Ruling on burying nails, cutting them at night and saying Bismillaah over them

Q. Some peoplel tell me that cutting nails at nighttime is not allowed, and also i'v been taught that we have to spit and say bismillah on the nail or hair 3 times before throwing it in the garbage,...so that shaytan will not be able to take it or use it...

Praise be to Allaah.

There is no basis for saying that cutting the nails at night is haraam; rather a person may cut his nails whenever he wants, at any time of day or night.

Similarly, there is no basis for saying that one must say Bismillaah three times over nails or hair before throwing them away, otherwise the Shaytaan will use them. It is also not correct to say that they must be buried; a hadeeth was narrated concerning that which is da’eef jiddan (very weak). It is permissible to throw them in the garbage or down the drain, or to bury them. If a person fears that they may fall into the hands of those who practise sihr (witchcraft) then he should dispose of them in a place where they will not be able to get hold of them. And Allaah knows best.