Q: Please can you tell me whether it is necessary to close all the windows and curtains at Maghrib time to protect oneself and one’s family from the jins?
A: Hazrat Jaabir bin Abdillah (Radiyallahu Anhu) reports that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) said that when evening approaches (i.e. the time before maghrib till the night sets in), keep your children indoors and do not allow them to leave the home. The reason we are instructed to keep the children indoors and not allow them to leave the home is because there are certain creations of Allah Ta’ala (e.g. Jinnaat and Shayaateen) that roam about at that time. Hence, in order to save the children from the harms of these creations, we are advised to keep them indoors. Similarly in the same Hadith Rasulullah (Sallalahu Alayhi Wasallam) said: When a portion of the night passes, cover all utensils and close all doors of the home (i.e. doors that are at the entrances or exits of the home) as Shaitaan does not enter homes where the doors are closed. In this Hadith we find mention is made of closing the doors at night and keeping the children indoors during the evening, however there is no Hadith that mentions that windows and curtains should be closed at any specific time. Nevertheless, one may close the windows and curtains at night during weather conditions (e.g. rain) or for purda purposes.
And Allah Ta’ala (الله تعالى) knows best.
جابر بن عبد الله رضي الله عنهما قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم إذا كان جنح الليل أو أمسيتم فكفوا صبيانكم فإن الشياطين تنتشر حينئذ فإذا ذهبت ساعة من الليل فخلوهم وأغلقوا الأبواب واذكروا اسم الله فإن الشيطان لا يفتح بابا مغلقا قال وأخبرني عمرو بن دينار سمع جابر بن عبد الله نحو ما أخبرني عطاء ولم يذكر واذكروا اسم الله (بخاري رقم 3304)
عن جابر بن عبد الله رفعه قال واكفتوا صبيانكم عند العشاء وقال مسدد عند المساء فإن للجن انتشارا وخطفة (أبو داود رقم 3735)
Answered by:
Mufti Zakaria Makada
Checked & Approved:
Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)