The Commandment from the Holy Quran
Allah states in the Quran:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَدْخُلُوا بُيُوتًا غَيْرَ بُيُوتِكُمْ حَتَّىٰ تَسْتَأْنِسُوا وَتُسَلِّمُوا عَلَىٰ أَهْلِهَا
“O you who have believed, do not enter houses other than your own houses until you ascertain welcome and greet their inhabitants.”
— Surah An-Nur: 27
The Rule of Seeking Permission
If a person wishes to enter someone else’s house, they must do so only after obtaining permission from the residents. This is a direct command from Allah.
- The Three-Time Rule: Seeking permission in a home means greeting the residents with ‘Salam’ up to three times.
- If there is no response: One must turn around and leave immediately.
- Do not impose: You should not linger around or force your presence, as this causes discomfort and inconvenience to the household.
The companion Abu Musa al-Ash’ari (Radiyallahu Anhu) narrated:
The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said: “Seeking permission is three times. If you are given permission (within those three times), enter; otherwise, return.”
Etiquette of Introduction and Behavior Inside
- Identify Yourself Clearly: When someone seeking permission is asked from inside the house, “Who is it?”, they should not reply with generic phrases like “It’s me.” Instead, they must clearly state their name. The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) strongly disliked the response, “It’s me, it’s me.”
- Sit Where Designated: After entering with permission, the guest should sit exactly where the host directs them to sit.
- Guard Your Gaze: One must not stare into the inner rooms of the house or let their eyes wander around. The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) noted: “Seeking permission has been enjoined only because of sight (to prevent looking at private areas/matters).”
Length of the Visit
Once the purpose of the visit is fulfilled, one should try to leave promptly. A visitor should not overstay their welcome to the point where the hosts are left anxiously wondering when the guest will finish talking and depart.
The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) emphasized:
“It is not permissible for a Muslim to stay with his brother to the extent of causing him distress/sin.”
