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Encyclopedia of Religion entry forEntering Into Houses
. To enter suddenly or abruptly into any person ‘s home or apartment, is reckoned a great incivility in all eastern countries. With Muhammadans it is a religious duty to give notice before you enter a house. The custom is founded upon an express injunction in the Qur’an Surah xxiv 57-61:- "O ye who believe! Let your slaves and those of you who have not come of age, ask leave of you three times a day, are they come into your presence: - before the morning prayer, and when ye lay aside your garments at mid-day, and after the evening prayer. These are your three times of privacy. No blame shall attach to you or to them, if after these times, when ye go your rounds of attendance on one another, they come without permission. Thus doth God make clear to you His signs; and God is Knowing, Wise!" "And when your children come of age, let them ask leave to come into your presence, as they who wore before them asked it. Thus doth God make clear to you his signs; and God is Knowing, Wise." "As to women who are past childbearing, and have no hope of marriage, no blame shall attach to them if they lay aside their outer garments, but so as not to show their ornaments. Yet if they abstain from this, it will be better for them; and God Heareth, Knoweth. "No crime shall it be in the blind, or in the lame, or in the sick, to eat at your tables; or in yourselves, if ye eat in your own houses, or in the houses of your fathers, or of your mothers, or of your brothers, or of your sisters, or of your uncles on the father ‘s side, or of your aunts on the father ‘s side, or of your uncles on the mother ‘s side, or of your aunts on the mother ‘s side, or in those of which ye possess the keys, or in the house of your friend. No blame shall attach to you whether ye eat together or apart." "And when ye enter houses, salute one another with a good and blessed greeting as from God. Thus doth God make clear to you His signs, that haply ye may comprehend them." The following are the traditions given in the Mishkat on the subject (book xxii c ii): Muhammad is related to have said, "Do not permit anyone to enter your home unless he gives a salam first." ‘Abdu ‘llah ibn Mas ‘ud says the said, "The signal for your permission to enter is that you lift up the curtain and enter until I prevent you." ‘Abdu ‘llah ibn Busr says, "Whenever the Prophet came to the door of the house, he would not stand in front of it, but on the side of the door, and say, ‘The peace of God be with you. ‘" ‘Ata ‘ ibn Yasar says the Prophet told him to ask leave to enter even the room of his mother. citations: Dictionary of Islam, Hughes
article created 2006-04-12 , last updated 2006-04-12 |
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