24. Surah an-Nur, Medina 102

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا ...

24:58. O ye who believe!

C3033. We now come to rules of decorum within the family circle in refined society.

Servants and children have rather more freedom of access, as they come and go at all hours, and there is less ceremony with them. But even in their case there are limitations. During the night, before morning prayer, i.e., before dawn, they must discreetly ask for permission before they enter, partly because they must not unnecessarily disturb people asleep, and partly because the people are then undressed.

The same applies to the time for the midday siesta, and again to the time after night prayers, when people usually undress and turn in to sleep.

For grown-ups the rule is stricter: they must ask permission to come in at all times (24:59).

... لِيَسْتَأْذِنكُمُ الَّذِينَ مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُكُمْ...

let those whom your right hands possess,

C3034. This would mean slaves in a regime of slavery.

But the principle applies to all personal servants who have to render personal service to their masters or mistresses by day and night.

...وَالَّذِينَ لَمْ يَبْلُغُوا الْحُلُمَ مِنكُمْ ثَلَاثَ مَرَّاتٍ...

and the (children) among you who have not come of age ask your permission (before they come to your presence), on three occasions,

C3035. 1 have translated "come of age" euphemistically for "attain the age of puberty".

...مِن قَبْلِ صَلَاةِ الْفَجْرِ وَحِينَ تَضَعُونَ ثِيَابَكُم مِّنَ الظَّهِيرَةِ وَمِن بَعْدِ صَلَاةِ الْعِشَاء...

- before morning prayer;

- the while ye doff your clothes for the noonday heat;

- and after the late-night prayer:

...ثَلَاثُ عَوْرَاتٍ لَّكُمْ...

these are your three times of undress:

C3036. It is a mark of refinement for ladies and gentlemen not to be slipshod or vulgarly familiar, in dress, manners, or speech; and Islam aims at making every Muslim man or woman, however humble in station, a refined gentleman or lady, so that he or she can climb the ladder of spiritual development with humble confidence in Allah, and with the cooperation of his brothers and sisters in Islam.

The principles here laid down apply, if they are interpreted with due elasticity, even if social and domestic habits change, with changes in climate or in racial and personal habits.

Punctilious self-respect and respect for others, in small things as well as great, are the key-notes in these simple rules of etiquette.

...لَيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ وَلَا عَلَيْهِمْ جُنَاحٌ بَعْدَهُنَّ...

outside those times it is not wrong for you or for them

...طَوَّافُونَ عَلَيْكُم بَعْضُكُمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍ...

to move about attending to each other:

...كَذَلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ اللَّهُ لَكُمُ الْآيَاتِ ...

thus does Allah make clear the Signs to you:

... وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ ﴿٥٨﴾

for Allah is full of knowledge and wisdom.