Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

 

 

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Assalaam Alaykum

 

Please tell me in the Light of Quran and Hadith ( as you always do ) whether these are permissible and which of these would amount to ‘SHIRK’.

 

1. We should not sleep or eat during maghrib time ( between ½ and hour before and after dusk. They say such sleep will bring in disease. Is it so? (They are not stressing for prayer, for eg. Even if I wake up exactly for prayer, perform Maghrib prayer and sleep immediately after prayer, then also then will object to my sleep. Their belief is that one should not sleep or even lye down in awake state during that time when night is approaching. They call that time “the time when lights are turned on”” vilaku vaikum neram” in tamil, and I think this kind of belief might have been copied from Hinduism as the hindus in someway consider a lamp to mean divinity and progress( I think).

 

2. We should not wear our new dresses on Tuesdays because those dresses will get burnt or lost. Is it so?

 

3. We should not cut nails at night, on Tuesday,and not a piece of the fingernails should fall inside the house, as they will bring in poverty. Is it so?

 

4. We should not rest our heads in such a way that our palm touches our chin or cheeks or even the head and we should not also sleep in such a way that our head is upon our hand or vice-versa. Is it so?

 

5. We should not cut paper unnecessarily as it will bring debt to the house ( it will make us debtors ). Is it so?

 

6. We should not grow nails long as it will bring bad luck, ( I think I read in a book that shaythaan will sit on the nails) Is it so?

 

7. We should not sit or stand on the entrance (door-sill) as it will make us debtors. Is it so?

 

8. We should not sit with our legs stretched towards someone who is eating it is a disrespect towards our food and that would make us go hungry someday. Is it so?

 

9. If a dead person comes in our dreams and gives us money we will never be bankrupt in life, if they give us food we will never go hungry in life, and if they call us to go with them , then the person who saw that dream is going to meet his death very soon. Is it so?

 

10. When giving in charity at our doorstep we should not give it in such a way that the giver is inside the entrance and receiver is outside. The giver should either step out or call the receiver inside. Is it so? Even though some of the above like cutting nails is good the intention and belief is (I think) away from Islam and Tauheed. If we believe that something can benefit us or harm us OTHER THAN ALLAAH, then it is SHIRK, Am I right? So please tell me whether any of these practices is ordered or recommended or at least allowed Holy Quran or Hadeeyths.

 

 PLEASE ALSO TELL WHETHER THESE ARE ‘SHIRK’? Thank you, Wassalaam

 (There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

 

Answer:

 

Are these practices shirk or not?

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His  forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol,  no person,  no grave, no prophet,  no imam,  no dai,  nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad(saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

 

Q-1:  We should not sleep or eat during maghrib time ( between ½ and hour before and after dusk. They say such sleep will bring in disease. Is it so? (They are not stressing for prayer, for eg. Even if I wake up exactly for prayer, perform Maghrib prayer and sleep immediately after prayer, then also then will object to my sleep. Their belief is that one should not sleep or even lye down in awake state during that time when night is approaching. They call that time “the time when lights are turned on”” vilaku vaikum neram” in tamil, and I think this kind of belief might have been copied from Hinduism as the hindus in someway consider a lamp to mean divinity and progress( I think).

I have not come across a hadith which prohibits the eating of food between the Magrib and Isha times;    but there is an hadith whereby the Messenger of Allah (saws) forbade the believers to sleep between the times of Magrib and Isha prayers.    The basic reasoning being that in the times of the Prophet (saws),  there was obviously no electricity,  and if the people went to sleep after Magrib,  it would be difficult for them to attend the Isha prayers on time.    The sleep has nothing to do with any particular disease,  nor from Hinduism….but from the guidance of the Messenger of Allah (saws).

 

Q-2:  We should not wear our new dresses on Tuesdays because those dresses will get burnt or lost. Is it so?

Every day and every night belongs to Allah Subhanah!    There is absolutely no such thing in Islam that one should not wear anything new on any particular day for fear of being burnt or lost,  or whatever…..  These are ignorant superstitions,  and have absolutely no basis in the deen of Islam.  

If one believes that wearing a new dress on Tuesday will bring him some harm,  then it would be a form of shirk.

 

Q-3:  We should not cut nails at night, on Tuesday,and not a piece of the fingernails should fall inside the house, as they will bring in poverty. Is it so?

Again,  this is a superstition,  and have absolutely no basis in the deen of Islam.   One may cut his fingernails at any time of the day and night,  and on any day of the week;  and may dispose off his fingernails anywhere he wishes to do so!   

If one does believe that cutting nails on a particular day,  and dropping the fingernails in the house will bring him any disaster;  it would be a manifestation of shirk.

 

Q-4:  We should not rest our heads in such a way that our palm touches our chin or cheeks or even the head and we should not also sleep in such a way that our head is upon our hand or vice-versa. Is it so?

The only  position that the Messenger of Allah (saws) forbade to sleep was on the stomachs.   Other than that,  one may sleep in any position he likes.    It is also the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws) that he would normally sleep with his body turned towards the right,  with his face resting on the palm of his right hand or his right arm.

 

Q-5:  We should not cut paper unnecessarily as it will bring debt to the house ( it will make us debtors ). Is it so?

The above is a superstition;  and superstitions of any kind have absolutely no basis or authority in the deen of Islam.  

If one believes that cutting paper will bring debt upon them,  then it would be a manifestation of shirk.

 

Q-6:  We should not grow nails long as it will bring bad luck, ( I think I read in a book that shaythaan will sit on the nails) Is it so?

There is no such thing as something will bring good luck and/or bad luck on a believer.   Good and bad,  whatever befalls a human being,  are nothing more than a trial for the person from his Lord,  who tests to see who among them are grateful when bestowed upon with good,  and who amongst men are patient when some calamity befalls him.

 

The cutting of the nails is what is called a natural ‘fitrah’ and a means of cleanliness;  and have absolutely nothing to do with good or bad luck!    It is the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws) to regularly cut his nails,  as soon as they grow long.

 

Q-7:    We should not sit or stand on the entrance (door-sill) as it will make us debtors. Is it so?

Again,  this is a superstition and nothing to do with the guidance of Islam.   One may sit in any clean and pure place,  whether it be at the entrance of the house,  or deep inside the house.   

To believe that sitting at the entrance will bring debt or any calamity upon the person,  would be a manifestation of shirk.

 

Q-8:   We should not sit with our legs stretched towards someone who is eating it is a disrespect towards our food and that would make us go hungry someday. Is it so?

Sitting with ones legs outstretched is considered dishonoring the person or thing in some cultures;  and has nothing to do with Islam.    There are many authentic narrations where  the Prophet (saws) and his noble companions would sit with their backs resting on the Kaabah itself, or where some companion was sitting with his legs outstretched towards another companion.   

To believe that if one sits with his legs outstretched towards someone who is eating will bring hunger or any evil upon them,  is a form of shirk.

 

Q-9:  If a dead person comes in our dreams and gives us money we will never be bankrupt in life, if they give us food we will never go hungry in life, and if they call us to go with them , then the person who saw that dream is going to meet his death very soon. Is it so?

Every good dream is from Allah,  and every evil dream is from the Shaitaan.   Some dreams indeed have a meaning or mission behind them from our All Knowing Lord;  and when one has a good dream,  he must consult a good Islamic scholar,  who might be able to guide the brother towards the true interpretation of the dream from the Sunnah of the Messenger (saws).

 

If one has a bad or evil dream,  he must not share this dream with anyone.   The Messenger of Allah (saws) guided the believers that when one wakes up from an evil dream,  he should ‘spit’ three times over his left shoulder and immediately seek the protection and refuge of Allah Subhanah by reciting, “Aoodo Billahe minas Shaitaan ar Rajeem” (I seek refuge in Allah,  from Shaitaan,  the cursed);   and no evil will befall him,  Insha Allah.

 

Q-10:  When giving in charity at our doorstep we should not give it in such a way that the giver is inside the entrance and receiver is outside. The giver should either step out or call the receiver inside. Is it so?

One may spend and give in the Way of Allah,  any which way he likes and wherever he likes;  provided his intention is the Pleasure and Good Will of Allah Subhanah Alone.

There is absolutely no restriction in giving it from inside the doorstep,  over the doorstep,  above the doorstep,  or from anywhere else.   The important thing is that one gives charity in the Way of Allah and his sole intention is to earn the Pleasure and Good Will of his Bounteous Lord.

 

Q-11:  Even though some of the above like cutting nails is good the intention and belief is (I think) away from Islam and Tauheed. If we believe that something can benefit us or harm us OTHER THAN ALLAAH, then it is SHIRK, Am I right?

You are absolutely right!   Nothing can harm or benefit us,   except with the permission of our Lord and Creator,  Allah Subhanah!   Thus there is absolutely no need to fear anyone or anything or anytime or anyplace;   but a true believer must fear Allah Subhanah Alone and put his full trust in Him.   

 

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 10 Surah Yunus verses 106-107:

And do not call besides Allah,  any being that can neither do you any good nor any harm.  For if you will do so,  you shall be one of the doers of wrong.  If Allah afflicts you with a calamity,  there is none to remove it,  but He Himself.  Likewise,  if Allah wills to bestow a favor on you,  there is none to withhold Allah’s bounty.   He bestows His bounty on anyone of His servants He wills.  And He is The Forgiving,  The Merciful.

 

To believe that anything or anyone or to do something at any time or any place can bring upon us even an iota of benefit or harm,  would be mistrust and disbelief in the ‘Qadr’ or Divine Decree of our Lord,  and thus a form of ‘shirk’!    No one or no thing has any power to bring harm or benefit upon someone.  

 

All Power and All Strength belong to Allah Subhanah Alone.

 

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me.  Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

 

 

Your Brother in Islam,

 

 

Burhan