Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2690

Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.

Abu Sa‘id reported: Abu Musa sought permission to enter upon ‘Umar, saying, ‘Peace be upon you; may I come in?’ ‘Umar said, ‘One.’ Abu Musa was silent for a while, then said, ‘Peace be upon you; may I come in?’ ‘Umar said, ‘Two.’ He was silent for a while, then said, ‘Peace be upon you; may I come in?’ ‘Umar said, ‘Three.’ Abu Musa then left. ‘Umar asked the gatekeeper what he had done. The gatekeeper said, ‘He left.’ ‘Umar said, ‘Bring him to me.’ When Abu Musa came, ‘Umar asked, ‘What was this you did?’ He replied, ‘The Sunnah.’ ‘The Sunnah?’ ‘Umar said. ‘By Allah, you must bring me proof or a witness for this, or I will take action against you.’

Abu Musa then came to a group of the Ansar and said, ‘O assembly of the Ansar, are you not the most knowledgeable people about the hadiths of Allah’s Messenger? Did Allah’s Messenger not say, “Seeking permission is three times; if you are given permission, enter; otherwise, go back”?’ The people began joking with him. Abu Sa‘id said: I then raised my head toward him and said, ‘Whatever punishment you receive in this matter, I will share it with you.’ Abu Musa went to ‘Umar and told him, and ‘Umar said, ‘I did not know of this.’

There are reports on this topic from ‘Ali and Umm Tariq, the freedwoman of Sa‘d. Abu ‘Isa said: This is a hasan sahih hadith. Al-Jurayri’s name was Sa‘id ibn Iyas, and he was kunyah’d Abu Mas‘ud. Others also transmitted it from Abu Nadr, whose name was al-Mundhir ibn Malik ibn Quta‘ah.