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The Person Who is Seeking Permission Should Stand To The Right Or To The Left Of The Door, But Not Directly In Front of it.

This is so that he does not see something that is unlawful for him to see or something that the owner of the home would not like him to see. After all, seeking permission was legislate only because of sight. ‘Abdullah Ibn Yusr (RA) said, “ When the Prophet (saas) would arrive at the door of people, he would not face the door directly, but rather (he would be) at its right or left corner. And he (saas) would say, ‘As-Salaamu ‘Alaikum, As-Salaamu ‘Alaikum,’ and that is because homes would not have covers over them in those days^.(1) Huzail (Ra) said, “ A man came and stood at the door of the Prophet (saas) seeking permission to enter. He stood before the door, directly facing it. The Prophet (saas) said to him,

        “Like this or like this (perhaps indicating that he should stand to the right or to the left of the door, but not directly before it), for seeking permission is (legislated) for sight only.”⁽⁽²⁾  

Footnote:

(1)     Related by Ahmad (17239) and Abu Daawood (5186)