Hadith 6901

حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ ، حَدَّثَنَا لَيْثٌ ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ ، أَنَّ سَهْلَ بْنَ سَعْدٍ السَّاعِدِيَّ أَخْبَرَهُ : " أَنَّ رَجُلًا اطَّلَعَ فِي جُحْرٍ فِي بَابِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ ، وَمَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مِدْرًى يَحُكُّ بِهِ رَأْسَهُ ، فَلَمَّا رَآهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ ، قَالَ : لَوْ أَعْلَمُ أَنَّكَ تَنْتَظِرُنِي ، لَطَعَنْتُ بِهِ فِي عَيْنَيْكَ ، قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ : إِنَّمَا جُعِلَ الْإِذْنُ مِنْ قِبَلِ الْبَصَرِ " .
Narrated Sahl bin Sa'd As-Sa'idi: A man peeped through a hole in the door of Allah's Apostle's house, and at that time, Allah's Apostle had a Midri (an iron comb or bar) with which he was rubbing his head. So when Allah's Apostle saw him, he said (to him), "If I had been sure that you were looking at me (through the door), I would have poked your eye with this (sharp iron bar)." Allah's Apostle added, "The asking for permission to enter has been enjoined so that one may not look unlawfully (at what there is in the house without the permission of its people)."
Hadith Reference صحيح البخاري / كتاب الديات / 6901
Hadith Grading محدثین: أحاديث صحيح البخاريّ كلّها صحيحة
Explanation & Benefits
Maulana Dawood Raz
Hadith Commentary:
From this hadith, it is understood that peeking into or entering someone’s house without permission is prohibited; however, if permission is granted, then there is no harm in it.
One should enter one’s own house or someone else’s house after giving salam (greeting of peace).
Source: Sahih Bukhari: Commentary by Maulana Dawood Raz, Page: 6901
Maulana Dawood Raz
Hadith Commentary:

When one has already looked without permission, then what need remains for seeking permission?

From this hadith, it is derived that if a person peeps into someone’s house and the householder throws something and blinds his eye, then the householder will not be liable to pay any compensation. However, these matters pertain to the era of Islamic governance; for an individual to act in such a manner nowadays is to put oneself in harm’s way.
Source: Sahih Bukhari: Commentary by Maulana Dawood Raz, Page: 5924
Shaykh Abdul Sattar al-Hammad
Hadith Commentary:
Madri is a wooden instrument used for grooming hair and scratching the body.
It is similar to a comb, and sometimes it is used for combing as well.
Imam Bukhari rahimahullah has established the practice of combing from this hadith.
It is mentioned in the hadith that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said:
“Whoever has hair should take care of it and keep it well-groomed.” (Sunan Abi Dawud, Kitab al-Tarajul, Hadith: 4163)
This means that if one keeps hair, it is necessary to maintain and groom it, but it is prohibited to wash it with regularity and to comb and part it every single day with strict routine.
(Fath al-Bari: 10/450)
Source: Hidayat al-Qari: Commentary on Sahih Bukhari, Urdu, Page: 5924
Shaykh Abdul Sattar al-Hammad
Hadith Commentary:
(1)
It is necessary to seek permission before entering someone’s house or gathering. The method is that one should first offer salam (greeting of peace), then request permission to enter. Entering someone’s house suddenly without this is not allowed, because it is unknown in what state the person may be at that time or what work he may be engaged in. It is possible that meeting him at that moment may be a cause of discomfort for him.

(2)
Once, a person entered the house of the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) bringing gifts without seeking permission. The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) sent him back, saying: “Go back, and after saying ‘as-salamu alaykum’ (peace be upon you), seek permission to enter. When permission is granted, then come in.” (Jami‘ at-Tirmidhi, Al-Isti’dhan, Hadith: 2710) The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) did not suffice with merely explaining the method of seeking permission verbally, but also made it a practical lesson. Clearly, a person who learns a lesson in this manner does not forget it.
Source: Hidayat al-Qari: Commentary on Sahih Bukhari, Urdu, Page: 6241
Shaykh Maulana Abdul Aziz Alvi
Hadith Commentary:
Vocabulary of the Hadith:
(1)
Juḥr:
A round hole.
(2)
Madri:
An iron comb for arranging hair.
Benefits and Issues:
From this hadith, it is understood that standing at the door and peeking inside is not permissible, and this is contrary to the wisdom behind seeking permission. According to the narration of Abu Hurairah radi Allahu anhu, it is permissible to injure the eye of such a person,
but this is in the case
when there is no other option and the one who is peeking does not desist except by this means.
Source: Tuhfat al-Muslim: Commentary on Sahih Muslim, Page: 5638
Shaykh Dr. Abdur Rahman Freywai
Explanation:
1:
It is understood from this that peeking into someone’s house and looking around before seeking permission is prohibited.
Even in the case of one’s own parents’ house, entering without seeking permission is not allowed.
If seeking permission were not necessary, the privacy of many would be violated and there would be a risk of looking at non-mahram women.
These are the very harms due to which seeking permission has been made necessary.
Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhi – Majlis ‘Ilmi Dar al-Da‘wah, New Delhi Edition, Page: 2709
Shaykh Muhammad Ibrahim bin Basheer
Benefit:
In this hadith, it is mentioned that a person should not peek inside from someone’s house door, because the purpose of the door is to provide privacy. If a person peeks inside through the door or through a hole in the wall, and the household becomes aware of it and, in response, throws something and injures his eye, then there will be no penalty upon them for this.
Source: Musnad al-Humaydi: Commentary by Muhammad Ibrahim bin Bashir, Page: 953