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عَنْ جَابِرٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «إِذَا كَانَ جِنْحُ اللَّيْلِ أَوْ أَمْسَيْتُمْ فَكُفُّوا صِبْيَانَكُمْ فَإِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ يَنْتَشِرُ حِينَئِذٍ فَإِذَا ذَهَبَ سَاعَةً مِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَخَلَّوهُمْ وَأَغْلِقُوا الْأَبْوَابَ وَاذْكُرُوا اسْمَ اللَّهِ فَإِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ لَا يَفْتَحُ بَابًا مُغْلَقًا وَأَوْكُوا قِرَبَكُمْ وَاذْكُرُوا اسْمَ اللَّهِ وَخَمِّرُوا آنِيَتَكُمْ وَاذْكُرُوا اسْمَ اللَّهِ وَلَوْ أنْ تعرِضوا عَلَيْهِ شَيْئا وأطفئوا مصابيحكم» وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ لِلْبُخَارِيِّ: قَالَ: «خَمِّرُوا الْآنِيَةَ وَأَوْكُوا الْأَسْقِيَةَ وَأَجِيفُوا الْأَبْوَابَ وَاكْفِتُوا صِبْيَانَكُمْ عِنْدَ الْمَسَاءِ فَإِن للجن انتشارا أَو خطْفَة وَأَطْفِئُوا الْمَصَابِيحَ عِنْدَ الرُّقَادِ فَإِنَّ الْفُوَيْسِقَةَ رُبَّمَا اجْتَرَّتْ الفتيلة فأحرقت أهل الْبَيْت» وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ لِمُسْلِمٍ قَالَ: «غَطُّوا الْإِنَاءَ وَأَوْكُوا السِّقَاءَ وَأَغْلِقُوا الْأَبْوَابَ وَأَطْفِئُوا السِّرَاجَ فَإِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ لَا يَحُلُّ سِقَاءً وَلَا يَفْتَحُ بَابًا وَلَا يَكْشِفُ إِنَاءً فَإِنْ لَمْ يَجِدْ أَحَدُكُمْ إِلَّا أنْ يعرضَ على إِنائِه عوداً ويذكرَ اسمَ اللَّهَ فَلْيَفْعَلْ فَإِنَّ الْفُوَيْسِقَةَ تُضْرِمُ عَلَى أَهْلِ الْبَيْت بَيتهمْ» وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ لَهُ: قَالَ: «لَا تُرْسِلُوا فَوَاشِيكُمْ وَصِبْيَانَكُمْ إِذَا غَابَتِ الشَّمْسُ حَتَّى تَذْهَبَ فَحْمَةُ الْعِشَاءِ فَإِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ يَبْعَثُ إِذَا غَابَتِ الشَّمْسُ حَتَّى تذْهب فَحْمَة الْعشَاء» وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ لَهُ: قَالَ: «غَطُّوا الْإِنَاءَ وَأَوْكُوا السِّقَاءَ فَإِنَّ فِي السَّنَةِ لَيْلَةً يَنْزِلُ فِيهَا وَبَاءٌ لَا يَمُرُّ بِإِنَاءٍ لَيْسَ عَلَيْهِ غِطَاءٌ أَوْ سِقَاءٌ لَيْسَ عَلَيْهِ وِكَاءٌ إِلَّا نَزَلَ فِيهِ من ذَلِك الوباء»
Translation

Abu Musa said that when a house in Medina was burned down during the night over its inhabitants and the Prophet was told, he said, “This fire is just an enemy to you, so when you go to sleep extinguish it.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Comment

Foods - Mishkat al-Masabih 4301

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. All praise is to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and peace and blessings upon His final Messenger Muhammad.

Textual Analysis

This noble hadith narrated by Abu Musa al-Ash'ari (may Allah be pleased with him) addresses a tragic incident where a house in Medina burned during the night, causing harm to its inhabitants. The Prophet (peace be upon him) responded with profound wisdom, declaring fire as an "enemy" and commanding its extinguishment before sleep.

Legal Ruling (Hukm)

The scholars of jurisprudence unanimously agree this hadith establishes the obligation (wujub) of extinguishing fires and lamps before sleeping. This ruling falls under the Islamic legal principle of "preventing harm before it occurs" (sadd al-dhara'i). Imam Nawawi states in Sharh Sahih Muslim that this command indicates a strong emphasis approaching obligation.

Wisdom and Benefits

The Prophet's description of fire as "an enemy" reveals its inherent danger. Like a vigilant soldier guards against enemies, Muslims must guard against this destructive element. This teaching embodies the Islamic principle of taking preventive measures (ihtiyat) in worldly matters. The timing specification ("when you go to sleep") shows the particular vulnerability during unconscious states.

Contemporary Application

In our times, this wisdom extends to all potential hazards - ensuring electrical appliances are switched off, gas valves closed, and heating sources secured. The principle encompasses modern fire safety measures like smoke detectors and fire extinguishers. This hadith teaches that safety precautions are not contrary to trust in Allah (tawakkul) but rather fulfill the requirement of taking appropriate means (asbab).

Spiritual Dimensions

Beyond physical safety, the scholars note symbolic meanings: just as we extinguish physical fires, we must extinguish the "fires" of anger, desire, and disobedience that burn within our hearts. The night represents times of spiritual vulnerability when Satan's whispers are strongest, requiring extra vigilance in both physical and spiritual domains.