Moral Values at Home, Sayyid Qutb

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Believers! Let those whom you rightfully possess, and those of you who have not yet attained to puberty, ask leave of you at three times of day: before the prayer of daybreak, and whenever you lay aside your garments in the middle of the day, and after the prayer of nightfall. These are three occasions on which you may happen to be undressed. Beyond these occasions, neither you nor they will incur any sin if they move freely about you, attending to one another. Thus God makes clear to you His revelations. God is all-knowing, wise.

Yet when your children attain to puberty, let them ask leave of you, as do those senior to them (in age). Thus does God make revelations clear to you. God is all-knowing, wise. (Light, Al-Noor: 24: 11)

Islam is a complete way of life, setting a code that organizes human life in all stages and situations. It lays down values that govern all human relations and social actions. Islam establishes values that are relevant to points of detail in daily situations and behavior, in the same way as it lays down values and principles that govern serious and momentous matters. It ensures harmony between the two and makes the achievement of acceptance by God and earning His pleasure the goal of all human activities.

The present surah provides an example of such harmony. It specifies certain mandatory punishments for serious offences, and it speaks of seeking permission before entering homes. Alongside the two it portrays spectacular scenes from the universe. The surah then speaks of the Muslims’ proper attitude as they submit to the rule of God and His Messenger, contrasting it with the insolent attitude of the hypocrites. Alongside this comes God’s true promise to the believers that they will be established on earth and live in peace and security. In the last passage, which we begin discussing today, the surah again speaks of proper manners within the home, and when inmates need to seek permission before entering rooms, so as not to intrude on others’ privacy. It also makes clear the requirement of seeking permission before leaving the Prophet (peace be upon him). It also outlines the proper manner of visiting relatives and friends where one may have some food. Alongside this, it outlines the proper way of addressing the Prophet. All these are part of the Islamic manners that every Muslim community should adopt, realizing that the Qur’an provides guidance in all life matters, even though they may not be of serious nature.

“Believers! Let those whom you rightfully possess, and those of you who have not yet attained to puberty, ask leave of you at three times of day: before the prayer of daybreak, and whenever you lay aside your garments in the middle of the day, and after the prayer of nightfall. These are three occasions on which you may happen to be undressed. Beyond these occasions, neither you nor they will incur any sin if they move freely about you, attending to one another.”

Earlier in the surah the proper manners of seeking permission before entering a house have been outlined. Now the surah speaks of the need to seek permission within the home. Servants, who were slaves, and children who are not so young but have not yet attained puberty enter rooms without knocking to seek permission, except in three periods during the day. These are periods of relaxation when adults may be undressed. The three periods are: 1) shortly before the daybreak prayer, i.e. Fajr, when people are normally still wearing their night garments, or they may be putting on their day clothes in readiness to go out; 2) about midday when people take a nap after changing into more comfortable garments for relaxation; and 3) after they had offered their nightfall prayer, i.e. Isha. At this time, people put on their night clothes for more comfort.

During these three periods, servants and children below the age of puberty must knock before entering rooms in the house so that they do not see their relatives undressed. Many people do not observe such manners at home, thinking little of the psychological and moral effects of their lax attitude. Or they may think that servants do not stir at their masters’ nakedness, or that children below the age of puberty do not take notice. With the progress achieved today in the field of human psychology, experts emphasize that people are often influenced for life by what they see or experience in childhood, and that such experience may cause them psychological problems that are not easy to cure.

God, who knows everything, including the finest and most subtle feelings, outlines these manners which He wants the Muslim community to observe, so that it remains a community with sound hearts and minds, free of psychological problems.

These three occasions are specified because it is more likely that people could be undressed. Children and servants are not required to knock before entry at all times, because this may be difficult to observe, considering that these two groups are frequently entering their elders’ rooms: either because servants are going about their tasks or because children cannot keep away from their parents for long. Hence the description: “Beyond these occasions, neither you nor they will incur any sin if they move freely about you, attending to one another.” We see how the divine instruction strikes a balance between the need to ensure that people do not show their nakedness in front of others, even though they may be young or servants, and the practical need of easy access. Hence, the instruction does not order seeking permission to enter at all times.

When children attain to puberty, the same rules of entry apply to them as those who are not related to the family. This means that they must seek permission before entering rooms at any time, in accordance with the general rules outlined earlier in the surah: “Yet when your children attain to puberty, let them ask leave of you, as do those senior to them (in age). Thus does God make revelations clear to you. God is all-knowing, wise.”

We note that the final comment in these verses stresses God’s knowledge and wisdom, because the instructions given are based on His knowledge of the inner feelings of human beings and the manners that are most suitable to refine such feelings. In His wisdom, God lays down the teachings that set minds and hearts on the right course.