45/46, 47: Chapter
Sunan an-Nasai 4859 — Seeking Permission and Privacy
Mentioning The Hadith of 'Amr Bin Hazm concerning Blood Money, and different Versions
Seeking Permission and Privacy: Hadith on Unlawful Looking
Sunan an-Nasai : 4859
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 4859
أَخْبَرَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا اللَّيْثُ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، أَنَّ سَهْلَ بْنَ سَعْدٍ السَّاعِدِيَّ، أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّ رَجُلاً اطَّلَعَ مِنْ جُحْرٍ فِي بَابِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَمَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مِدْرَى يَحُكُّ بِهَا رَأْسَهُ فَلَمَّا رَآهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " لَوْ عَلِمْتُ أَنَّكَ تَنْظُرُنِي لَطَعَنْتُ بِهِ فِي عَيْنِكَ إِنَّمَا جُعِلَ الإِذْنُ مِنْ أَجْلِ الْبَصَرِ " .
Sahl bin Sa`d As-Sa`idi Narrated from:
A man looked through a hole in the door of the Prophet, who had with him a kind of comb with which he was scratching his head, When the Messenger of Allah saw him he said: "If I had known that you were watching me, I would have stabbed you in the eye with this. This rule of asking permission has been ordained so that one may not look unlawfully (into people's houses).
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 4859In-book reference : Book 45, Hadith 154English translation : Vol. 5, Book 45, Hadith 4863
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 4859
This Hadith about seeking permission explains the reason behind asking permission before entering or approaching private space. A man looked through a hole in the Prophet’s door while the Prophet had a comb-like tool with which he was scratching his head. When the Messenger of Allah saw him, he said that if he had known the man was watching him, he would have stabbed him in the eye with it. Then he explained that permission was made because of sight, meaning to stop unlawful looking into people’s homes. For searches like seeking permission hadith, privacy in Islam, and lowering the gaze in private spaces, this narration gives a direct reason from the text.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Hadith states that permission was ordained because of looking.
- It warns against watching someone through a hole or doorway.
- The narration connects privacy with the need to ask before looking or entering.
