PRIVACY OF DWELLINGS.
Is established by the teaching of Muhammad, and it is therefore unlawful to enter the house without Isti’zun, or “asking permission.” The injunction is given in the Qur’an Surah xxiv. 27-29:-
“O ye who believe! enter not into other houses, than your own, until ye have asked leave, and have saluted its inmates. This will be best for you: haply ye will bear this in mind. And if ye find no one therein, then enter it not till leave be given you; and if it be said to you, ‘Go ye back,’ then go ye back. This will, be more blameless in you, and God knoweth what ye do. There shall be no harm in your entering houses in which no dwelleth, for the supply of your needs; and God knoweth what ye do openly and what ye hide.”
‘Atu ibn Yasar relates that “A man once asked the Prophet, ‘Must I ask leave to go into the room of my mother?’ The Prophet said, ‘Yes’ Then the man said, ‘But I live in the same home.’ The man said, ‘But I wait upon her!’ The Prophet said, ‘Yes, even if you live in the same home.’ The man said,’ But I wait upon her!’ The Prophet said, ‘But you must ask permission; for, what! would you like to see your mother naked?’”
It is further related that Muhammad always went first to the right and then to the left of a door which had no curtain, and salamed several times before he entered. (Mishkat, book xxii. ch. ii)
This has become an established rule in the east, and it is considered very rude to enter any dwelling without first giving notice.
Is established by the teaching of Muhammad, and it is therefore unlawful to enter the house without Isti’zun, or “asking permission.” The injunction is given in the Qur’an Surah xxiv. 27-29:-
“O ye who believe! enter not into other houses, than your own, until ye have asked leave, and have saluted its inmates. This will be best for you: haply ye will bear this in mind. And if ye find no one therein, then enter it not till leave be given you; and if it be said to you, ‘Go ye back,’ then go ye back. This will, be more blameless in you, and God knoweth what ye do. There shall be no harm in your entering houses in which no dwelleth, for the supply of your needs; and God knoweth what ye do openly and what ye hide.”
‘Atu ibn Yasar relates that “A man once asked the Prophet, ‘Must I ask leave to go into the room of my mother?’ The Prophet said, ‘Yes’ Then the man said, ‘But I live in the same home.’ The man said, ‘But I wait upon her!’ The Prophet said, ‘Yes, even if you live in the same home.’ The man said,’ But I wait upon her!’ The Prophet said, ‘But you must ask permission; for, what! would you like to see your mother naked?’”
It is further related that Muhammad always went first to the right and then to the left of a door which had no curtain, and salamed several times before he entered. (Mishkat, book xxii. ch. ii)
This has become an established rule in the east, and it is considered very rude to enter any dwelling without first giving notice.
Based on Hughes, Dictionary of Islam
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