✍ Excerpt from: Shaykh Mubashir Ahmad Rabbānī – “Aḥkām wa Masā’il Kitāb wa Sunnat kī Roshni Main”
If a person peeks into someone’s house without permission, and the homeowner injures or blinds his eye as a result, is the homeowner liable to pay blood money (diyah) or any compensation?
We have read in some books that compensation must be paid by the one who caused the injury. What is the correct and authentic Islamic ruling on this matter?
Allah ﷻ revealed a complete Sharīʿah upon His Final Messenger Muḥammad ﷺ, which provides comprehensive guidance in every matter of life.
Among the teachings of this Sharīʿah is the prohibition of spying or peeking into the homes of others without permission.
If someone peeks into another's home without permission, and the homeowner strikes him — even to the extent of blinding his eye — then no sin, compensation (ḍamān), or blood money (diyah) is due upon the homeowner.
Narrated by Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه:
"If a man were to peek into your house without permission, and you threw a stone at him and it destroyed his eye, there would be no blame upon you."
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Diyāt: 6888; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 2158]
This authentic and explicit ḥadīth proves that:
Some scholars tried to interpret this ḥadīth as metaphorical or exaggerated for deterrence, but such explanations contradict the clear, unrestricted wording of the text.
In fact, the commentary on Mishkāt (p. 305, footnote no. 5) states that the strongest opinion is that there is no liability on the one who injures the intruder.
Narrated by Sahl bin Saʿd رضي الله عنه:
A man peeked through a hole into one of the rooms of the Prophet ﷺ, while he had a comb or wooden stick in his hand. The Prophet ﷺ said:
"Had I known that you were looking, I would have stabbed this into your eye.
Verily, permission is only prescribed because of the gaze."
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 6901, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 2156–2157]
This narration, and others like it, establish the Sharʿī principle that:
Some people:
Those who claim that the one who injured the eye is liable for diyah (blood money) or compensation have no authentic (ṣaḥīḥ or ḥasan) hadith to support this — not even a weak (ḍaʿīf) one in many cases.
They rely on mere conjecture, without grounding in authentic revelation.
It is obligatory upon every believing man and woman to:
May Allah grant us true love for the Messenger ﷺ and make us among those who follow his Sunnah sincerely. Āmīn.
وَمَا عَلَيْنَا إِلَّا الْبَلَاغُ
❖ Question:
If a person peeks into someone’s house without permission, and the homeowner injures or blinds his eye as a result, is the homeowner liable to pay blood money (diyah) or any compensation?
We have read in some books that compensation must be paid by the one who caused the injury. What is the correct and authentic Islamic ruling on this matter?
✔ Answer:
Allah ﷻ revealed a complete Sharīʿah upon His Final Messenger Muḥammad ﷺ, which provides comprehensive guidance in every matter of life.
Among the teachings of this Sharīʿah is the prohibition of spying or peeking into the homes of others without permission.
If someone peeks into another's home without permission, and the homeowner strikes him — even to the extent of blinding his eye — then no sin, compensation (ḍamān), or blood money (diyah) is due upon the homeowner.
Clear Hadith Evidence
Narrated by Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه:
"If a man were to peek into your house without permission, and you threw a stone at him and it destroyed his eye, there would be no blame upon you."
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Diyāt: 6888; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 2158]This authentic and explicit ḥadīth proves that:
- Peeking into someone’s house without permission is ḥarām (forbidden).
- If the intruder is injured or even blinded by the homeowner in response, the homeowner is not guilty, nor liable for any compensation or penalty.
Some scholars tried to interpret this ḥadīth as metaphorical or exaggerated for deterrence, but such explanations contradict the clear, unrestricted wording of the text.
In fact, the commentary on Mishkāt (p. 305, footnote no. 5) states that the strongest opinion is that there is no liability on the one who injures the intruder.
Additional Authentic Proof
Narrated by Sahl bin Saʿd رضي الله عنه:
A man peeked through a hole into one of the rooms of the Prophet ﷺ, while he had a comb or wooden stick in his hand. The Prophet ﷺ said:
"Had I known that you were looking, I would have stabbed this into your eye.
Verily, permission is only prescribed because of the gaze."
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 6901, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 2156–2157]This narration, and others like it, establish the Sharʿī principle that:
- Entering or peeking into someone’s home without permission is forbidden, and
- The protection of privacy and honor justifies strong measures against such violations — including injury, when necessary.
⚠ Warning Against Twisting the Sunnah
Some people:
- Twist these clear and authentic narrations based on speculative reasoning.
- Offer baseless interpretations or manipulate hadiths to conform to the opinions of their imams or schools of thought.
- Elevate personal or sectarian views over the clear Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
Those who claim that the one who injured the eye is liable for diyah (blood money) or compensation have no authentic (ṣaḥīḥ or ḥasan) hadith to support this — not even a weak (ḍaʿīf) one in many cases.They rely on mere conjecture, without grounding in authentic revelation.
The Duty of Every Believer
It is obligatory upon every believing man and woman to:
- Submit to the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ without resistance.
- Abandon mere claims of love for the Prophet ﷺ and demonstrate it through unquestioning obedience.
- Recognize that the Sharʿī evidence always takes precedence over personal opinion.
🕊 Supplication
May Allah grant us true love for the Messenger ﷺ and make us among those who follow his Sunnah sincerely. Āmīn.
وَمَا عَلَيْنَا إِلَّا الْبَلَاغُ
