Question Summary:
Islamic relevance of incense sticks

Question Detail:

We had a get together with the families and before Magrib salaat we decided to read Surah Yaseen. Just before doing that one family elder told us we have to light up incense sticks on top of that we were told to light up in odd numbers 1,3,5,7,....
Can you tell me what is the singificance of incence sticks in Islam?
What are incence sticks made of?
Are some incense sticks made from cow droppings?

Answer :

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
Incense sticks are made from plant derived materials and aromatic oils.[1]
It is permissible to light incense sticks if it is not regarded as compulsory or having any religious significance. If one lights incense sticks regarding it as compulsory and also having religious significance, then only it will be an act of bid’ah and prohibited.[2]
 
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Muhammad Haris Siddiqui
Student Darul Iftaa
Australia 
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.