Seeking permission; the caller should not attempt to reach the other person by excessive phone calls [Part 4]

Follow @AhleDhikr

It is important for one not to be excessive in trying to reach the person they are trying to contact rather they must be balanced in their attempts to reach them. Once you have tried a reasonable amount of times, you shouldn’t pursue it further. In fact, the caller shouldn’t exceed three attempts, due the hadeeth that has been agreed upon, that the Prophet [May the Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him] said;

“If you seek to enter three times and you have not been granted permission, then leave”.

Another hadeeth explains the wisdom behind this ruling of seeking permission;

The Prophet [May the Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him said;

“Seeking permission before entering has been legislated in order that we don’t see something that we aren’t supposed to see.” [Narrated by Bukhaaree]

Of course, these ahaadeeth aren’t directly related to the etiquettes of using the phone. However the wisdom behind seeking permission can be applied to the rulings connected to using the phone. Seeking permission prevents one being disturbed, prevents harm afflicting others, its spreads good manners and blocks the path for people not being exposed. These factors have contributed to an age old problem. For instance, a woman once went to the house of Imaam Ahmad ibn Hambal [May Allaah have mercy on him] and knocked on his door, constantly with force. He then opened the door with a great deal of annoyance and rebuked the woman saying, “This is the knocking of the police!”

Look at the characteristics and mannerisms of the Companions [May Allaah be Pleased with them all] with the Prophet [May the Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him]. If they wanted to see him, they would knock and wait at the door of his house until they were seen to, as it was narrated by Imaam Bukhaaree in his book, Adab al-Mufrad, by al-Khateeb in his book al-Jaam’iah and by Imaam al-Qurtubee in his Tafseer [12/217].

This example can be applied to modern times where we have door bells; we should use these to let the person know that we are trying to reach them without being forceful, prolonging and not forgetting to be gentle.