Is this hadeeth saheeh? "At the time of sunset, we say Bismillaah and
close the windows so that the jinn will not enter.".
Praise be to Allaah.
It is narrated in a saheeh report that the Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) commanded us to close the doors and
mention the name of Allaah at night, when night begins, when going to
sleep. That is so that the Muslim may protect his house and his family
from any harmful devil coming in, whether from among mankind or the
jinn, and from harmful animals or insects coming in.
It was narrated from Jaabir ibn 'Abd-Allaah (may Allaah be pleased
with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)
said:
"When the wings of the night spread - or when evening comes - keep
your children in, for the devils come out at that time. Then when part
of the night has passed, let them go. And close the doors and mention
the name of Allaah, for the shaytaan does not open a closed door. And
tie up your waterskins and mention the name of Allaah, and cover your
vessels and mention the name of Allaah, even if you only put something
over them, and extinguish your lamps."
Narrated by al-Bukhaari (3280) and Muslim (2012). A version narrated
by Muslim says:
"Cover vessels, tie up waterskins, close doors and extinguish lamps,
for the shaytaan does not undo waterskins or open doors or uncover
vessels."
Imam al-Nawawi included this in a chapter entitled:
Chapter of the command to cover vessels, tie up waterskins, close
doors and mention the name of Allaah over them, and extinguish lamps
and fires when going to sleep, and keeping children and livestock in
after sunset. End quote.
Muslim (2013) narrated in the same chapter that Jaabir ibn 'Abd-Allaah
(may Allaah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace
and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "Do not let your animals
and children go out when the sun has set, until the first part of the
night is over, for the devils come out when the sun sets, until the
first part of the night is over."
Ibn Hibbaan narrated it in hisSaheeh(4/90) as follows:
"Tie up your water skins and close your doors when you go to bed at
night, and cover food and drink, for the shaytaan comes, and if he
does not find the door closed he will enter, and if he does not find
the waterskin tied up he will drink from it, and if he finds the door
closed and the waterskin tied up, he does not open any water skin and
he does not open a closed door, and if one of you cannot find
something to cover his vessel in which is his drink, let him a place a
stick over it."
Imam Ibn Abd al-Barr (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
In this hadeeth there is a command to close doors of houses at night.
This is a Sunnah which is enjoined to protect people against the
devils of mankind and the jinn. As for the words "the shaytaan does
not open a closed door and he does not untie a water skin" this is
telling us of the blessing of Allaah, may He be glorified and exalted,
to his human slaves, for he(the shaytaan) has not been given the
power to open the door, or undo a water skin or uncover a vessel;
these things have been forbidden to him, even though he has been given
the power to do some things that are more difficult than that, such as
going through and penetrating in ways that man cannot. End quote.
Al-Istidhkaar, 8/363
Al-Haafiz Ibn Hajar (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
Ibn Daqeeq al-'Eid said: in the command to close doors there are both
religious and worldly benefits which protect lives and wealth from
evildoers, and especially the devils.
As for the words "the shaytaan does not open a closed door," this is
an indication that the command to close doors serves the purpose of
keeping the shaytaan away from mixing with people. The reason given is
something that can be known through Revelation. The definite article
is referring to the type, it does not mean any specific individual.
End quote.
Fath al-Baari, 11/87.
He also said (may Allah have mercy on him):
Al-Qurtubi said: All commands on this issue are aimed at serving an
interest for man, and are to be understood as recommendations,
especially with regard to the one who does that with the intention of
following the command.
Ibn al-'Arabi said: Some people think that the command to close doors
is general and is applicable to all times, but that is not the case.
Rather it is limited to the night. It is as if the night is singled
out in this case because the day is usually the time when people are
awake, unlike the night. The whole idea is connected to the shaytaan,
because he is the one who makes the mouse burn the house. End quote.
Fath al-Baari, 6/356 -- 357
Al-Khateeb al-Sharbeeni al-Shaafa'i (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
When night comes, it is Sunnah to cover vessels even if only with a
stick, to tie up water skins, and to close doors, mentioning the name
of Allaah in all three cases, and to keep children and livestock in
during the first part of the night, and to extinguish lamps when going
to sleep. End quote.
Mughni al-Muhtaaj, 1/31
Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
When going to sleep, one should close the door.
And Allaah knows best.
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