What is the ruling on placing dates and palm fronds when spreading out food, on the belief that nothing like the lizard will come to it?
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The questioner : O Shaykh, may Allah preserve you: Some people, O Shaykh, when they spread out food, O Shaykh, place palm fronds and date leaves on it. They put dates there so they can say: Nothing will come to the lizard, right?
The Shaykh : By Allah, we learned this a long time ago when we were young. They say that the lizard, which is what people fear, runs away from palm fronds and dates. For this reason, it is used as a proverb when a person, for example, has accidents or nothing comes to him; they say: This is a date that the lizard cannot handle. Yes, this is a custom. I do not know if this is true or not. But the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered that a cover be placed on the vessel, even if it is just a stick. Therefore, it is recommended that if there is leftover food, dates, or anything else edible in the vessel, a person should place something on it, even if it is just a stick, as the Sunnah has come. Yes, in order.
The Shaykh : By Allah, we learned this a long time ago when we were young. They say that the lizard, which is what people fear, runs away from palm fronds and dates. For this reason, it is used as a proverb when a person, for example, has accidents or nothing comes to him; they say: This is a date that the lizard cannot handle. Yes, this is a custom. I do not know if this is true or not. But the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered that a cover be placed on the vessel, even if it is just a stick. Therefore, it is recommended that if there is leftover food, dates, or anything else edible in the vessel, a person should place something on it, even if it is just a stick, as the Sunnah has come. Yes, in order.