهْلَ بْنَ سَعْدٍ السَّاعِدِيَّ، أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّ رَجُلاً اطَّلَعَ فِي جُحْرٍ فِي بَابِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَمَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مِدْرًى يَحُكُّ بِهِ رَأْسَهُ فَلَمَّا رَآهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " لَوْ أَعْلَمُ أَنَّكَ تَنْظُرُنِي لَطَعَنْتُ بِهِ فِي عَيْنِكَ " . وَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِنَّمَا جُعِلَ الإِذْنُ مِنْ أَجْلِ الْبَصَرِ " .
Sahl bin Sa`d As-Sa`idi Narrated from:
A person peeped through the hole of the door of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ), and at that time Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) had with him a scratching instrument with which he had been scratching his head. When Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) saw him. he said: If I were to know that you had been peeping through the door, I would have thrust that into your eyes, and Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: Permission is needed as a protection against glance.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2156aIn-book reference : Book 38, Hadith 53USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 25, Hadith 5366
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 2156a
This hadith about privacy in Islam gives the reason behind seeking permission. A man peeped through a hole in the door of Allah's Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم). At that time, the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) had a scratching instrument with which he was scratching his head. When he saw the man, he said that if he had known the man was looking, he would have thrust it into his eyes. Then Allah's Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) gave the key statement: permission is needed as a protection against glance. The focus is not only on entering a house, but also on looking into a private space. The hadith teaches that the eye can violate privacy before the body enters. Seeking permission is a shield for the dignity and comfort of the people inside.
What we learn from this hadith
- Seeking permission protects people from unwanted looks.
- Peeping into a private place is treated seriously in the Hadith.
- The reason for permission is linked to the protection of sight.
- Privacy begins before a person enters the room or house.
