Cover the pot
On the authority of Jabir ibn Abdullah, may God be pleased with him, who said: I heard the Messenger of God, may God bless him and grant him peace, say: “Cover the vessel and tie the waterskin, for there is a night in the year in which an epidemic descends and it does not pass by an uncovered vessel or an untied waterskin without some of that epidemic descending into it .” [Muslim]
On the authority of Jabir, may God be pleased with him, on the authority of the Messenger of God, may God bless him and grant him peace, that he said: “Cover the vessel, tie up the waterskin, close the door, and Extinguish the lamp, for Satan does not untie a waterskin, open a door, or uncover a vessel. If one of you can find nothing but a stick over his vessel and mention the name of God, then let him do so, for the wicked will set fire to the house of the people of the house .” [Muslim]
On the authority of Jabir, may God be pleased with him, who said: The Messenger of God, may God bless him and grant him peace, said: “When it is the dead of night – or when it is evening – then restrain your children, for the devil spreads out at that time. When an hour of the night has passed, then let them go, close the doors, and mention the name of God, for the devil does not open a closed door. Tie up your water skins, mention the name of God, cover your vessels and mention the name of God, even if you have to expose something to them, and extinguish your lamps . “
And in Al-Bukhari, from the hadith of Jabir, may God be pleased with him, it is also said: “And tie up your water skins, and mention the name of God, and cover your vessels, and mention the name of God , even if you have to expose something to them . “
The Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace, used to warn about matters of public safety that prevent harm or bring benefit. The Prophet’s, may God bless him and grant him peace, commandments were not only for the sake of the afterlife, but he, may God bless him and grant him peace, used to combine for his nation the good of this world and the afterlife.
(Cover the vessel) by placing a cover on every vessel that contains food or drink. In another narration, (cover) and another narration, (turn the vessel upside down) ; Meaning: turn it upside down, and do not leave it for the devil to lick, or for vermin and filthy creatures to lick. What is meant is: turn it upside down if it is empty, or cover it if there is something in it. The command is for encouragement, especially at night.
The prophetic command: “Cover the vessel.” The vessel here has been interpreted in other narrations as meaning what is in it of food and drink. On the authority of Jabir, may God be pleased with him, that the Messenger of God, may God bless him and grant him peace, said: “Extinguish the lamps when you go to sleep, close the doors, tie up the water skins, and cover the food and drink – and I think he said – even if it is with a stick that you expose it to.” [Bukhari].
But it was mentioned in a statement by Muslim: “He does not pass by a vessel that does not have a cover, or a water skin that does not have a strap, except that some of that plague will fall into it.” This may include – on the surface – an empty vessel as well.
Ibn Daqeeq al-Eid, may God have mercy on him, said: “It appears that what is meant by covering a vessel is that there is something in it, and this is supported by the narration of Hammam and Ata’, on the authority of Jabir, in a hadith in which he mentioned: ((Ferment food and drink)) , Hammam said: I think it was: ((even with a stick)) ; [narrated by al-Bukhari], for the reason it will come with the descent of an epidemic on one night of the year, and that it does not pass by a vessel that does not have a cover, or a water skin that does not have a strap, except that some of that epidemic descends into it. So if this is the reason, then it is not specific to a vessel that has something in it, for the descent of an epidemic into an empty vessel may be harmful when something is used that is in it after that…”; [end].
Jabir’s hadith was also reported by Muslim with the wording: On the authority of Jabir, on the authority of the Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace, with this hadith, except that he said: “And turn the vessel over, or cover the vessel . “
Al-Baji, may God have mercy on him, said: “His statement, may God bless him and grant him peace: ‘And turn the vessel upside down’ means turn it over. His statement, may God bless him and grant him peace:’Or cover the vessel’ may be a doubt on the part of the narrator. What is more apparent is that it is the wording of the Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace, and that its meaning is: Turn it upside down if it is empty, or cover it if there is something in it; for that prevents the devil from taking anything from what is in the full one, or following anything from what is in the empty one of remainder or smell.” [End quote].
In any case: it is safer to cover an empty vessel, and there is no difficulty in that.
If it is left uncovered, it is better to wash it, if possible.
If he does not do any of that, then it has been previously stated that it is not forbidden to benefit from the food or drink that is placed in it afterwards, and it is not even disliked.
((And tie up the water skin)) from ikaa’, which means tightening and tying. Wikaa’ is what the mouth of the water skin is tied with. What is meant by water skin is what water or milk and the like are placed in. This is because during the year there is a night – or a day – in which an epidemic, which is a disease, descends. This disease does not pass through an uncovered vessel that does not have a cover, or an open water skin that does not have a strap to tie it, except that it descends into them and this disease afflicts them, little or much.
With the mention of the name of God in this characteristic and the characteristics before and after it, the name of God is the long, wide wall, and the thick, impenetrable veil from all evil; so in it is a group of comprehensive types of etiquette, the sum of which is the name of God in every action, movement, and stillness; to obtain safety from worldly and otherworldly calamities.
Ahmad narrated on the authority of Aisha, may God be pleased with her, that she said: The Messenger of God, may God bless him and grant him peace, said: “Do not drink except from what is filled with water .” [Good according to others].
((And close the door)) , and in the hadith of Ata’ on the authority of Jabir bin Abdullah, may God be pleased with them both, he said: ((Cover the vessels, close the water skins, close the doors, and keep your children away from the evening meal, for the jinn spread out and snatch)) .
((And put out the lamp)) , and in the Sahih on the authority of Ata’ on the authority of Jabir: ((Put out the lamps when you go to sleep, close the doors, and mention the name of God)) .
Muslim narrated on the authority of Abu Musa, may God be pleased with him, who said: A house burned down with its occupants in Medina at night. When the Messenger of God, may God bless him and grant him peace, was told about their situation, he said: “This fire is an enemy to you, so when you sleep, put it out . ”
((For Satan)) here refers to the genus, that is, the devils, ((He does not untie a water skin, nor open a door, nor uncover a vessel)) over which the name of God has been mentioned.
This is another indication that there is another reason for covering utensils, which is that Satan is keen to spoil a person’s food and make it permissible.
He wants to say that Satan is harmful and has a share in what is stored and in the vessel, and that the way to guard against him is as the Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace, informed us.
((And mention the name of God)) ; for Satan does not open a closed door; that is, he is not able to do so; because the name of God Almighty is the real lock.
And Ahmad narrated from the hadith of Abu Umamah: “They” meaning the devils, “were not given permission to climb over it” [Sahih]; meaning: God did not give them the ability to do that climbing, if the name of God is mentioned at every time it is mentioned; for it is the secret that prevents, and the command is advisory, and it was said: it is recommended, and its implication is that he is able to do all of that if the name of God is not mentioned.
Ibn Daqeeq al-Eid hesitated about this, saying: “It is possible that his statement: ((For Satan does not open)) is directed at its generality, and it is possible that it is specific to what God’s name was mentioned over, and it is possible that the prevention is due to a matter related to his body, and it is possible that it is due to a prevention from God due to a matter outside his body.
He said: The hadith indicates that the external devil is prevented from entering. As for the devil who was inside, the hadith does not indicate that he left, so that is to reduce the corruption, not to repel it. It is possible that the invocation of God when closing the door requires expelling the devils in the house. Based on this, the invocation of God should be from the beginning of the closing until its completion. Some of them have deduced from it the permissibility of closing the mouth when yawning, because it is included in all doors metaphorically.” [End quote].
Ibn al-Arabi said: “This is a type of power that only monotheists believe in. It is that Satan acts in strange and wondrous matters, and penetrates into narrow pores, and the memory renders him unable to solve the lock and the bond, and to penetrate through all doors and outlets.”
((If one of you cannot find anything but a stick to place on his vessel)) ; that is, he should place it on it crosswise, if the vessel is square. If it is round, then all of it is crosswise.
((And let him mention the name of God, so let him do it)) , and not leave it.
He said in “Sharh Kitab Ghayat al-Bayan Sharh Ibn Raslan”: Some of them acted according to the Sunnah in covering with a stick, and in the morning a snake was found coiled around the stick, but it did not descend into the vessel. However, the stick should not be exposed to the vessel except with the mention of the name of God; for the secret of protection is the name of God Almighty with sincerity of intention.
The hadith indicates the importance of preserving this Sunnah, so much so that the Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace, instructed the simplest of things to preserve a vessel, which is: Whoever does not find anything to cover his vessel with should place something over his vessel, even if it is a stick.
((The mouse)) meaning: the mouse. He called it a mouse because it has the meaning of immorality, which is disobedience. The diminutive is for disparagement. ((It sets fire)) to ignite ((their house)) for the people of the house.)) meaning: it burns it quickly. He set the fire: he lit it.
Al-Muhallab said: As for extinguishing the lamp, he explained it because of the mouse, which sets people’s homes on fire.
He said in the hadith of Jabir: “And the mouse may drag the wick and burn the people of the house.” It was narrated on the authority of Ibn Abbas, may God be pleased with them both: “A mouse came, dragged the wick, and threw it in front of the Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace, on the mat on which he was sitting, and it burned an area of it the size of a dirham. So he, may God bless him and grant him peace, said: When you sleep, put out your lamps, for the devil guides this and its like to that, and it burns you . ”
Al-Tahawi narrated on the authority of Yazid bin Abi Naim that he asked Abu Saeed Al-Khudri: Why is the mouse called Al-Fuwaisiqah? He said: ((The Prophet woke up one night and found a mouse taking a wick to burn down the house. So he went to it and killed it, and he permitted killing it for both lawful and unlawful people . ))
This explains the reason for the command to extinguish the fire, and the reason that led the mouse to drag the wick, which is Satan. He – the enemy of man – seeks help from another enemy, which is fire.
The mentioned orders are for guidance to worldly interest and desirability, especially for those who intend to comply with them.
It includes: taking the necessary measures while fully trusting in God Almighty.
It includes: Whoever complies with this advice will be safe from harm, by the power and strength of God. The benefit of this is from three aspects:
One of them: That there is a night in the year in which an epidemic descends and it does not pass by a vessel that is not covered or a water skin that is not covered, except that some of that epidemic descends into it.
Second: The devil does not touch water skin or uncover a vessel.
Third: Protecting it from impurities, filth, and the like, such as insects and vermin (anything that has poison that kills) .
Al-Nawawi, may God have mercy on him, said in “Sharh Sahih Muslim”: “The scholars mentioned benefits for the command to cover, including the two benefits that were mentioned in these hadiths, which are: protecting it from Satan, for Satan does not uncover a cover, nor does he remove a waterskin, and protects it from the plague that descends on one night of the year. The third benefit: protecting it from impurity and filth, and the fourth : protecting it from insects and vermin, for perhaps something of them falls into it and he drinks it while he is unaware, or at night, and he is harmed by it, And God knows best.” [End quote].
This hadith is something that cannot be understood by the knowledge and science of doctors, and it has been known by those who know it from among the wise people through experience.
Al-Layth bin Saad, one of the narrators of the hadith, said: “The non-Arabs among us fear that night in the year in December.”
It was authentically reported that he ordered the vessel to be covered even if he had to offer it a stick. There is wisdom in offering it a stick so that he would not forget to cover it, but rather he would get used to it even with a stick.
It is mentioned that the creeping thing may want to fall into it, so it passes over the stick, and the stick becomes a bridge for it, preventing it from falling into it.
It was authentically reported that he ordered the mention of God’s name when covering a vessel. Mentioning God’s name when covering a vessel drives away Satan, and covering it drives away vermin. Therefore, he ordered the mention of God’s name in these two places for these two meanings.
Abu al-Abbas al-Qurtubi, may God have mercy on him, said in “Al-Mufhim Sharh Sahih Muslim”: “His statement: ((Cover the vessel and tie the water skin)) ; All the commands in this chapter are from the category of guidance to worldly interest; like the statement of God Almighty: { And bring to witness when you make a transaction} [Al-Baqarah: 282], and it is not the command that was intended to be an obligation, and its ultimate goal is to be from the category of recommendation, rather many of the scholars of the principles of jurisprudence have made it a separate category in itself of obligation and recommendation”; [end].
If a Muslim forgets a vessel without a cover, he uses what is in it of food or drink and does not throw it away. This is what is indicated by the hadith of Jabir, who said: “We were with the Messenger of God, may God bless him and grant him peace, and he asked for water. A man said: O Messenger of God, should we not give you wine to drink? He said: Yes. The man went out running and brought a cup of wine. The Messenger of God, may God bless him and grant him peace, said: Why did you not cover it, even if you put a stick over it? He said: Then drink.” [Muslim]
Abu al-Abbas al-Qurtubi, may God Almighty have mercy on him, said: “His drinking, may God bless him and grant him peace, from a vessel that had not been fermented is evidence that drinking from something that has not been fermented or covered is not forbidden, nor is it disliked.”
Because the Sunnah only commanded that vessels be covered, Abu Dawud, may God have mercy on him, said: “I said to Ahmad: Is it permissible to perform ablution with uncovered water? He said: The Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace, only commanded that it be covered – meaning: the vessel – he did not say: one should not perform ablution with it.” [End quote].
But Abu Bakr al-Athram narrated: I heard Ahmad ibn Hanbal asked about a man who performs ablution at night without covering it, so he said: I do not like it unless it is covered, because the Messenger of God, may God bless him And grant him peace, said: “Cover the vessels . “
A Muslim should put his trust in God Almighty, take what is in the vessel, and not throw it away out of doubt.
He should also be consistent in the morning and evening applications, as they are a fortress for him against everything that harms his religion and his worldly life. Among this is the hadith narrated by Abaan ibn Uthman, who said: I heard Uthman ibn Affan say: The Messenger of God, may God bless him and grant him peace, said: “There is no servant who says every morning and every evening: ‘In the name of God with whose name nothing on earth or in heaven can harm, and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing,’ three times, nothing will harm him .” [At-Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud]
The fact that the food and drink container is in a closed house is not sufficient, as indicated by the Sunnah. The nature of the container and the food and drink in it is that it should be in a house with a roof and a door, and not in the street or an open place.
The command to cover the vessel and close the door came in one text, which indicates that closing the door alone is not sufficient: ((Cover the vessel, tie up the waterskin, close the door, and extinguish the lamp…)) [Muslim].
As for storing food and drink in the cupboards designated for them, or in refrigerators, this, according to people’s customs, protects the food from harm, and we hope that this is sufficient to achieve the Prophet’s etiquette in this regard.
If a person is cautious and puts a special cover on the container, even if it is in the refrigerator or cupboard, then that is better and safer, in any case.
Do not cover the vessel while eating or drinking, because this is not usually possible, and the Sunnah did not mention it at all, and people do not do such a thing. It is closer to being fanatical and affecting than to following the Sunnah.
Ibn Daqeeq al-Eid, may God have mercy on him, said: “Each of the two precautions, I mean the religious and the worldly, is praiseworthy in a known amount, and if a person exceeds it, he is considered blameworthy. So, caution in purification is praiseworthy in terms of piety, and excess in that leads to obsessive thoughts and extremism in religion. Likewise, caution in terms of worldly harms leads to excess in terms of weak trust and excessive attachment to causes, which is blameworthy. { Allah has already set for everything a [decreed ] measure } [At-Talaq: 3], and the difference between the two situations is subtle and difficult to know, and it has a long path and consideration related to the topic of trust. “ [End quote].