The order of sleeping properly at night is highlighted in the name of Allah and his beloved Messengeras Sunnah. For a more uniform and healthy life, your actions are the key to please both your Dunya and Akhirah.
It’s He, who says;
“And it is He Who makes the night a covering for you and makes the day Nushoor (i.e. getting up and going about here and there for daily work, after one’s sleep at night or like resurrection after one’s death)” [al-Furqaan 25:47]
How Many Hours Did the Prophet Used to Rest?
Not many as narrated by his loyal companions. He promoted mid-day naps as beneficial, slept about 4 hours a day so he could keep up with prayers. He woke up early because he didn’t want to miss the day.
Basic Steps to Make Your Night Worthwhile
- O thou folded in garments!
- Stand (to prayer) by night, but not all night,-
- Half of it, – or a little less,
- Or a little more; and recite the Qur’an in slow, measured rhythmic tones.
- Soon shall we send down to thee a weighty Message?
Going to Bed at Isha
“I want you to close your eyes and imagine yourself in the household of the Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) at Fajr time. The call to prayer is called by Bilal raḍyAllāhu ‘anhu (may Allāh be pleased with him), which wakes up the Prophet ṣallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) who was taking a nap after his long night prayer.
He would lay down on his right side, and place his hand under his right cheek, then recite the adhkar before sleeping. Sometimes he would then talk to his wife and spend quality time conversing together before they drift off to sleep.
Mark Your Night Routine
- Sleep early after Isha but wake up after midnight
- Start by using siwak, remembering Allah subḥānahu wa ta’āla (glorified and exalted be He), making wudhu and getting ready for the night prayer.
- Firstly, get along with easy rak’ahs and then dip into longer ones.
- Try not to skip any of the prayer experience and wake up your family to offer Witr.
- Go back to sleep after Fajr
Importance of Sleep in Quran
‘Sleep’ word is evolved from an Arabic name (Noum) and it appears nine times in Quran. Even it has defined sleep during the winters is different than the sleep during summers. The natural average length of sleep is between 5 and 8 hours every day. If someone sleeps less than that or someone sleeps more than that because his body needs that, there is nothing wrong with that. Your body sleeps only that much it needs.
Similarity between Death and Sleep
The Quran indicates some resemblance between sleep and death.
“It is He Who takes your souls (Wafat) by night (when you are asleep), and has knowledge of all that you have done by day, then He raises (wakes) you up again that a term appointed (your life period) be fulfilled, then (in the end) to Him will be your return. “ [Verse: 6.60]
Thus, the above verses indicate that Allāh takes and retains souls during real death, but releases souls after rest for an appointed term.
About 1400 years ago, Muhammad (pbuh) stressed the importance of sleep for good health and the Quran stresses the importance of the alteration of night and day.
Dua to be recited while Sleeping:
When the Prophet (PBUH) went to bed to sleep, he would say this Dua:
“O Allah, in Your name I live and die”. (Narrated by al-Bukhari, 7394)
