in the nominative, meaning: these times are three times of privacy for you. They are called times of privacy because a person removes his garments during them, and his private parts may be exposed.

“There is no blame upon you or upon them”—that is, upon the slaves, servants, and children—“for entering upon you without permission after them,” meaning after these three times. “They move about among you,” that is, the slaves and servants move freely among you, coming and going in the course of their duties without permission; “one among another,” that is, they move about among one another. “Thus Allah makes His signs clear to you; and Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.”

The scholars differed concerning the ruling of this verse. Some held that it has been abrogated. (1)

Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, said: The people had neither curtains nor partitions, and servants and slave girls would enter upon them and might see something of them that they disliked others seeing. They were therefore commanded to seek permission. But Allah expanded their provision, and people acquired curtains, so he held that this rendered seeking permission unnecessary. (2) (3)

Others held that it has not been abrogated. Sufyan narrated from Musa ibn Abi A'ishah, who said: I asked al-Sha'bi about this verse: “Let those whom your right hands possess ask your permission.” Has it been abrogated? He replied, “No, by Allah.” I said, “But people do not act upon it.” He said, “Allah is the One whose help is sought.” (4)

Sa'id ibn Jubayr said concerning this verse: “Some people say that it has been abrogated. By Allah, it has not been abrogated; rather, it is one of the matters people have treated negligently.” (5)