Leaving food uncovered overnight

Question:-

What is the ruling regarding food that has been left uncovered overnight? May it be eaten or should a Dua be read over it, or should one rather feed it to birds etc.?

Answer:-

The Hadith of Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam states that utensils should be covered at night, or turned over. The reason provided in some narrations is that Shaytaan appears at night and if he finds the water utensil uncovered, then he drinks from it. A narration of Saheeh Muslim states that a plague descends one night in the year and enters those utensils that are left uncovered (if it passes over it). [Muslim Pg.171 Vol.2]

There is no harm in leaving such food for the birds or animals so that one is protected from the remains of Shaytaan or illnesses.

أوكئوا الأسقية وأغلقوا الأبواب إذا رقدتم بالليل؛ وخمروا الشراب والطعام، فإن الشيطان يأتي فإن لم يجد الباب مغلقا دخله، وإن لم يجد السقاء موكأ شرب منه، وإن وجد الباب مغلقا والسقاء موكأ لم يحل وكاء ولم يفتح بابا مغلقا؛ وإن لم يجد أحدكم لإنائه الذي فيه شرابه ما يخمره به فليعرض عليه عودا.” – عن جابر”. (كنز العمال)

ALLAH TA’ALA KNOWS BEST!

ANSWERED BY:-

Mufti Mohammed Desai

Date: 25 Rabi-ul-Aakhir 1444 / 20 November 2022