TAKING PERMISSION BEFORE ENTERING A HOUSE

Posted by islamic web  |  at  9:35 PM

The Holy Prophet further , sad taught that when a person wants to meet anyone or go into his house or join his company , he should , first , take the permission and never go in without it , for who can tell what he is doing at that time and whether he is in a position to have a visitor or not .(1511/146)

It is related by Kaldah Ibn Hanbal that once his step-brother sufwan Ibn Umaiya , sent him to the Messenger of Allah with some milk, a young deer and a few cucumbers. It was at a time when the Prophet lived in the upper part of the valley of Makkah .Kaldah narrates, I went, with these articles, where the Prophet was, without making the salutation, or obtaining the permission .The Prophet thereupon, told me to go back, and ask for permission by saying : As-salaam –u-Alaikum May I come in ?

( Tirmizi and Abu Dawood)

Commentary:

Sufwan Ibn Umaiya was the son of Umaiya Ibn Khalf a well known enemy of Islam and the Holy Prophet .He had embraced Islam after the Victory of Makkah, and the incident mentioned above, probably, had taken place during the journey to it. The Holy Prophet was, then, staying at the elevated part of the Valley of Makkah called Mu’allah.

Kaldah Ibn Hanbal did not know that if he wanted to visit anyone he should make the salutation and obtain permission before entering the house. He therefore, went straight to the sacred Prophet without observing the proprieties. The Prophet thereupon told him to go out and take the permission by saying. As-salaam-u-Alaikum My I come in? He, thus, not only told him what was the right thing to do no such an occasion, but, also, made him act on it, A lesson imparted in the way, obviously, is more effective.