When night falls, keep your children indoors, for it is at this time that the devils disperse

والصَّلَاةُ والسَّلاَمُ عَلَى سَيّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ أَشْرَفِ اْلمُرْسَلِيْنَ وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ الطَّيّبِيْنَ الطَّاهِرِيْن

It is among the recommended matters for those who wish to sleep to follow the guidance of the Prophet ﷺ as reported by Jabir ibnu ^Abdi l-Lah, may Allah accept his deeds. He said:

“إذا كانَ جُنْحُ اللَّيْلِ -أوْ قال: أمْسَيْتُمْ- فَكُفُّوا صِبْيانَكُمْ؛ فإنَّ الشَّياطِينَ تَنْتَشِرُ حِينَئِذٍ، فإذا ذَهَبَ ساعَةٌ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَخَلُّوهُمْ، فأغْلِقُوا الأبْوابَ، واذْكُرُوا اسْمَ اللَّهِ؛ فإنَّ الشَّيْطانَ لا يَفْتَحُ بابًا مُغْلَقًا، وأَوْكُوا قِرَبَكُمْ واذْكُرُوا اسْمَ اللَّهِ، وخَمِّرُوا ءانِيَتَكُمْ واذْكُرُوا اسْمَ اللَّهِ، ولو أنْ تَعْرُضُوا عليها شَيئًا، وأَطْفِئُوا مَصابِيحَكُمْ”

“When night falls—or when you enter the evening—restrain your children, for the devils spread at that time. Once a portion of the night has passed, let them be. Close your doors and mention the Name of Allah, for the devil cannot open a closed door. Tie the mouths of your water skins and mention the Name of Allah. Cover your vessels and mention the Name of Allah, even if you simply cover them with something and extinguish your lanterns.”

(Narrated by Al-Bukhariyy and Muslim)

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ taught his ‘Ummah how to avoid the harm of the devil. The prophetic guidance served as safety measures to preserve the interests of the Muslims. He commanded that children be prevented from dispersing and going outside during the onset of night, as this is when the devils are most active. They move about from sunset until a while after nightfall. After this period, they should be allowed to go. The Prophet ﷺ feared for the children during the spread of the jinn and devils, as they might approach and harm them, for Allah has granted the devil power in this regard.

The wisdom behind their spread at that time is that nighttime provides them with a greater capacity for movement than daylight, as darkness consolidates the demonic forces more effectively than at any other time. Likewise, all forms of obscurity foster their activity. It is said that the devils seek aid from the darkness and hold a deep aversion to the light.

The Prophet ﷺ also instructed the closing of doors with the mention of Allah’s Name, emphasising that the devil cannot open a closed door, as Allah has not granted him such power, despite being endowed with ability and strength in other matters. He further directed securing the openings of water skins with a tight fastening and covering vessels, even if only by placing a stick of wood across them, while invoking Allah’s Name during these actions. Furthermore, he advised extinguishing lanterns with the mention of Allah’s Name. This was because the lanterns, which were fuelled by fire, could occasionally ignite unintended blazes.

Dividing the night between rest and prayer

^Abdu l-Lah ibnu ^Amr ibnu l-^As -may Allah accept his deeds- narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to him:

“أَحَبُّ الصَّلاَةِ إِلَى اللهِ صَلاَةُ دَاوُدَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام، وَأَحَبُّ الصِّيَامِ إِلَى الله صِيَامُ دَاوُدَ، وَكَانَ يَنَامُ نِصْفَ اللَّيْلِ وَيَقُومُ ثُلُثَهُ، وَيَنَامُ سُدُسَهُ، وَيَصُومُ يَوْما وَيُفْطِرُ يَوْما”

"The most beloved prayer to Allah is the prayer of Dawud, peace be upon him, and the most beloved fasting to Allah is the fasting of Dawud. He would sleep half the night, engage in worship for a third of it, and sleep for a sixth of it. He would fast one day and he would not fast on the following day."

(Narrated by Al-Bukhariyy and Muslim)