It is safer to avoid taking a bell at home!

1-1-2003 | IslamWeb

Question:

I need to know the Fatwa about having the bells at home.Its a small bell that can be used by shaking it with the hand.

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

Many sound Hadith discourage bells.

It is recorded in Sahih Muslim from Abu Hurairah that the Prophet said: “Angels do not go along with those people who have a dog or bell.”

Another sound Hadith from Abu Hurairah reads: "Bells are pipes of the Devil" [ Muslim ]

A third Hadith from Bunana, who was at 'Aa’isha's, mayAllaah be pleased with her, house that a young girl came to her (‘Aa’isha ) wearing small ringing bells. So, ‘Aa’isha said: 'Do not allow her to enter unless you cut out her small bells since I heard Allah's Messenger saying: “Angels do not enter a house if there is a bell in it.” [ Abu Dawood]

There is agreement among the four schools of Fiqh that prevention of bells does not mean prohibition; it is a matter of reprehensibility. Even al-Ahnaf said: 'This is confined to using bells in hostile state since bells may make enemy recognize the place of Muslim army'.

Here are some sayings of Fuquha in this concern.

1- Al-Sarkahsi in al-Sharh al-kabir, said: “some scholars follow the apparent meaning of the Hadith, and so, they disliked using bells on riding camels on journey and war as well using them in legs of the young. I think using bells is disliked during war (in a hostile state) since they indicate the place of Muslims. But, in the Muslim land, using bells is beneficial to the owner of riding camels.”

2- Al-Nifrawi in his book al-Fawakeh said: ‘It is disliked to escort dogs and bells since it is proved that they prevent the presence of Angels.’

3- Imam An-Nawawi in al-Majmu said: “It is disliked to attach a bell to a riding camel or shoes..”

4- Al-Bahwati in Kashf al-Qinaa, said: “It is disliked to fix bells to ….(camels, young….) for it is proved in al-Sunnah” .

5- Ibn Mufleh in al-Adaab said: “It is disliked to fix a bell something like that (i.e. making sound) to animals, since it is proved in al-Sunnah. It is also disliked for a traveler to do so”.

Therefore, it is safer for an inquirer to avoid using a bell in his house. Also, if there is need to use it for something lawful, it is better to use what can do the same function.

Allah knows best.