Children going to a house in the 3 times of privacy

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

In the Islamic Sharia, the best etiquettes for living life are present. Even if one has to go to someone’s house, the manners for that have been prescribed. For example, in Sūrah al-Nūr (27), Allah Ta’ālá (Most High) commanded us: When you enter houses other than your own, seek permission and give Salām to the inhabitants.

Permission should be sought three times. If permission is not granted the first time, ask a second time; if not granted then, ask a third time. If permission is still not granted then one should return. As mentioned in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī (2062) and Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim (2153).

Our Beloved Prophet ﷺ also taught the etiquette that when you go to someone’s house, do not stand right in front of the door {al-Adab al-Mufrad 1078 with Ḥasan Isnād} or peek through walls, etc.

This command is so emphasised that if someone peeks and the person inside the house pokes their eye out, there is no sin upon the one who poked it.

Sayyiduna Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that Abul Qasim ﷺ said: “If a person looks into your house without your permission and you throw a pebble at him which gouges out his eye, there is no sin upon you.” [Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 6902]

Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that a man peeked into the chamber of the Prophet ﷺ. The Prophet ﷺ stood up with a broad arrowhead intending to quietly poke him. [Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 6900]

Permission is required so that one does not look inside {to prevent seeing the private matters of the household}

Sayyiduna Sahl bin Sa’d As-Sa’idi (may Allah be pleased with him) states that a man looked through a hole in the door of the Prophet ﷺ. At that time, the Prophet ﷺ had a Midra (an iron comb) with which he was scratching his head. When the Prophet ﷺ saw him, he said: “If I knew you were looking, I would have poked this into your eye.” Then the Prophet ﷺ said: “Permission has been made obligatory only for the sake of sight.” [Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 6901]

Similarly, there is a specific ruling regarding three particular times when even children, male and female must seek permission before entering the rooms (of parents/masters).
Allah Ta’ālá says: “O you who believed, let those whom your right hands possess and who have not reached puberty among you ask permission of you (before entering) at three times: before the Fajr prayer and when you put aside your clothing (for rest) at noon and after the ‘Ishā‘ prayer. (These are) three times of privacy for you. There is no blame upon you nor upon them beyond these (timings), for they continually circulate among you – some of you, among others. Thus does Allah make clear to you the Āyāt; and Allah is Knowing and Wise.” [Sūrah al-Nūr 58, Tarjuma al-Kitab, p. 216]

The majority of scholars state that this Āyah encompasses both men and women.

Imām al-Qurṭubī [al-Jāmi’ li Aḥkām al-Qurān, 12/303] and Imām Ibn Jarīr al-Ṭabarī [Jāmi’ al-Bayān ‘an Ta’wīl al-Qurān, 8/453] clearly state that this Āyah is established (Muḥkam) and not abrogated.

Imam al-Sha’bī (may Allah have mercy on him) was asked if this Āyah had been abrogated. He replied: “No, by Allah.” He was asked, “Then why do people not act upon it?” He replied: “People have abandoned it.” We should seek the ability (Tawfīq) from Allah to act upon it. [al-Ṭabarī, 8/453; Isnād Ṣaḥīḥ]

That this Āyah is not abrogated is confirmed by al-Qurṭubī [al-Jāmi’ li Aḥkām al-Qurān, 12/303], Ibn Kathir [Tafsīr al-Qurān al-‘Aẓīm, 5/572], and Ibn al-Jawzi [Zād al-Masīr, 6/62].

However, most people are negligent in acting upon this. Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) mentions that the major reason for the abandonment of this Āyah is wealth and abundance. Previously, people did not even have enough to hang curtains on their doors, or to have spacious houses with several separate rooms. So, at times, male and female slaves would enter unknowingly while the husband and wife were intimate, causing shame to the entrant and distress to the household members. Now that Allāh the Exalted has granted prosperity to the Muslims, separate rooms have been built, and doors have been properly installed. Curtains have been hung on the doors, so they have become secured. The wisdom of the Divine Command was fulfilled (by these barriers), so the (strictness of the) restriction of seeking permission was lifted, and people began to show laziness and negligence regarding it. [Cf. Abū Dawūd 5192; Ḥasan]

Therefore, we must abandon laziness and negligence in this matter and teach our children the fundamental rulings of the religion.

وما علينا إلا البلاغ

[al-Ḥadīth 125 p. 55; Shaykh Ḥabīb al-Raḥmān Hazārvī حفظه الله] Note: {} are additions by me