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Is it permissible to enter the house without seeking permission, even if one is among the residents, and what is the evidence for that from the Qur'an and Sunnah?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

Allah has commanded believers to seek permission before entering the homes of others. The Sunnah is to combine salutations (salam) with seeking permission, by offering salutations first. A man is permitted to enter his own home without seeking permission unless there is someone other than his wife or bondswoman inside; this is because seeking permission was legislated to protect one's gaze from falling upon something undesirable. It is recommended for a man to seek permission from his wife when entering his home, or to inform her of his entry by clearing his throat or shuffling his sandals, lest he surprise her while she is in a state she would not wish to be seen in. It is obligatory to seek permission from unmarriageable kin (mahārim) other than one's wife, such as one's mother, daughter, and sister, so that he does not see any 'awrah (private parts) that are unlawful for him to see.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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