Keeping Children Indoors At Maghrib Time?

[ummtaalib]

Q. In many Muslim regions it is considered that it is prohibited to go outside after sunset (during Salah al-Maghrib), especially it concerns children. whether there are bases at this custom in Islam?

 

 

 

A. The practice of preventing children from going outdoors at the time of Maghrib is established from the Hadith. Sayyiduna Jabir (Radiyallahu Anhu) reports that the Prophet of Allah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said:

 

“When it starts to become dark at night, keep your children indoors for the Shayateen (plural of Shaitaan) roam around at this time. When the time for Esha passes, you may let them out” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith #: 3280)

 

Due to the time of Maghrib being a time of high traffic for Shayateen and Jinn, it is emphasized for children to remain indoors as they are most vulnerable to the interference of such creatures. 

 

In the event of there being a need for children to be taken outdoors at the time of Maghrib, parents should at least encourage the children to recite the three Quls (Surah al-Ikhlaas, al-Falaq and an-Naas) thrice each or the parents should recite and blow on the children if they are not able to recite it themselves.

 

 

And Allah Knows Best

 

Mufti Suhail Tarmahomed

Fatwa Department

Jamiatul Ulama (KZN)

Council of Muslim Theologians

[ummtaalib]

Keeping children indoors at Maghrib time

 

Q: What is the ruling regarding taking infant children outside at the time of Maghrib?

A: The Hadith teaches us that around the time of Maghrib children should be kept indoors. They should not be allowed to go outside as there are certain creations of Allah Ta'ala (e.g. Jinnaat and Shayaateen) that roam about at that time and may cause harm to the children. Therefore, in order to save the children from the harms of these creations, we are advised to keep them indoors. However, the Hadith also explains that when when a portion of the night passes, then the children may be allowed to go outside.

And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.

عن ابن جريج أخبرني عطاء أنه سمع جابر بن عبد الله يقول قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم إذا كان جنح الليل أو أمسيتم فكفوا صبيانكم فإن الشيطان ينتشر حينئذ فإذا ذهب ساعة من الليل فخلوهم وأغلقوا الأبواب واذكروا اسم الله فإن الشيطان لا يفتح بابا مغلقا وأوكوا قربكم واذكروا اسم الله وخمروا آنيتكم واذكروا اسم الله ولو أن تعرضوا عليها شيئا وأطفؤا مصابيحكم (مسلم رقم 2012)

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)