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.
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