Question:
There is a statement that says: Clean your houses from spider webs, dust, cobweb layers and dirt. If these are left in the house, poverty will come. This is mentioned in Tafsir al-Qurtubi, Volume 7, page 260. Is this narration authentic?
Answer:
The claim is that if spiders build webs in the house and you leave them without removing them, poverty will come. It is said that in Tafsir al-Qurtubi such a statement also exists.
First of all, Tafsir al-Qurtubi is not a book of Hadith. It is a commentary on the Qur’an. While explaining verses, the author sometimes quotes Hadith. He also includes statements of scholars and sometimes his own views. So, whenever we see something in any book, we must check whether it clearly says “The Messenger of Allahﷻ said…” Whether it is in Tafsir al-Qurtubi or in Ibn Kathir, we must see who said it.
In Tafsir al-Qurtubi, this statement appears in the form: “It is narrated from Ali (رضي الله عنه).” It is only mentioned as a narration attributed to Ali. There is no chain of transmission (sanad) mentioned. It does not say from whom Ali heard it, and through which narrators it reached the author.
The wording says: It is narrated from Ali (رضي الله عنه): “Clean your houses from spider webs. Leaving them in the house brings poverty. “This is the first point: It is not a statement of the Messenger of Allahﷻ.
Second: Even if it is attributed to Ali (RA), how can Ali (RA) declare that leaving spider webs will cause poverty? Matters of unseen consequences such as poverty coming because of a specific act must be based on revelation. If the Prophetﷺ said it, we could say it is revelation. But Ali (RA) cannot independently declare that a particular act will cause poverty unless there is revelation.
If someone says spider webs cause hygiene issues, attract germs, and create health problems — that is something anyone can say based on observation. But to claim that poverty will come because of it — that is linking two unrelated things.
There is no logical or practical connection between spider webs and poverty. Even wealthy palaces have spider webs. Are all those owners poor? Therefore, we are not obligated to accept such a statement merely because it is attributed to Ali.
Third: There is no authentic chain proving that Ali actually said this. Even if a chain exists, it must be examined.
It is mentioned in some works that a scholar named Salabi recorded this narration with a chain attributed to Ali. But in that chain appears Abdullah ibn Maymun al-Qaddah. Scholars have severely criticized him. He was accused of fabricating Hadith. When a narrator is suspected of fabrication, the narration is classified as fabricated (mawdu’). If someone merely has weak memory, it becomes weak Hadith. But if someone is accused of lying, the narration is rejected completely.
Imam Bukhari said about him that his Hadith should not be accepted. Abu Zur’ah said he is weak in Hadith. Tirmidhi described his narrations as rejected (munkar al-hadith). These details are mentioned in works of narrator criticism.
Therefore, the narration linking spider webs to poverty is not authentic. Even if it appears in Tafsir al-Qurtubi or elsewhere, it is not reliable.
As for scientific or health reasons — some people say spider webs collect dust and may cause allergies in people sensitive to dust. Scientists also mention that spiders actually eat mosquitoes and harmful insects. So, they may even reduce harmful pests. So, this becomes a practical matter. If someone has allergies, they may remove them. Otherwise, it is a normal household matter. There is no need to attach a religious ruling to it.