وَإِذَا بَلَغَ ٱلْأَطْفَـٰلُ مِنكُمُ ٱلْحُلُمَ فَلْيَسْتَـْٔذِنُوا۟ كَمَا ٱسْتَـْٔذَنَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمْ ءَايَـٰتِهِۦ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ 59
Translations
And when the children among you reach puberty, let them ask permission [at all times] as those before them have done. Thus does Allāh make clear to you His verses; and Allāh is Knowing and Wise.
Transliteration
Wa-idha balagh al-atfal minkum al-hulm fa-l-yasta'dhinoo kama ista'dhana alladhina min qablihim. Kadhalika yubayyinu Allahu lakum ayatihi wa-Allahu alimun hakimun.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah establishes that when children reach the age of puberty (al-hulm), they must seek permission before entering private spaces, just as adults do, recognizing their transition to maturity and the need for privacy and dignity. Classical scholars like Al-Qurtubi and Ibn Kathir note this ayah reinforces social boundaries and respect for privacy during three specific times mentioned in the preceding verses (before dawn, midday, and after night prayer), teaching Muslims to recognize developmental stages and adjust social interactions accordingly. The ayah concludes by affirming that Allah clarifies His signs through such detailed guidance, emphasizing His infinite knowledge and wisdom in legislating what is best for human society.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah An-Nur (Chapter 24), a Medinan surah primarily addressing matters of modesty, morality, and household conduct. It appears within a passage (24:58-59) concerning permission-seeking in homes, which was revealed to establish Islamic etiquette and boundaries within family life, reflecting the practical concerns of the developing Muslim community in Medina.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari 5237 records that 'A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) explained the three times when permission is necessary based on these verses. Additionally, the hadith in Sunan Abu Dawud regarding children's accountability at puberty relates to the threshold of maturity mentioned in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us to recognize and respect the developmental stages of those around us, particularly acknowledging when children transition to maturity and require greater privacy and autonomy. It reminds Muslims that Islamic law is not rigid but adaptive, accounting for changing capacities and roles as individuals grow, and that respecting boundaries strengthens family bonds and community harmony.
Related Ayahs
يُقَلِّبُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّيْلَ وَٱلنَّهَارَ ۚ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَعِبْرَةً لِّأُو۟لِى ٱلْأَبْصَـٰرِ
Allāh alternates the night and the day. Indeed in that is a lesson for those who have vision.
فَإِن لَّمْ تَجِدُوا۟ فِيهَآ أَحَدًا فَلَا تَدْخُلُوهَا حَتَّىٰ يُؤْذَنَ لَكُمْ ۖ وَإِن قِيلَ لَكُمُ ٱرْجِعُوا۟ فَٱرْجِعُوا۟ ۖ هُوَ أَزْكَىٰ لَكُمْ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ عَلِيمٌ
And if you do not find anyone therein, do not enter them until permission has been given you. And if it is said to you, "Go back," then go back; it is purer for you. And Allāh is Knowing of what you do.
وَعَدَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مِنكُمْ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ لَيَسْتَخْلِفَنَّهُمْ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ كَمَا ٱسْتَخْلَفَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ وَلَيُمَكِّنَنَّ لَهُمْ دِينَهُمُ ٱلَّذِى ٱرْتَضَىٰ لَهُمْ وَلَيُبَدِّلَنَّهُم مِّنۢ بَعْدِ خَوْفِهِمْ أَمْنًا ۚ يَعْبُدُونَنِى لَا يُشْرِكُونَ بِى شَيْـًٔا ۚ وَمَن كَفَرَ بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْفَـٰسِقُونَ
Allāh has promised those who have believed among you and done righteous deeds that He will surely grant them succession [to authority] upon the earth just as He granted it to those before them and that He will surely establish for them [therein] their religion which He has preferred for them and that He will surely substitute for them, after their fear, security, [for] they worship Me, not associating anything with Me. But whoever disbelieves after that - then those are the defiantly disobedient.
ٱلْخَبِيثَـٰتُ لِلْخَبِيثِينَ وَٱلْخَبِيثُونَ لِلْخَبِيثَـٰتِ ۖ وَٱلطَّيِّبَـٰتُ لِلطَّيِّبِينَ وَٱلطَّيِّبُونَ لِلطَّيِّبَـٰتِ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ مُبَرَّءُونَ مِمَّا يَقُولُونَ ۖ لَهُم مَّغْفِرَةٌ وَرِزْقٌ كَرِيمٌ
Evil words are for evil men, and evil men are [subjected] to evil words. And good words are for good men, and good men are [an object] of good words. Those [good people] are declared innocent of what they [i.e., slanderers] say. For them is forgiveness and noble provision.