لَّيْسَ عَلَى ٱلْأَعْمَىٰ حَرَجٌ وَلَا عَلَى ٱلْأَعْرَجِ حَرَجٌ وَلَا عَلَى ٱلْمَرِيضِ حَرَجٌ وَلَا عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِكُمْ أَن تَأْكُلُوا۟ مِنۢ بُيُوتِكُمْ أَوْ بُيُوتِ ءَابَآئِكُمْ أَوْ بُيُوتِ أُمَّهَـٰتِكُمْ أَوْ بُيُوتِ إِخْوَٰنِكُمْ أَوْ بُيُوتِ أَخَوَٰتِكُمْ أَوْ بُيُوتِ أَعْمَـٰمِكُمْ أَوْ بُيُوتِ عَمَّـٰتِكُمْ أَوْ بُيُوتِ أَخْوَٰلِكُمْ أَوْ بُيُوتِ خَـٰلَـٰتِكُمْ أَوْ مَا مَلَكْتُم مَّفَاتِحَهُۥٓ أَوْ صَدِيقِكُمْ ۚ لَيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ جُنَاحٌ أَن تَأْكُلُوا۟ جَمِيعًا أَوْ أَشْتَاتًا ۚ فَإِذَا دَخَلْتُم بُيُوتًا فَسَلِّمُوا۟ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِكُمْ تَحِيَّةً مِّنْ عِندِ ٱللَّهِ مُبَـٰرَكَةً طَيِّبَةً ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمُ ٱلْـَٔايَـٰتِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ 61
Translations
There is not upon the blind [any] constraint nor upon the lame constraint nor upon the ill constraint nor upon yourselves when you eat from your [own] houses or the houses of your fathers or the houses of your mothers or the houses of your brothers or the houses of your sisters or the houses of your father's brothers or the houses of your father's sisters or the houses of your mother's brothers or the houses of your mother's sisters or [from houses] whose keys you possess or [from the house] of your friend. There is no blame upon you whether you eat together or separately. But when you enter houses, give greetings of peace upon each other - a greeting from Allāh, blessed and good. Thus does Allāh make clear to you the verses [of ordinance] that you may understand.
Transliteration
Laysa 'ala al-a'ma harajun wa la 'ala al-a'raja harajun wa la 'ala al-mareed harajun wa la 'ala anfusikum an ta'kulu min buyutikum aw buyut aba'ikum aw buyut ummahatikum aw buyut ikhwanikum aw buyut akhawatikum aw buyut a'mmamikum aw buyut ammatikum aw buyut akhalikum aw buyut khalatikum aw ma malaktum mafatihahu aw sadiqikum. Laysa 'alaykum junahun an ta'kulu jami'an aw ishtatan. Fa-idha dakhaltum buyutan fa-sallimu 'ala anfusikum tahiyyatan min 'indi Allah mubarakatan tayyibatan. Kadhalika yubayyinu Allah lakum al-ayat la'allakum ta'qilun.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah addresses the exemption from restrictions for those with physical disabilities (the blind, lame, and sick) and establishes permissibility of eating from the houses of one's relatives and close friends without seeking prior permission, as these are considered extensions of one's own home. When entering homes, believers are commanded to offer a blessed, pure greeting (as-salamu alaikum) as an Islamic etiquette, which Ibn Kathir explains is both a practical courtesy and a spiritual invocation of divine blessings. The ayah emphasizes that Islamic law considers circumstances with compassion and establishes principles of mutual trust and familial bonds within the Muslim community.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in the Medinan period, addressing practical matters of daily life in the Muslim community as they established their social and legal norms. It comes within Surah An-Nur's broader discussion of ethical conduct, household matters, and the refinement of Islamic manners (adab), reflecting the gradual establishment of a cohesive Muslim society.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, 'The best of you are those who have the best manners' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi). Also relevant is the hadith in Sahih Bukhari where the Prophet emphasized greetings (salam) as a means of spreading peace and love among believers.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that Islam accommodates human limitations with mercy and builds community through trust and proper etiquette rather than rigid formalism. Modern believers should recognize that Islamic law prioritizes both spiritual principles and practical compassion, while maintaining courtesy and respect through proper social conduct, even in familiar settings.