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Riyad as-Salihin 1654

The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “Cover up the (kitchen) containers (i.e., pots, pans, etc.), tie up the mouth of the water-skin, lock up the doors and extinguish the lamps,…

Jabirnarrated it
Sahihgraded sahih
2names in the chain
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وعن جابر رضي الله عنه عن

النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: «غطوا الإناء، وأوكئوا السقاء، وأغلقوا الأبواب، وأطفئوا السراج، فإن الشيطان لا يحل سقاء، ولايفتح بابًا ولايكشف إناءً، إن لم يجد أحدكم إلا أن يعرض على إنائه عودا، ويذكر اسم الله، فليفعل، فإن الفويسقة تضرم على أهل البيت بيتهم»

The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “Cover up the (kitchen) containers (i.e., pots, pans, etc.), tie up the mouth of the water-skin, lock up the doors and extinguish the lamps, because Satan can neither untie the water-skin nor open the door nor uncover the containers. If one can cover the cooking pot even by placing a piece of wood across it, and pronounce the Name of Allah on it, let him do it. A mouse can sometimes cause a house to burn along its dwellers.”

Riyad as-Salihin 1654, Book 18, The Book of the Prohibited actions, Hadith 144. 1 min read

What it means

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) ordered that vessels should be covered to safeguard them against insects and other harmful creatures, and against diseases that may dwell therein. Also, he ordered Muslims to fasten waterskins and close doors, given the worldly and religious interests that such an action involves, as well as protecting lives and properties from evil and corrupt people.

He also guided Muslims to extinguish lamps to protect houses and its occupants from the harms of fire. The Hadīth is concerned with the time of sleep at night, and it tells that the devil does not open closed waterskins, doors, or vessels. So, if one is unable to cover a vessel with something that can completely cover it in such a way that nothing of its contents appears, he should not leave it uncovered.

Rather, he should place a stalk over it in a horizontal position, and mention the name of Allah, the Exalted, while covering the vessel, fastening the waterskins, or closing the doors. The Hadīth also mentions that, in most cases, mice may tamper with lamps and other inflammable objects if they are left without extinguishing them before sleep, and this could be a cause for setting the inhabitants of the house on fire while they are sleeping.

From the Encyclopedia of Translated Prophetic Hadiths, hadeethenc.com.

The chain

Who passed it on, from Imam an-Nawawi back to the one who was there.

  1. 1Imam an-NawawiCompiler, died 676 AH
  2. 2جابرFrom

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