It is proven that Prophet Muhammad forbade a man to travel alone in several Hadiths. The prohibition to travel alone applies to the one who travels alone via empty and remote routes. If there is no risk of being lost, and where there are likely to be helpers and companions, there is no wrong with travelling alone.

The point is that whether we say that the hadith of Umm Salamah is sound or not, it is not recommended (mustahabb) to single out the festivals of the disbelievers for fasting; rather it is disliked (makruh) to do that. Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allah have mercy on him) said: It is not permissible to single out the festival days of the polytheists for fasting. End quote from al-Fatawa al-Kubra (5/378). An exception to that may be made for Saturdays and Sundays, according to those scholars who think that the hadith of Umm Salamah is sahih, as noted above.

Prophet Muhammad commanded us to close the doors at night and mention the name of Allah whilst closing them, when night begins, when going to sleep. That is so that the Muslim may protect his house and his family from any harmful devil coming in, whether from among mankind or the jinn, and also from harmful animals or insects coming in.

There is nothing wrong with you killing snakes that are outside the house. As for those that are found inside the house, they should not be killed until they have been warned for three days.

Etiquette of giving advice in Islam includes: • Your motive for giving advice should be love of good for your brother and hating for anything bad to befall him. • You should be sincere when giving advice, seeking thereby to please Allah. • That advice should be free of any element of deceit or betrayal. • You should not intend when giving advice to shame your brother or put him down. • The advice should be given in a spirit of brotherhood and friendship, with no element of rebuke or harshness. • Giving advice should be done on the basis of knowledge and clear proof. • The advice should be given privately, not out loud in front of people, unless doing so serves a clear interest that outweighs any negative consequences.