Jinns – At maghrib time

Question:

I have always heard that we should be careful mostly during itime as one may come in way of Jinn and they may do magic on you. Is this true? 
Assalamu Alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh

Thank you for your question.

There are many fables about what goes on during this time. It is not a fear of possession or magic at that time however the shayateen in general are most active at that time. Therefore what is authentically narrated is that the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wa salam) said:

“When night falls (or when it is evening), stop your children from going out, for the devils spread out at that time. But when an hour of the night has passed, release them and close the doors and mention Allah’s Name, for Satan does not open a closed door. Tie the mouth of your waterskin and mention Allah’s Name; cover your containers and utensils and mention Allah’s Name. Cover them even by placing something across it, and extinguish your lamps. ” (Bukhari)

With that being said, we still see that the companions carried on during these times without paranoia. They simply observed what the Prophet (SalAllahu alayhi wa salam) advised in the hadeeth above however their lives were not disrupted as they at times travelled during maghrib, walked to the masjid, etc.

And Allah knows best.

Answered by Shaykh Omar Suleiman
Hadith of the Day Imam
Director – Islamic Learning Foundation