The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 4) — Page 352
CH. 24 AN-NŪR PT. 18 عَلَى أَهْلِهَا ذَلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ. saluted the inmates thereof لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ That is better for you, that you may be heedful. 2610 2610. Important Words: أنس به and أنس is derived from تستأنسو and all mean the استأنس به and أنس اليه and same thing, i. e. he was or became استأنس. friendly or familiar with him means, he looked; he considered or examined, endeavouring to obtain a clear knowledge of a thing; he looked about to ascertain if he could see anyone; he enquired; he asked permission (Lane & Aqrab). See also 20:11. Commentary: Whereas in the preceding few verses light was shed on two of the most serious moral crimes, which destroy domestic peace and social security, in this and the following few verses all those avenues and ways through which these two evils find their way among a people have been discussed, and rules of conduct which effectively put a stop to them have been prescribed. The Quran does not, like the Bible, confine itself to merely laying down a prohibitory command- ment couched in such general terms, "do not do this" but gives also the why and wherefore of its command- ments and lays down also the remedy and cure of the moral disease about which a certain commandment is given. The preceding verses had dealt with the evils of adultery and scandal- mongering and had prescribed suitable punishments to put a stop to 2266 these evils. With the verse under comment, however, begin those injunctions and commandments which serve as preventive measures against these evils. The first injunction is that one should not enter a house other than his own without first notifying his arrival by saluting its inmates and seeking their permission and without first eliciting whether they want to see him. This injunction, though apparently very simple and elementary, if made the general rule of conduct, is calculated to save much trouble and suspicion. It would not only put a stop to possible scandals but would also serve to save people from being seen in conditions likely to give rise to suspicion and the privacy of the houses will also not be intruded upon. It may also be inferred from this verse that unauthorized entry into an office leads to the dislocation of office work and waste of time, therefore, before entering it, permission should be sought from the concerned authority, and visitors should notify their coming by saluting the inmates. Salutation also helps the inmates to recognize the visitor. The practice of sending in a name-slip or introduction card to a person with whom interview is sought in his office or home is a correct way of finding out whether or not he agrees to seeing the visitor and is in conformity with the above mentioned Quranic injunction.