Allah the Exalted said: (O you who believer! Enter no houses other than your own, until you have asked permission and greeted those in them, that are better for you, in order that you may remember. (27) And if you find no one therein, still, enter not until permission has been given. And if you are asked to go back, go back, for it is purer for you, and Allah is All-Knower of what you do. (28) There is no sin on you that you enter (without taking permission) houses uninhabited (i.e. not possessed by anybody), (when) you have any interest in them. And Allah has knowledge of what you reveal and what you conceal. (29)) (The Noble Qur’an 24: 27-29)
Why ask for permission?
Asking permission is obligatory before entering a house, whether inside it is your mother, sister, daughter, or others; unless it is your wife’s house or room, then you may enter without asking for permission.
This is to preserve the privacy of the house inhabitants so that a person will not see things that he does not have the right to look at.
Narrated Sahl ibn Sa’d:
A man peeked through a round hole into the dwelling place of the Prophet, while the Prophet had a Midra (an iron comb) with which he was scratching his head. The Prophet Said: “Had I known you were looking (through the hole), I would have pierced your eye with it. (i.e., the comb).” Verily! The order of obtaining permission to enter has been enjoined because of that slight, (that one should not look unlawfully at the state of others.)” (Al-Bukhari)
How do we ask for Permission?
Narrated Abu Masa Alashari:
Allah’s Messenger said: “If any of you asks permission to enter thrice, and the permission is not given, then he should return.” (Al-Bukhari)
(A man asked for permission from the prophet when he was in a house, he said: Shall I enter?
The prophet said to his maid: Go to this man and teach him how to ask for permission. The maid said to him “As-salamu alaikum, can I enter?” The man listened to him and said “As-salamu alaikum, can I enter?” The Prophet gave permission to him and he entered.)
where does the one stand when waiting for permission to enter?
Narrated Abdullah ibn Busr:
“The prophet when coming to the door of people, would not face the door, instead he would stand to the right or left side of the door and say: As-salam alaikum” (Abu Dawood, declared sound by Al-Albani)
Children should be trained to take permission
Allah the Exalted said: (O you who believe! Let your slaves and slave-girls, and those among you who have not come to the age of puberty ask your permission) (The Noble Qur’an 24:58)
Asking Permission Etiquette in Brief:
- Knock the door thrice gently
- Do not stand in front of the door rather stand on the side
- Mention your name when asked, “Who is it?”
- Say “As-Salamu Alaikum” then ask permission to enter
- Lower your gaze and do not look inside the house
- If you are told to return and not given permission to enter, then you should return without any anger or feud
- Sit wherever you are told once you enter
- Not to sit between two people unless you ask for their permission
- Say the atonement of the sitting at the end before leaving
- Ask for permission before leaving
- Say “As-salamu alaikum” when leaving
