يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لِيَسْتَـْٔذِنكُمُ ٱلَّذِينَ مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَـٰنُكُمْ وَٱلَّذِينَ لَمْ يَبْلُغُوا۟ ٱلْحُلُمَ مِنكُمْ ثَلَـٰثَ مَرَّٰتٍ ۚ مِّن قَبْلِ صَلَوٰةِ ٱلْفَجْرِ وَحِينَ تَضَعُونَ ثِيَابَكُم مِّنَ ٱلظَّهِيرَةِ وَمِنۢ بَعْدِ صَلَوٰةِ ٱلْعِشَآءِ ۚ ثَلَـٰثُ عَوْرَٰتٍ لَّكُمْ ۚ لَيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ وَلَا عَلَيْهِمْ جُنَاحٌۢ بَعْدَهُنَّ ۚ طَوَّٰفُونَ عَلَيْكُم بَعْضُكُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمُ ٱلْـَٔايَـٰتِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ 58
Translations
O you who have believed, let those whom your right hands possess and those who have not [yet] reached puberty among you ask permission of you [before entering] at three times: before the dawn prayer and when you put aside your clothing [for rest] at noon and after the night prayer. [These are] three times of privacy for you. There is no blame upon you nor upon them beyond these [periods], for they continually circulate among you - some of you, among others. Thus does Allāh make clear to you the verses [i.e., His ordinances]; and Allāh is Knowing and Wise.
Transliteration
Ya ayyuha alladhina amanu liyastadhinukum alladhina malakat aymanukum wa alladhina lam yablughu al-huluma minkum talata marrat. Min qabli salati al-fajri wa hina tadaAAuna thiyabakum min al-dhaheera wa min baAAdi salati al-AAisha. Talatu AAwarat lakum. Laysa AAalaykum wala AAalayhim junah baAAdahunna. Tawwafun AAalaykum baAAdukum AAala baAAd. Kathalika yubayyinu Allahu lakum al-ayat. Wa Allahu AAalimun hakimun.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah establishes regulations for privacy and modesty within the household, requiring permission to be sought from servants and children before puberty at three specific times: before Fajr prayer, during the midday rest when people undress, and after Isha prayer—times when household members may be in states of undress or privacy. After these three designated vulnerable times, no permission is required for movement within the household, as people are normally clothed and present. Classical scholars like Al-Qurtubi emphasize that this ruling reflects the Qur'an's comprehensive guidance on maintaining dignity and respect for all members of society, while Ibn Kathir notes the wisdom in protecting private moments while allowing normal household interaction otherwise.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah An-Nur (Chapter 24), a Medinan surah that extensively addresses matters of modesty, purity, and household conduct. It was revealed to regulate the social interactions within Muslim households following the establishment of the Muslim community in Medina, addressing practical issues of privacy and propriety as the Muslim society developed.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari 5238: Narrated by Aishah regarding the Prophet's instructions on asking permission (istidhan) before entering private spaces. Also relevant is the general tradition on modesty (haya) recorded in Sahih Muslim 36, emphasizing that modesty is part of faith.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that true Islamic civilization balances communal living with personal dignity and privacy; even servants and children deserve respect for their modesty, reminding us that ethical treatment of all household members—regardless of status—is a fundamental Islamic principle.