Seeking Permission To Enter A House

Abu Sa'id Khudri reported: I wins sitting in Medina in the company of the Ansar that Abu Musa came trembling with fear. We said to him: What is the matter? He said: 'Umar (Allah be pleated with him) sent for me. I went to him and paid him salutation thrice at (his) door but he made no response to me and so I came back Thereupon he ('Umar) said: What stood in your way that you did not turn up? I said: I did come to you and paid you salutations at your door three times but I was not given any response, so I came back as the Messenger of Allah ﷺ has said: When any one of you seeks permission three times and he i. e not granted permission, he should come back. Umar said: Bring a witness to support that you say, otherwise I shall take you to task. Ubayy b. Ka'b said: None should stand with him (as a witness) but the youngest amongst the people. Abu Sa'id said: I am the youngest amongst the people, whereupon he said: Then you go with him (to support his contention).

حَدَّثَنِي عَمْرُو بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ بُكَيْرٍ النَّاقِدُ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ بْنُ عُيَيْنَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا - وَاللَّهِ، - يَزِيدُ بْنُ خُصَيْفَةَ عَنْ بُسْرِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيَّ، يَقُولُ كُنْتُ جَالِسًا بِالْمَدِينَةِ فِي مَجْلِسِ الأَنْصَارِ فَأَتَانَا أَبُو مُوسَى فَزِعًا أَوْ مَذْعُورًا . قُلْنَا مَا شَأْنُكَ قَالَ إِنَّ عُمَرَ أَرْسَلَ إِلَىَّ أَنْ آتِيَهُ فَأَتَيْتُ بَابَهُ فَسَلَّمْتُ ثَلاَثًا فَلَمْ يَرُدَّ عَلَىَّ فَرَجَعْتُ فَقَالَ مَا مَنَعَكَ أَنْ تَأْتِيَنَا فَقُلْتُ إِنِّي أَتَيْتُكَ فَسَلَّمْتُ عَلَى بَابِكَ ثَلاَثًا فَلَمْ يَرُدُّوا عَلَىَّ فَرَجَعْتُ وَقَدْ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ " إِذَا اسْتَأْذَنَ أَحَدُكُمْ ثَلاَثًا فَلَمْ يُؤْذَنْ لَهُ فَلْيَرْجِعْ " . فَقَالَ عُمَرُ أَقِمْ عَلَيْهِ الْبَيِّنَةَ وَإِلاَّ أَوْجَعْتُكَ . فَقَالَ أُبَىُّ بْنُ كَعْبٍ لاَ يَقُومُ مَعَهُ إِلاَّ أَصْغَرُ الْقَوْمِ . قَالَ أَبُو سَعِيدٍ قُلْتُ أَنَا أَصْغَرُ الْقَوْمِ . قَالَ فَاذْهَبْ بِهِ .

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Yazid b. Khusaifa with the same chain of transmitters but with this addition: Abu Sa'id said: So I stood up, and went to 'Umar and gave witness (to what Abu Musa had said).

حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، وَابْنُ أَبِي عُمَرَ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ يَزِيدَ بْنِ خُصَيْفَةَ، بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ . وَزَادَ ابْنُ أَبِي عُمَرَ فِي حَدِيثِهِ قَالَ أَبُو سَعِيدٍ فَقُمْتُ مَعَهُ فَذَهَبْتُ إِلَى عُمَرَ فَشَهِدْتُ .

Abd Sa'id Khudri reported: We were in the company of Ubayy b. Ka'b that Abu Musa Ash'ari came there in a state of anger. He stood (before us) and said: I ask you to bear witness in the name of Allah whether anyone amongst you heard Messenger of Allah ﷺ as saying: Permission (for entering the house) should be sought three times and if permission is granted to you (then get in). otherwise go back. Ubayy b. Ka'b said: What is the iiiatter? He said: I sought permission yesterday from 'Umar b. Khattab three times but he did not permit me, so I came back;
then I went to him today and visited him and informed him that I had come to him yesterday and greeted him thrice, then came back, whereupon he said: Yes, we did hear you but be were at that time busy, but why did you not seek permission (further and you must have never gone back until you were permitted to do so). He said: I sought permission (in the manner) that I heard Messenger of Allah ﷺ having said (in connection 'With the seeking of permission for entering the house of a stranger). Thereupon he (Hadrat Umar) said: By Allah, I shall torture your back and your stomach unless you bring one who may bear witness to what you state. 'Ubayy b. Ka'b said: By Allah, none should stand with you (to bear testimony) but the youngest amongst us. And he therefore, said to Abu Sa'id: Stand up. So I stood up until I came to Umar and said: I heard Messenger of Allah ﷺ say this.

حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو الطَّاهِرِ، أَخْبَرَنِي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ وَهْبٍ، حَدَّثَنِي عَمْرُو بْنُ الْحَارِثِ، عَنْ بُكَيْرِ بْنِ الأَشَجِّ، أَنَّ بُسْرَ بْنَ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَهُ أَنَّهُ، سَمِعَ أَبَا سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيَّ، يَقُولُ كُنَّا فِي مَجْلِسٍ عِنْدَ أُبَىِّ بْنِ كَعْبٍ فَأَتَى أَبُو مُوسَى الأَشْعَرِيُّ مُغْضَبًا حَتَّى وَقَفَ فَقَالَ أَنْشُدُكُمُ اللَّهَ هَلْ سَمِعَ أَحَدٌ مِنْكُمْ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ " الاِسْتِئْذَانُ ثَلاَثٌ فَإِنْ أُذِنَ لَكَ وَإِلاَّ فَارْجِعْ " . قَالَ أُبَىٌّ وَمَا ذَاكَ قَالَ اسْتَأْذَنْتُ عَلَى عُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ أَمْسِ ثَلاَثَ مَرَّاتٍ فَلَمْ يُؤْذَنْ لِي فَرَجَعْتُ ثُمَّ جِئْتُهُ الْيَوْمَ فَدَخَلْتُ عَلَيْهِ فَأَخْبَرْتُهُ أَنِّي جِئْتُ أَمْسِ فَسَلَّمْتُ ثَلاَثًا ثُمَّ انْصَرَفْتُ قَالَ قَدْ سَمِعْنَاكَ وَنَحْنُ حِينَئِذٍ عَلَى شُغْلٍ فَلَوْ مَا اسْتَأْذَنْتَ حَتَّى يُؤْذَنَ لَكَ قَالَ اسْتَأْذَنْتُ كَمَا سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ فَوَاللَّهِ لأُوجِعَنَّ ظَهْرَكَ وَبَطْنَكَ . أَوْ لَتَأْتِيَنَّ بِمَنْ يَشْهَدُ لَكَ عَلَى هَذَا . فَقَالَ أُبَىُّ بْنُ كَعْبٍ فَوَاللَّهِ لاَ يَقُومُ مَعَكَ إِلاَّ أَحْدَثُنَا سِنًّا قُمْ يَا أَبَا سَعِيدٍ . فَقُمْتُ حَتَّى أَتَيْتُ عُمَرَ فَقُلْتُ قَدْ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ هَذَا .

Abu Sa'id reported that Abu Musa al-Ash'ari came to the door of 'Umar and sought his permission (to get into his house). Umar said: That is once. He again sought permission for the second time and 'Umar said: It is twice. He again sought permission for the third time and Umar said: It is thrice. He (Abu Musa) then went back. He (Hadrat 'Umar) (sent someone) to pursue him so that he should be brought back. Thereupon he (Hadrat Umar) said: If this act (of yours is in accordance with the command of Messenger of Allah ﷺ you have preserved in your mind, then it is all right, otherwise (I shall give you such a severe punishment) that it will serve as an example to others. Abu Sa'id said: Then he (Abu Musa) came to us and said: Do you remember Messenger of Allah ﷺ having said this:" Permission is for three times"? They (Companions sitting in that cothpany) began to laugh, whereupon he (Abu Musa) said: There comes to you your Muslim brother who had been perturbed and you laugh. Abu Sa'id said: (Well), you go forth. I shall be your participant in this trouble of yours. So he came to him (Hadrat Umar) and said: Here is Abu Sa'id (to support my statement).

حَدَّثَنَا نَصْرُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ الْجَهْضَمِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا بِشْرٌ، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ مُفَضَّلٍ - حَدَّثَنَا سَعِيدُ، بْنُ يَزِيدَ عَنْ أَبِي نَضْرَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ، أَنَّ أَبَا مُوسَى، أَتَى بَابَ عُمَرَ فَاسْتَأْذَنَ فَقَالَ عُمَرُ وَاحِدَةٌ . ثُمَّ اسْتَأْذَنَ الثَّانِيَةَ فَقَالَ عُمَرُ ثِنْتَانِ . ثُمَّ اسْتَأْذَنَ الثَّالِثَةَ فَقَالَ عُمَرُ ثَلاَثٌ . ثُمَّ انْصَرَفَ فَأَتْبَعَهُ فَرَدَّهُ فَقَالَ إِنْ كَانَ هَذَا شَيْئًا حَفِظْتَهُ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَهَا وَإِلاَّ فَلأَجْعَلَنَّكَ عِظَةً . قَالَ أَبُو سَعِيدٍ فَأَتَانَا فَقَالَ أَلَمْ تَعْلَمُوا أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ " الاِسْتِئْذَانُ ثَلاَثٌ " . قَالَ فَجَعَلُوا يَضْحَكُونَ - قَالَ - فَقُلْتُ أَتَاكُمْ أَخُوكُمُ الْمُسْلِمُ قَدْ أُفْزِعَ تَضْحَكُونَ انْطَلِقْ فَأَنَا شَرِيكُكَ فِي هَذِهِ الْعُقُوبَةِ . فَأَتَاهُ فَقَالَ هَذَا أَبُو سَعِيدٍ .

This hadith bu been narrated on the authority of Abu Sa'id Khudri through another chain of transmitters.

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، وَابْنُ، بَشَّارٍ قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ أَبِي مَسْلَمَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي نَضْرَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ خِرَاشٍ، حَدَّثَنَا شَبَابَةُ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنِ الْجُرَيْرِيِّ، وَسَعِيدِ بْنِ يَزِيدَ كِلاَهُمَا عَنْ أَبِي نَضْرَةَ، قَالاَ سَمِعْنَاهُ يُحَدِّثُ، عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ، . بِمَعْنَى حَدِيثِ بِشْرِ بْنِ مُفَضَّلٍ عَنْ أَبِي مَسْلَمَةَ، .

'Ubaid b. Umair reported that Abu Musa brought permission from Umar (to enter the house) three times, and finding him busy came back, whereupon Umar said (to the Inmates of his house): Did you not hear the voice of 'Abdullah b. Qais (the Kunya of Abu Musa Ash'ari)? He was called back. and he (Hadrat 'Umar) said: What did prompt you to do it? Thereupon, he said: This is how we have been commanded to act. He (Hadrat 'Umar) said: Bring evidence (in support of) it, otherwise I shall deal (strictly) with you. So he (Abu Musa) set out and came to the meeting of the Ansar and asked them to bear witness before hadrat Umar about this. They (the Companions present there) said: None but the youngest amongst us would bear out this fact. So Abu Sa'id Khudri (who was the youngest one in that company) said: We have been commanded to do so (while visiting the house of other people). Thereupon 'Umar said: This command of Messenger of Allah ﷺ had remained hidden from me up till now due to (my) business in the market.

وَحَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ حَاتِمٍ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ سَعِيدٍ الْقَطَّانُ، عَنِ ابْنِ جُرَيْجٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَطَاءٌ، عَنْ عُبَيْدِ بْنِ عُمَيْرٍ، أَنَّ أَبَا مُوسَى، اسْتَأْذَنَ عَلَى عُمَرَ ثَلاَثًا فَكَأَنَّهُ وَجَدَهُ مَشْغُولاً فَرَجَعَ فَقَالَ عُمَرُ أَلَمْ تَسْمَعْ صَوْتَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ قَيْسٍ ائْذَنُوا لَهُ . فَدُعِيَ لَهُ فَقَالَ مَا حَمَلَكَ عَلَى مَا صَنَعْتَ قَالَ إِنَّا كُنَّا نُؤْمَرُ بِهَذَا . قَالَ لَتُقِيمَنَّ عَلَى هَذَا بَيِّنَةً أَوْ لأَفْعَلَنَّ . فَخَرَجَ فَانْطَلَقَ إِلَى مَجْلِسٍ مِنَ الأَنْصَارِ فَقَالُوا لاَ يَشْهَدُ لَكَ عَلَى هَذَا إِلاَّ أَصْغَرُنَا . فَقَامَ أَبُو سَعِيدٍ فَقَالَ كُنَّا نُؤْمَرُ بِهَذَا . فَقَالَ عُمَرُ خَفِيَ عَلَىَّ هَذَا مِنْ أَمْرِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَلْهَانِي عَنْهُ الصَّفْقُ بِالأَسْوَاقِ .

This hadith has been transmitted on the authority of Ibn Juraij, but there is no mention of the words" business in the market".

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَاصِمٍ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا حُسَيْنُ بْنُ حُرَيْثٍ، حَدَّثَنَا النَّضْرُ، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ شُمَيْلٍ - قَالاَ جَمِيعًا حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ جُرَيْجٍ، بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ نَحْوَهُ وَلَمْ يَذْكُرْ فِي حَدِيثِ النَّضْرِ أَلْهَانِي عَنْهُ الصَّفْقُ بِالأَسْوَاقِ .

Abu Musa Ash'ari reported that he went to 'Umar b. Khattab and greeted him by saying: As-Salamu-'Alaikum, here is 'Abdullah b. Qais, but he did not permit him (to get in). He (Abu Musa Ash'ari) again greeted him with as-Salamu-'Alaikum and said: Here is Abu Musa, but he (Hadrat 'Umar) did not permit him (to get in). He again said: As-Salam-u-'Alaikum, (and said) here is Ash'ari, (then receiving no response he came back). He (Hadrat 'Umar) said: Bring him back to me, bring him back to me So he went there (in the presence of Hadrat 'Umar) and he said to him: Abu Musa, what made you go back, while we were busy in some work? He said: I heard Allah's Messenger (may. peace be upon him) as saying: Permission should be sought thrice. And if you are permitted, (then get in), otherwise go back. He said: Bring witness to this fact, otherwise I shall do this and that, i. e. I shall punish you. Abu Musa went away and 'Umar said to him (on his departure): It he (Abu Musa) finds a witness he should meet him by the side of the pulpit in the evening and it he does not find a witness you would not find him there. When it was evening he (Hadrat 'Umar) found him (Abu Musa) there. He (Hadrat 'Umar) said: Abu Musa, have you been able to find a witness to what you have said? He said: Yes. Here is Ubayy bin Ka'b, whereupon he (Hadrat 'Umar) said: Yes, he is an authentic (witness). He (Hadrat 'Umar) said: Abu Tufail (the kunya of Ubayy b. Ka'b), what does he (Abu Musa say? Thereupon he said: Ibn Khattab, I heard Messenger of Allah ﷺ as saying so. Do not prove to be a hard (task-master) for the Companions of Messenger of Allah ﷺ, whereupon he Hadrat 'Umar said: Hallowed be Allah. I had heard something (in this connection), but I wished it to be established (as an undeniable fact).

حَدَّثَنَا حُسَيْنُ بْنُ حُرَيْثٍ أَبُو عَمَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا الْفَضْلُ بْنُ مُوسَى، أَخْبَرَنَا طَلْحَةُ بْنُ، يَحْيَى عَنْ أَبِي بُرْدَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى الأَشْعَرِيِّ، قَالَ جَاءَ أَبُو مُوسَى إِلَى عُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ فَقَالَ السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكُمْ هَذَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ قَيْسٍ . فَلَمْ يَأْذَنْ لَهُ فَقَالَ السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكُمْ هَذَا أَبُو مُوسَى السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكُمْ هَذَا الأَشْعَرِيُّ . ثُمَّ انْصَرَفَ فَقَالَ رُدُّوا عَلَىَّ رُدُّوا عَلَىَّ . فَجَاءَ فَقَالَ يَا أَبَا مُوسَى مَا رَدَّكَ كُنَّا فِي شُغْلٍ . قَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ " الاِسْتِئْذَانُ ثَلاَثٌ فَإِنْ أُذِنَ لَكَ وَإِلاَّ فَارْجِعْ " . قَالَ لَتَأْتِيَنِّي عَلَى هَذَا بِبَيِّنَةٍ وَإِلاَّ فَعَلْتُ وَفَعَلْتُ . فَذَهَبَ أَبُو مُوسَى قَالَ عُمَرُ إِنْ وَجَدَ بَيِّنَةً تَجِدُوهُ عِنْدَ الْمِنْبَرِ عَشِيَّةً وَإِنْ لَمْ يَجِدْ بَيِّنَةً فَلَمْ تَجِدُوهُ . فَلَمَّا أَنْ جَاءَ بِالْعَشِيِّ وَجَدُوهُ قَالَ يَا أَبَا مُوسَى مَا تَقُولُ أَقَدْ وَجَدْتَ قَالَ نَعَمْ أُبَىَّ بْنَ كَعْبٍ . قَالَ عَدْلٌ . قَالَ يَا أَبَا الطُّفَيْلِ مَا يَقُولُ هَذَا قَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ ذَلِكَ يَا ابْنَ الْخَطَّابِ فَلاَ تَكُونَنَّ عَذَابًا عَلَى أَصْحَابِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ . قَالَ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ إِنَّمَا سَمِعْتُ شَيْئًا فَأَحْبَبْتُ أَنْ أَتَثَبَّتَ .