Bringing the Children Indoors and Closing Doors and Windows When Night Falls

Question: The question regarding a Hadith concerning our children to call them in when Maghrib comes in and Shaytaan spreads, we shall lock our doors and calm our children down, and after a period of time we shall let them loose again …. How do we understand this hadith?

Answer: The answer concerning the hadith of the Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم at the time of Maghrib: “When nightfalls, then keep your children close to you, for the devil spreads out then. An hour later you can let them free;[1]

The meaning of the hadith, as the Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم said, the Shayateen, at this time, spread out, they come out. So the child should not be left to go out at this time by himself. If he goes out with his Walee (his guardian) then there is no problem, Inshaa’Allaah with this but he should not be left to go out on his own because the Shayateen may abduct him or they may harm him. At this time nonetheless, the Shayateen are out and they are in large quantity and they might do types of harm. This is why we are ordered to bring the children in, calm them down or not let them out alone. As for closing the door, then the Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم, he ordered that you close your doors and you say the name of Allaah سبحانه و تعالى upon it because as in a hadith, the Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم said: “shut the doors making mention of Allaah’s Name, for the Satan does not open a closed door”[2]

Answered by: Shaykh ‘Abdul-Maalik Ramadaani al-Jazaairi

[1] Reported by Muslim in Kitaab al-Ashribah Vol. 3(#2012)
[2] Reported by Muslim in Kitaab al-Ashribah Vol 3. (#2012)

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