سورة النور

Ibn Abbas: مَلَکَتْ أَیْمَانُکُمْ [those whom your right hands possess]; this means that you should instruct your male and female slaves that if they wish to enter upon you at times of privacy, they must ask your permission.

Imam Baqir (peace be upon him): The verse refers specifically to slaves.

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): Zurarah narrates: Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) said regarding the verse: الَّذِینَ مَلَکَتْ أَیْمَانُکُمْ [those whom your right hands possess]: "This verse refers to men, not women." I said: "Must women also seek permission at these three times?" He said: "No, rather they may enter and leave." And regarding: وَ الَّذِینَ لَمْ یَبْلُغُوا الحُلُمَ مِنکُمْ [and those of you who have not attained puberty], he said: "Those among yourselves who have not reached the age of puberty must, like those who have reached puberty, seek permission to enter at these three times."

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): Fudayl ibn Yasar says: Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) was asked about the words of Allah: یَا أَیُّهَا الَّذِینَ آمَنُوا لِیَسْتَأْذِنکُمُ الَّذِینَ مَلَکَتْ أَیْمَانُکُمْ وَالَّذِینَ لَمْ یَبْلُغُوا الحُلُمَ مِنکُمْ ثَلَاثَ مَرَّاتٍ [O you who believe! Let those whom your right hands possess and those of you who have not attained puberty ask your permission three times]: "Who are those who must ask permission?" That Imam said: "Male and female slaves, and children who have not reached puberty, must ask permission to enter at the times of privacy: after the Isha prayer, which is the first third of the night, when you take off your clothes at midday, and before the Fajr prayer; and if they wish, they may enter without permission at times other than these."

Ali ibn Ibrahim: Allah forbade anyone from entering upon another at these three times — neither father, nor sister, nor mother, nor servant — unless he asks permission. These three times are after dawn, at midday, and after the last Isha prayer. Then, after these three times, He permitted it and said: لَیْسَ عَلَیْکُمْ وَ لاعَلَیْهِمْ جُناحٌ بَعْدَهُنَّ [there is no blame upon you nor upon them after these]; meaning after these three times. طَوَّافُونَ عَلَیْکُمْ بَعْضُکُمْ عَلی بَعْضٍ [some of you moving about among others].

Imam Baqir (peace be upon him): Whoever among you reaches puberty must not enter upon his mother, his daughter, his sister, or anyone else without permission, and permission is not to be granted to anyone until he offers the salam, for indeed the salam is obedience to Allah the Mighty and Majestic.

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): A servant who has reached puberty, even if his dwelling is within your house, must ask your permission at three times which are times of privacy and seclusion for you: one is the time of Isha, which is the first third of the night; and at daybreak; and when you remove your garments. Allah the Mighty and Majestic commanded this for the sake of privacy, for that is an hour of unguardedness and seclusion.