On the matter of seeking permission to enter.

The Shaykh : There is no specific manner or fixed form for seeking permission three times; rather, that depends on the layout of the house according to the custom of the floor; for example, whether the residents are inside, deep within the house, or just behind the door. Did you understand me?

The questioner: Yes.

The Shaykh : If the person entering, it is not necessary for him to knock in succession; rather, he knocks once, then once, then once; meaning, there should be an interval between the first and second knock, and likewise between the second and third. Then, if the residents of the house have, for example, only one room, and it is merely a matter of knocking on the door, we say that they will hear it, so the knocker does not need to wait this long pause. In short, there is no specific system for these three knocks; rather, it depends on the situation of the door or the house whose door is being knocked on.

The questioner : Does one turn awayThe questioner : after hearing a sound, or before hearing a sound? One knocks on the door: "Peace be upon you," after hearing that someone is coming, or until the person inside hears it?

The Shaykh : Both are obligatory, and this also varies; if he knocks and waits and no one responds, then he raises his voice with the greeting. And if he knocks and someone responds, he offers the greeting. Again, in this same matter, the situation of the house whose door is being knocked on is taken into consideration.

The questioner : Is the existence of electric doorbells measured by this?

The Shaykh : Yes?

The questioner : These electric doorbells.

The Shaykh : Yes, and although some people dislike this bell because it is called a bell, it is better that this be something other than a bell, like the one that imitates the sound of a bird; what do you call it?

The questioner : ... .

The Shaykh : It is not a bell; a bell makes a ringing sound.

The questioner : ... .

The Shaykh : How do they distinguish between this and that?

The questioner : ... .

The Shaykh : ... No, in terms of expression.

The questioner : It appears that he calls the bird sound a bell or something like that.

The Shaykh : Is that how it is now...?

The questioner : Yes.

The Shaykh : Fine; and what about the old one?

The questioner : A bell...

Another questioner : A ringer, meaning it is better for one to choose the sound of a bell over the sound of a bird, of course.

The Shaykh : How?

Another questioner : It is better to choose a bell...

The Shaykh : To avoid disagreement.

Another questioner : Like a telephone, for example.

The Shaykh : Yes?

Another questioner : Likewise, the telephone.

The Shaykh : The telephone, is there something of this in the telephone?

Another questioner : Yes, like this, O Shaykh...

The Shaykh : The ordinary telephone...

Another questioner : It has a bell.

The questioner : It has new tones.

The Shaykh : It has new tones?

The questioner: Yes.

The Shaykh : ... It resembles music, which is not permissible, but he says it resembles the sound of a bird.

The questioner : Fine; regarding seeking permission; meaning, is the same issue applicable to the telephone, O Shaykh? Meaning, do I let the telephone ring three times and then stop? Or do some people prolong this matter?

The Shaykh : There is no need; because the telephone performs the duty of repetition by its very nature; is that not so?
I mean, when the telephone rings here, it does not ring once and stop until he turns the dial a second time; rather, as soon as the person requesting it turns the dial, it rings with you multiple times, it continues ringing and ringing until... or until news arrives that no one is answering it, so it is not... the repetition.

The questioner : I mean the caller; meaning, if it rings three times, meaning it rings once, then another, then a third; do I hang up after that? Meaning, do I cut the call? I am the caller now.

The Shaykh : I understand, you only requested it once, but the device requests it once after another.