Maghrib Time
1. Preventing children from playing outside at this time.
2. Locking the doors at the beginning of Maghrib time and mentioning Allāh’s name.
Applying these two acts of Sunnah protects from the evil of devils and Jinn. Preventing children from playing outside particularly at this time will protect them against devils. In addition, locking the doors and mentioning Allāh’s name will keep devils away. This shows the great attention of Islam to protecting homes and kids from evil.
This is proven by the following Hadeeth:
Jābir Ubn ‘Abdillāh (ABPWH) narrated that Allāh’s Messenger (PBUH) said,
“When night falls keep your children indoors, for the devils spread out at that time. When an hour of the night elapses, you can let them go. Close the doors and mention the Name of Allāh, for Satan does not open a closed door.”
(Al-Bukhāriy no. 3304, Muslim no. 2012)
However, it should be noted that keeping children indoors and closing the doors is just a recommended Sunnah, not an obligation. (Fatāwā of the Permanent Committee, 26/317)
3. Praying two Rak‘ahs before Maghrib prayer.
‘Abdullāh Ibn Mughaffal Il-Muzaniy (ABPWH) narrated that the Prophet (PBUH) said,
“Offer a prayer before Maghrib prayer,” and he said in the third time of his command, “… for any one who wishes,” so that people would not take it as a regular or assured Sunnah.
(Al-Bukhāriy no. 1183)
It is also Sunnah to pray two Rak‘ahs between the Adthān and the Iqāmah of any of the daily obligatory prayers:
Praying any two Rak‘ahs of Sunnah would suffice for these two Rak‘ahs. This includes any two Rak‘ahs of regular Sunnah that can be performed at this time, such as the two Rak‘ahs of regular Sunnah before Fajr or Dthuhr. On the other hand, if a person is sitting in the mosque and for example the Adthān of ‘Asr or ‘Ishā’ is performed, and there is no specific regular Sunnah to be performed, it is still Sunnah to stand up and offer two Rak‘ahs of Sunnah between Adthān and Iqāmah.
This is proven by the following Hadeeth:
‘Abdullāh Ibn Mughaffal Al-Muzaniy (ABPWH) narrated that the Prophet (PBUH) said,
“There is a prayer between every two Adthāns (Adthān and Iqāmah),” he said it three times and he added, “… for any one who wishes.”
(Al-Bukhāriy no. 624, Muslim no. 838)
There is no doubt that the two Rak‘ahs before Maghrib or between Adthān and Iqāmah are not assured Sunan like the regular Sunan are, but they can rather be left sometimes. It is for this reason that the Prophet (PBUH) said, “… for any one who wishes,” to make sure that people do not consider them as a regular or assured Sunnah.
4. It is disliked to sleep before ‘Ishā’ prayer.
Abu Barzah Al-Aslamiy (ABPWH) narrated,
“The Prophet (PBUH) used to favor delaying‘Ishā’ prayer, and he used to dislike sleeping before it and talking after it.”
(Al-Bukhāriy no. 599, Muslim no. 647)
The reason why sleeping before ‘Ishā’ prayer is disliked is that it is feared that one might oversleep, and this may cause him to miss ‘Ishā’ prayer.