6829 – 0046
Question:
Does a man have the right to stop someone from entering the house if the house does not belong to him but rather belongs to the wife or it belongs to both the husband and wife? This question is based on the hadith wherein Rasulullah (saw) prohibited the wife to allow anyone to enter home without the permission of the husband.
Answer:
In the Name of Allāh, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Muḥtaram Mawlānā,
At the outset it should be understood that the relationship between husband-and-wife ought to be one of love, compassion, and mutual understanding. Our faith is one of practicality; Islām considers the feelings of both husband and wife and addresses both spouses in a way that would lead to a harmonious and pleasant environment.
Allāh Taʿālā says:
وَمِنْ ءَايَـٰتِهِۦٓ أَنْ خَلَقَ لَكُم مِّنْ أَنفُسِكُمْ أَزْوَٰجًا لِّتَسْكُنُوٓا۟ إِلَيْهَا وَجَعَلَ بَيْنَكُم مَّوَدَّةً وَرَحْمَةً ۚ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَـٰتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ
Translation:
And of His signs is that He created for you from yourselves mates that you may find tranquillity in them; and He placed between you affection and mercy. Indeed, in that are signs for a people who give thought. (Sūrah Rūm: 21)
This tranquillity, affection, and mercy can only be achieved when the husband and wife are understanding and considerate of each other’s feelings. The sharīʿah has, to this end, considered the feelings of ghayrah (protective jealousy) and has instituted certain rulings to circumnavigate any clashes that may arise due to one’s ghayrah.
Based on this backdrop, one can fully understand why the husbands explicit or implied permission is to be sought when entertaining anyone in the home.
The ḥadīth you refer to is as follows:
قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم “ لاَ تَصُمِ الْمَرْأَةُ وَبَعْلُهَا شَاهِدٌ إِلاَّ بِإِذْنِهِ وَلاَ تَأْذَنْ فِي بَيْتِهِ وَهُوَ شَاهِدٌ إِلاَّ بِإِذْنِهِ وَمَا أَنْفَقَتْ مِنْ كَسْبِهِ مِنْ غَيْرِ أَمْرِهِ فَإِنَّ نِصْفَ أَجْرِهِ لَهُ”
Translation:
The Messenger of Allāh (ﷺ) said: … And she should not admit anyone in his house, while he (her husband) is present, but with his permission. (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim)
The instruction to seek the husband’s permission covers both scenarios, whether the husband is the owner of the house or not. The same ruling will apply if the wife is the owner of the house.
And Allāh Taʿālā knows best.
المفهم للقرطبي— أبو العباس أحمد بن عمر بن إبراهيم القرطبي (٦٥٦ هـ) 3/69
وقوله: (ولا تأذن في بيته وهو شاهد إلا بإذنه)، تخصيص المنع بحضور الزوج؛ يدل: على أن ذلك لحق الزوج في زوجته؛ إذ قد يكون المأذون له في تلك الحال ممن يشوّش على الزوج مقصوده وخلوته بها. وعلى هذا تظهر المناسبة بين هذا النهي وبين النهي عن الصوم المتقدّم. وقال بعض الأئمة: إن ذلك معلل بأن البيت ملك للزوج، وإذنها في دخوله تصرُّف فيما لا تملك. وهذا فيه بُعدٌ؛ إذ لو كان معلّلاً بذلك، لاستوى حضور الزوج وغيبته، والله أعلم
فتح الباري شرح صحيح البخاري — أحمد بن علي بن حجر أبو الفضل العسقلاني الشافعي (٨٥٢ ه) 295/9
(قوله باب لا تأذن المرأة في بيت زوجها لأحد إلا بإذنه) المراد ببيت زوجها سكنة سواء كان ملكه أولا