24:58 An-Noor (The Light)

أمر المؤمنين أن يستأذنهم مماليكهم، والذين لم يبلغوا الحلم منهم. قد ذكر الله حكمته وأنه ثلاث عورات للمستأذن عليهم، وقت نومهم بالليل بعد العشاء، وعند انتباههم قبل صلاة الفجر، فهذا -في الغالب- أن النائم يستعمل للنوم في الليل ثوبا غير ثوبه المعتاد، وأما نوم النهار، فلما كان في الغالب قليلا، قد ينام فيه العبد بثيابه المعتادة، قيده بقوله: { وَحِينَ تَضَعُونَ ثِيَابَكُمْ مِنَ الظَّهِيرَةِ } أي: للقائلة، وسط النهار. ففي ثلاثة هذه الأحوال، يكون المماليك والأولاد الصغار كغيرهم، لا يمكنون من الدخول إلا بإذن، وأما ما عدا هذه الأحوال الثلاثة فقال: { لَيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ وَلَا عَلَيْهِمْ جُنَاحٌ بَعْدَهُنَّ } أي: ليسوا كغيرهم، فإنهم يحتاج إليهم دائما، فيشق الاستئذان منهم في كل وقت، ولهذا قال: { طَوَّافُونَ عَلَيْكُمْ بَعْضُكُمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍ } أي: يترددون عليكم في قضاء أشغالكم وحوائجكم. { كَذَلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ اللَّهُ لَكُمُ الْآيَاتِ } بيانا مقرونا بحكمته، ليتأكد ويتقوى ويعرف به رحمة شارعه وحكمته، ولهذا قال: { وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ ْ} له العلم المحيط بالواجبات والمستحيلات والممكنات، والحكمة التي وضعت كل شيء موضعه، فأعطى كل مخلوق خلقه اللائق به، وأعطى كل حكم شرعي حكمه اللائق به، ومنه هذه الأحكام التي بينها وبين مآخذها وحسنها.

هذه الآيات الكريمة اشتملت على استئذان الأقارب بعضهم على بعض وما تقدم في أول السورة فهو استئذان0 الأجانب بعضهما على بعض فأمر الله تعالى المؤمنين أن يستأذنهم خدمهم مما ملكت أيمانهم وأطفالهم الذين لم يبلغوا الحلم منهم في ثلاثه أحوال "الأول" من قبل صلاة الغداة لأن الناس إذ ذاك يكونون نياما في فرشهم "وحين تضعون ثيابكم من الظهيرة" أي في وقت القيلولة لأن الإنسان قد يضع ثيابه في تلك الحال مع أهله "ومن بعد صلاة العشاء" لأنه وقت النوم فيؤمر الخدم والأطفال أن لا يهجموا على أهل البيت في هذه الأحوال لما يخشى أن يكون الرجل على أهله أو نحو ذلك من الأعمال ولهذا قال "ثلاث عورات لكم ليس عليكم ولا عليهم جناح بعدهن" أي إذا دخلوا في حال غير هذه الأحوال فلا جناح عليكم في تمكينكم إياهم ولا عليهم إن رأوا شيئا من غير تلك الأحوال لأنه قد أذن لهم في الهجوم ولأنهم طوافون عليكم أي في الخدمة وغير ذلك. ويغتفر في الطوافين ما لا يغتفر في غيرهم ولهذا روى الإمام مالك وأحمد بن حنبل وأهل السنن أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال في الهرة: "إنها ليست بنجسة إنها من الطوافين عليكم أو والطوافات" ولما كانت هذه الآية محكمة ولم تنسخ بشيء وكان عمل الناس بها قليلا جدا أنكر عبدالله بن عباس ذلك على الناس كما قال ابن أبي حاتم حدثنا أبو زرعة حدثنا يحيى بن عبدالله بن بكير حدثني عبدالله بن لهيعة حدثني عطاء بن دينار عن سعيد بن جبير قال: قال ابن عباس ترك الناس ثلاث آيات فلم يعملوا بهن "يا أيها الذين آمنوا ليستأذنكم الذين ملكت أيمانكم" إلى آخر الآية والآية التي في سورة النساء "وإذا حضر القسمة أولوا القربي" الآية والآية التي في الحجرات "إن أكرمكم عند الله أتقاكم" وفي لفظ له أيضا من حديث إسماعيل بن مسلم وهو ضعيف عن عمرو بن دينار عن عطاء ابن أبي رباح عن ابن عباس قال: غلب الشيطان الناس على ثلاث آيات فلم يعملوا بهن "يا أيها الذين آمنوا ليستأذنكم الذين ملكت أيمانكم" إلى آخر الآية وروى أبو داود حدثنا ابن الصباح وابن سفيان وابن عبدة وهذا حديثه أخبرنا سفيان عن عبيد الله بن أبي يزيد سمع ابن عباس يقول: لم يؤمن بها أكثر الناس: آية الإذن وإني لآمر جاريتي هذه تستأذن علي قال أبو داود وكذلك رواه عطاء عن ابن عباس يأمر به وقال الثوري عن موسى بن أبي عائشة سألت الشعبي "ليستأذنكم الذين ملكت أيمانكم" قال: لم تنسخ قلت فإن الناس لا يعملون بها فقال: الله المستعان وقال ابن أبي حاتم حدثنا الربيع بن سليمان حدثنا ابن وهب أخبرنا سليمان بن بلال عن عمرو ابن أبي عمرو عن عكرمة عن ابن عباس أن رجلين سألاه عن الاستئذان في الثلاث عورات التي أمر الله بها في القرآن فقال ابن عباس: "إن الله ستير يحب الستر كان الناس ليس لهم سطور على أبوابهم ولا حجال في بيوتهم فربما فاجأ الرجل خادمه أو ولده أو يتيمه في حجره وهو على أهله فأمرهم الله أن يستأذنوا في تلك العورات التي سمى الله ثم جاء الله بعد بالستور فبسط الله عليهم الرزق فاتخذوا الستور واتخذوا الحجال فرأى الناس أن ذلك قد كفاهم من الاستئذان الذي أمروا به" وهذا إسناد صحيح إلى ابن عباس ورواه أبو داود عن القعنبي عن الدراوردي عن عمرو بن أبي عمرو به: وقال السدي كان أناس من الصحابة رضي الله عنهم يحبون أن يواقعوا نساءهم في هذه الساعات ليغتسلوا ثم يخرجوا إلى الصلاة فأمرهم الله أن يأمروا المملوكين والغلمان أن لا يدخلوا عليهم في تلك الساعات إلا بإذن وقال مقاتل بن حيان: بلغنا والله أعلم أن رجلا من الأنصار وامرأته أسماء بنت مرثد صنعا للنبي صلى الله عليه وسلم طعاما فجعل الناس يدخلون بغير إذن: فقالت أسماء يا رسول الله ما أقبح هذا إنه ليدخل على المرأة وزوجها وهما في ثوب واحد غلامهما بغير إذن فأنزل الله في ذلك "يا أيها الذين آمنوا ليستأذنكم الذين ملكت أيمانكم" إلى آخرها ومما يدل على أنها محكمة لم تنسخ قوله "كذلك يبين الله لكم الآيات والله حكيم عليم".

The Times when Servants and Young Children should seek Permission to enter

These Ayat include a discussion of how people who are closely related should seek permission to enter upon one another. What was mentioned earlier in the Surah had to do with how unrelated people should seek permission to enter upon one another. Allah commanded the believers to ensure that their servants and their children who have not yet reached puberty should seek permission at three times: the first is before the Fajr prayer, because people are asleep in their beds at that time.

وَحِينَ تَضَعُونَ ثِيَـبَكُمْ مِّنَ الظَّهِيرَةِ

(and while you put off your clothes during the afternoon,) means, at the time of rest, because a man may be in a state of undress with his wife at that time.

وَمِن بَعْدِ صَلَوةِ الْعِشَآءِ

(and after the `Isha' prayer.) because this is the time for sleep. Servants and children are commanded not to enter upon household members at these times, because it is feared that a man may be in an intimate situation with his wife and so on. Allah says:

ثَلاَثُ عَوْرَاتٍ لَّكُمْ لَيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ وَلاَ عَلَيْهِمْ جُنَاحٌ بَعْدَهُنَّ

((These) three (times) are of privacy for you; other than these times there is no sin on you or on them) If they enter at a time other than these, there is no sin on you if you let them enter, and no sin on them if they see something at a time other than these times. They have been given permission to enter suddenly, because they are those who go around in the house, i.e., to serve you etc., and as such they may be forgiven for things that others will not be forgiven. Although this Ayah is quite clear and has not been abrogated, people hardly follow it, and `Abdullah bin `Abbas denounced the people for that. Abu Dawud recorded that Ibn `Abbas said: "Most of the people do not follow it, the Ayah that speaks about asking permission, but I tell my servant woman to seek permission to enter." Abu Dawud said: `Ata' also narrated that Ibn `Abbas commanded this. Ath-Thawri narrated that Musa bin Abi `A'ishah said, "I asked Ash-Sha`bi about the Ayah:

لِيَسْتَأْذِنكُمُ الَّذِينَ مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَـنُكُمْ

(Let your slaves and slave-girls ask your permission.) He said, `It has not been abrogated.' I said: `But the people do not do that.' He said, `May Allah help them."' Then Allah says:

وَإِذَا بَلَغَ الاٌّطْفَالُ مِنكُمُ الْحُلُمَ فَلْيَسْتَأْذِنُواْ كَمَا اسْتَأْذَنَ الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ

(And when the children among you come to puberty, then let them (also) ask for permission, as those senior to them (in age)) meaning: when the children who used to seek permission at the three times of privacy reach puberty, then they have to seek permission at all times, i.e., with regard to those who are non-relatives, and at times when a man may be in a state of intimacy with his wife, even if it is not one of the three times stated above.

There is no Sin on Elderly Women if They do not wear a Cloak

وَالْقَوَاعِدُ مِنَ النِّسَآءِ

(And the Qawa`id among women.) Sa`id bin Jubayr, Muqatil bin Hayyan, Ad-Dahhak and Qatadah said that these are the women who no longer think that they can bear children,

الَّلَـتِى لاَ يَرْجُونَ نِكَاحاً

(who do not hope for marriage,) meaning, they no longer have any desire for marriage,

فَلَيْسَ عَلَيْهِنَّ جُنَاحٌ أَن يَضَعْنَ ثِيَابَهُنَّ غَيْرَ مُتَبَرِّجَـتِ بِزِينَةٍ

(it is no sin on them if they discard their (outer) clothing in such a way as not to show their adornment.) meaning, they do not have to cover themselves in the same way that other women have to. Abu Dawud recorded that Ibn `Abbas said that the Ayah:

وَقُل لِّلْمُؤْمِنَـتِ يَغْضُضْنَ مِنْ أَبْصَـرِهِنَّ

(And tell the believing women to lower their gaze) 24:31 was abrogated and an exception was made in the case of:

وَالْقَوَاعِدُ مِنَ النِّسَآءِ الَّلَـتِى لاَ يَرْجُونَ نِكَاحاً

(the past childbearing among women who do not hope for marriage, .)

فَلَيْسَ عَلَيْهِنَّ جُنَاحٌ أَن يَضَعْنَ ثِيَابَهُنَّ

(it is no sin on them if they discard their (outer) clothing) Ibn Mas`ud said about (outer) clothing,, "The Jilbab or Rida'." A similar view was also narrated from Ibn `Abbas, Ibn `Umar, Mujahid, Sa`id bin Jubayr, Abu Ash-Sha`tha', Ibrahim An-Nakha`i, Al-Hasan, Qatadah, Az-Zuhri, Al-`Awza`i and others.

غَيْرَ مُتَبَرِّجَـتِ بِزِينَةٍ

(in such a way as not to show their adornment.) Sa`id bin Jubayr said, "They should not make a wanton display of themselves by removing their outer garment so that their adornment may be seen."

وَأَن يَسْتَعْفِفْنَ خَيْرٌ لَّهُنَّ

(But to refrain is better for them.) means, not removing their outer garment, even though that is permissible for them, is better for them.

وَاللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ

(And Allah is All-Hearer, All-Knower.)

O you who believe let those whom your right hands own of male slaves and female slaves and those of you who have not reached puberty from among the free men and who have not become sexually aware of women ask leave of you three times at three times of the day before the dawn prayer and when you put off your garments at noon and after the night prayer. These are three periods of privacy for you read thalāthu ‘awrātin lakum with nominative inflection as the predicate of an implied subject followed by a genitive annexation with the annexed term standing in place thereof of the predicate in other words the implied predicate followed by the annexation is hiya awqāt ‘these are times of …’; or read thalātha ‘awrātin lakum in the accusative the implication being that awqāta is itself in the accusative as a substitute for the syntactical status of what precedes it in place of which stands the annexed term. It is because clothes are taken off that private parts are revealed during such periods. Neither you nor they namely slaves and young boys would be at fault in entering upon you without asking leave at other times that is after the three times of day specified; they frequent you to provide service as some of you do with others this sentence corroborates the preceding one. So just as He has clarified what has been mentioned God clarifies for you the signs the rulings; and God is Knower of the affairs of His creatures Wise in what He has ordained for them. It is said that the ‘permission’ verse āyat al-isti’idhān was abrogated; but it is also said that it was not abrogated but that people thought little of neglecting to seek permission in such situations.

Commentary

It has been described in the beginning of this Surah that the injunctions of Surah Nur mostly relate to prevention of obscenity and vulgarity. Under the same sequence some injunctions regarding social etiquette and mutual meetings are also enjoined. After that the injunctions about Hijab for women are prescribed.

The injunction for relatives and mahrams for seeking permission at specific timings

Earlier in this Surah the social etiquette and manners for mutual meetings were described in verses 27, 28 and 29 under the heading 'injunctions on seeking permission', where it was enjoined that if you go to visit someone, do not enter the house without taking permission. Irrespective of the situation whether it is a female section of the house or the male section, and whether the visitor is a man or a woman, it has been made obligatory on every one to seek permission before entering the house. However, these injunctions relate to those who come in the house as visitors. But in the present verses a different type of isti'dhan is enjoined. Here those persons are instructed to seek permission who live together in the same house and keep roaming in the rooms freely. In this category those men are also included with whom the hijab of women is not required (the mahrams). They, too, are advised to make some sort of sound, either by cleaning the throat or by thumping of steps, in order to make their presence felt. This type of isti'dhan is preferable and not obligatory, but to give it up is Makruh Tanzihi. Tafsir Mazhari has remarked:

فمن اراد الدخول فی بیت نفسہ و فیہ محرماتہ یکرہ لہ الدخول فیہ من غیر استیذان تنزیھا لاحتمال رؤیۃ واحدۃ منھن عریانۃ وھو احتمال ضعیف و مقتضاہ التنرہ (مظھری)

The one who intends to enter his own house, while it is occupied by his mahram ladies, it is not desirable (makruh tanzihi) for him to enter it without seeking permission, because of the possibility that one of those ladies is without clothes. However, since this possibility is a remote one, it requires precaution only (and not Prohibition).

This injunction relates to the time before entering the house, but once men-folk have entered the house, all the inmates live together and being members of the same family keep meeting each other within the house. For the family members living together there is another injunction of seeking permission at three specific times, which are the times of privacy. These three times are before the Fajr prayers, the resting time in the afternoon and in the night after ` Isha' prayers. At these times all the mahrams and relatives, even the young children and slave girls having sense, are prohibited to enter the private places without taking permission. It is to ensure that none should go in the private rooms without first seeking the permission. At these times one wants to be on one's own and sometimes takes off the extra clothes, while at times one is in a compromising position with his wife. During any of these situations one would feel very embarrassed and upset if seen by even a very young but sensible child or a woman of the household. In the least it will cause him disturbance in his rest. Hence, there is a need to take permission at these three specific times before entering the private chambers. After this injunction it is said لَيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ وَلَا عَلَيْهِمْ جُنَاحٌ بَعْدَهُنَّ (58) that is besides these times there is no harm if you go to each other without any permission, because during all other times people are busy doing their normal duties and are properly attired in their usual clothing. These are also not the normal times for intimacy with the wife.

Here the question arises that enforcement of injunction on adult man and woman is normal, but why the young children are also commanded to comply with this injunction, which is not the normal practice.

The answer to this confusion is that in actual fact it is the adult men and women who are charged with this duty to explain to the young children not to go to private chambers at these times without taking permission. It is in the same manner as a hadith instructs to teach the prayers to children when they attain the age of seven years and persuade them to offer it. And when they attain the age of ten years they be bound down to offer prayers regularly, and if they default then they should be beaten to be regular in their prayers. Similarly, the injunction of isti'dhan in the above verse is actually for the adult men and women. In the sentence under discussion the word Junah is used to say that apart from these three times there is no harm if the inmates go in the private chambers without permission. Generally the word Junah is used for sin, but sometimes it is also used for harm or obstacle. Here in this verse it is used for the latter meaning, hence, any doubt of sinning on the part of children is also removed. (Bayan ul-Qur’ an)

Ruling

The phrase الَّذِينَ مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُكُمْ (the slaves owned by you) used in verse (58) covers the meaning of both the slaves and the slave girls. Among them the adult slaves fall under the category of non-Mahrams under the Islamic law. As has been explained earlier, the mistress owner woman of an adult slave is obligated to be in hijab before him. Therefore, the phrase is purported to mean here the slave girls and minor slaves who roam about in the house freely.

Ruling

The scholars and jurists have different viewpoints on the question whether this type of isti'dhan is obligatory or merely commendable and whether this injunction is still valid or is abrogated. Majority of jurists have ruled that this verse is firm and thus not abrogated, and the injunction is obligatory both for men and women (Qurtubi). But it is obvious that the reason and ground for the injunction to be obligatory is that which is given above, that is, one wants to be on his own at these three times and likes privacy, and sometimes gets busy with his wife. However, if people could get into the habit of keeping their concealable parts covered even at these three times, and be careful to copulate with wife only at times when there is no possibility of anyone coming in, as is the norm these days, then it is not obligatory to restrain the relatives and children from entering without isti'dhan. In this situation it is no more obligatory for the relatives to follow it. But there is no doubt that it is a desirable and commendable act, though it seems that people have given it up for a long time. According to one narration Sayyidna Ibn ` Abbas ؓ ', has used very strong words for ignoring it, and according to another narration he has put forward excuses for those who do not follow it.

The first narration is reported by Ibn Kathir on authority of Ibn Abi Hatim that Sayyidna ` Abdullah Ibn ` Abbas ؓ has said that there are three verses which people have stopped following. One of them is this very verse of istidhan يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لِيَسْتَأْذِنكُمُ الَّذِينَ مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُكُمْ (58) in which relatives and young children are instructed to seek permission. The second verse is وَإِذَا حَضَرَ‌ الْقِسْمَةَ أُولُو الْقُرْ‌بَىٰ (4:8) in which people are advised to hand over a part of the inheritance to those relatives also who are present at the time of division of patrimony but have no claim on it, in order to console them. The third verse is إِنَّ أَكْرَ‌مَكُمْ عِندَ اللَّـهِ أَتْقَاكُمْ in which it is declared that the noblest among you in the sight of Allah is the most god-fearing of you. But these days such persons are regarded honorable and respectable who possess plenty of wealth and palatial houses. According to some other narration Ibn ` Abbas ؓ has also said that in respect of these three verses the Shaitan has overpowered the people. Then he said "I have restrained even my slave girl not to come to me without permission at these three times".

The second narration is also reported on authority of Ibn Abi Hatim by Sayyidna ` Ikrimah ؓ that two persons enquired from Sayyidna Ibn ` Abbas ؓ عنہما about isti'dhan enjoined (by this verse) upon near relatives and commented that people have stopped acting on this. Ibn ` Abbas ؓ replied ان اللہ ستیریحبّ السّتر that Allah keeps cover on many things, and He likes the same for others. The fact of the matter is that at the time of revelation of this verse the society was very simple. People did not use curtains at the door nor did they have large beds with curtains. There used to be occasions when a child or servant would come in unannounced at a time the person was in a compromising position with his wife. It was to prevent such happenings that Allah Ta’ ala sent down this injunction to take permission at these three times. But now people use curtains at the door and large beds having curtains, which is considered enough for the purpose. Now there is no need for isti'dhan. (Having reproduced this narration Ibn Kathir has said ھٰذا اسناد صحیح الی ابن عباس ؓ (that is, the chain of its narrators is 'Sahih' i.e. authentic). In the light of this narration ascribed to Sayyidna Ibn ` Abbas ؓ one thing is quite clear that when there is no apprehension of any one seeing the other in an uncovered position or involved with his wife, in that case some concession is allowed.

But Qur'an teaches for a pure society so that no one interferes in anyone's freedom and everybody lives in peace and comfort. Those who do not make their family members follow the practice of seeking permission they themselves face inconvenience and curb their natural instincts and desires.

(O ye who believe! Let your slaves, and those of you who have not come to puberty, ask leave of you�) [24:58]. Said ibn �Abbas: �The Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and give him peace, sent a boy from the Helpers, called Mudlij ibn �Amr, to �Umar ibn al-Khattab, May Allah be pleased with him, after noon to summon him. When he entered in, he saw �Umar in a state which the latter disliked to be seen in. And so he said to the Prophet: �O Messenger of Allah, I wish that Allah, exalted is He, give us some commands and prohibitions regarding asking permission before entering�. And so Allah, exalted is He, revealed this verse�. Said Muqatil: �This verse was revealed about Asma� bint Marthid. She had a slave-boy who was quite old and he happened to enter in on her one day at a time in which she disliked him to enter in on her. She went to the Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and give him peace, and said: �Our servants and slaves enter in on us and find us in states in which we dislike them to see us�. Allah, exalted is He, then revealed this verse�.