Question
Should a husband knock before entering their room given that the wife is inside the room because she might be lying in bed, or she is unkempt?
Answer
Assalamu alaykum,
Thank you for your question.
Etiquette
It is from the excellence of manners and high character that a husband, or anyone, knocks and seeks permission before he enters someone’s room so that the person is not taken off guard and does not get embarrassed over their state. Although it is not obligatory, you should communicate to him that you would prefer that he knocks.
Patience
It will take a while for him to get used to this and until then, you should use the bathroom with the door locked for changing and the like, and not expect perfection from him when he forgets to knock. Don’t anger at him if he forgets, and you should also not get uptight if he sees you unkempt, after all, he is your husband.
May Allah give you the best of this world and the next.
[Ustadha] Shazia Ahmad
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Ustadha Shazia Ahmad lived in Damascus, Syria, for two years, where she studied aqidah, fiqh, tajweed, Tafseer, and Arabic. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin, where she completed her Master’s in Arabic. Afterward, she moved to Amman, Jordan, where she studied fiqh, Arabic, and other sciences. She recently moved back to Mississauga, Canada, where she lives with her family.