that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Whoever lifts the curtain so that his sight enters the house before he was given permission, and he seeks the nakedness of its inhabitants, then he has done something punishable which was not lawful for him to do. If it were that when he gazed into it, he was facing a man who lanced his eyes, there would be nothing wrong with him doing so. But if a man passes by a door that has no cover over it, and it is not closed and he looks, then there is no sin on him, the sin is only on the inhabitants of the house."
Hadith Text
"Whoever lifts the curtain so that his sight enters the house before he was given permission, and he seeks the nakedness of its inhabitants, then he has done something punishable which was not lawful for him to do. If it were that when he gazed into it, he was facing a man who lanced his eyes, there would be nothing wrong with him doing so. But if a man passes by a door that has no cover over it, and it is not closed and he looks, then there is no sin on him, the sin is only on the inhabitants of the house."
Source Reference
Book: Chapters on Seeking Permission
Author: Jami' at-Tirmidhi
Hadith: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2707
Scholarly Commentary
This hadith establishes the sanctity of private dwellings and the prohibition of spying into homes without permission. The Prophet ﷺ distinguishes between three scenarios: First, actively lifting curtains to peer inside seeking to expose private matters - this constitutes a major sin deserving punishment. Second, the hypothetical scenario where the gazer faces retaliation by having his eyes lanced - indicating the severity of the violation. Third, accidental viewing through an uncovered entrance - where responsibility falls upon the inhabitants for failing to maintain proper privacy.
Classical scholars explain that Islam protects personal privacy as a fundamental right. The prohibition applies regardless of whether one actually sees anything private, as the intention to violate privacy itself constitutes the transgression. The inhabitants' responsibility to cover their private areas does not absolve others from the duty to seek permission before looking.
This teaching emphasizes both individual responsibility to protect one's gaze and communal responsibility to safeguard household privacy. It forms part of the comprehensive Islamic etiquette regarding entering homes and respecting boundaries, as commanded in Surah An-Nur: "O you who have believed, do not enter houses other than your own houses until you ascertain welcome and greet their inhabitants." (24:27)