Some people place incense in old houses, claiming they are incensing them for the angels, and they place pieces of cloth and incense them. What is the ruling?
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The questioner : The listener from al-Madinah al-Munawwarah, Umm 'Abdullah, says: I hope my message will be presented to His Eminence Shaykh Muhammad al-'Uthaymeen. In her first question, she says: His Eminence, some people place incense in old houses, claiming they are incensing them for the angels, and they place pieces of cloth and incense them. What is the ruling of the Shari'ah in your view in this matter? May you be rewarded.
The Shaykh : I say that this group are charlatans, foolish in their minds, misguided in their actions. The angels cannot have their abode in ruined places. Ruined places can be a refuge for the jinn or Shaytan, but the angels' abode on earth is the houses of Allah (Mighty and Majestic), as came in the hadith from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) regarding one who eats garlic or onion, he said:Sahih Muslim 564c The good things are for the good people, and the good people are for the good things. And more misguided than that is that they incense these places, and likewise they place clothes?
The questioner : Yes, and they place pieces of cloth.
The Shaykh : Pieces of cloth.
The questioner : And they incense them.
The Shaykh : So all of this is misguidance in religion and foolishness in intellect. It is obligatory for one who knows of this to disapprove of the one who does it and to clarify to him that this is a great error, and that the angels (peace be upon them) are more noble and more honored in the sight of Allah than to have their abode in these ruined houses. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.
The Shaykh : I say that this group are charlatans, foolish in their minds, misguided in their actions. The angels cannot have their abode in ruined places. Ruined places can be a refuge for the jinn or Shaytan, but the angels' abode on earth is the houses of Allah (Mighty and Majestic), as came in the hadith from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) regarding one who eats garlic or onion, he said:
should not approach our mosque for the angels are harmed by the same things as the children of Adam.
فلا يقربن مساجدنا فإن الملائكة تتأذّى مما يتأذّى منه بنو ءادمThe questioner : Yes, and they place pieces of cloth.
The Shaykh : Pieces of cloth.
The questioner : And they incense them.
The Shaykh : So all of this is misguidance in religion and foolishness in intellect. It is obligatory for one who knows of this to disapprove of the one who does it and to clarify to him that this is a great error, and that the angels (peace be upon them) are more noble and more honored in the sight of Allah than to have their abode in these ruined houses. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.