A Good Night's Sleep

 

 

 

A Good Night's Sleep

 

 

 

 

It might seem funny to devote an article to sleeping. But think about it. The average person spends around eight hours of a 24-hour day asleep. That is a third of a person’s lifetime.
Allah (The One & Only God) describes sleep as a blessing from Him. He says in the Holy Qur’an:
“And We made your sleep a rest for you.” [Holy Quran Surah al-Naba’: 9]

“And remember when He made slumber fall upon you as a reassurance from Him.” [Holy Quran Surah al-Anfal: 11]

“It is Allah who has made the night for you, that you may rest therein, and the days as that which helps you to see. Verily Allah is full of grace and bounty to humanity, yet most people give no thanks.” [Holy Quran Surah Ghafir: 61]

 

 

Sleep is not only described as a blessing bestowed upon the people, but also as a testament to Allah’s (The One God's) creative ability. Consider where Allah (The One God) says:
“He it is who gathers up your souls at night and knows all that you do by day. Then He raises you up again, so that the term appointed for you (on Earth) may be accomplished. And afterward unto Him is your return. Then He will proclaim to you what you used to do.” [Holy Quran Surah al-An`am: 60]

“Allah takes the souls at the time of their death, as well as (the souls of) those who die not, during their sleep. Then He withholds those on whom He has passed the decree of death and sends the others back until an appointed term. Most surely there are signs in this for a people who reflect.” [Holy Quran Surah al-Zumar: 42]

 

Yes, sleep is His creation, and it has its marvels. A sleeping person drifts away from his consciousness and reason, only to be fully restored to his rational faculties upon waking, refreshed and revitalized.

A sleeping person can see the strangest and most amazing things, things that a waking person could never possibly see. Our ability to dream is another of Allah’s (The One God's) blessings, and another sign of His greatness.
We can appreciate the importance of sleep if we consider that Allah (The One God) guided His Messenger (peace be upon him) regarding the etiquettes of sleeping, like being in a state of purity and lying on his right side.
Likewise, a number of remembrances and supplications are prescribed for sleeping. The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) instructed `Ali b. Abi Talib and Fatimah to say “Subhan Allah” (Glory be to God) 33 times, “al-Hamdu Lillah” (All praise is for God) 33 times, and “Allah-u-Akbar” (God is the Greatest) 34 times. He informed them that doing so will remove their fatigue and revitalize them, and said: “It is better than having a servant.” [Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim]
Our generation is sometimes accused of being “the sleeping generation”. Most of us certainly do not need to sleep more than we already do. Nevertheless, we must respect our need to sleep by observing the etiquettes and approaches to sleep that will maximise the benefit that we get from it. This, in turn, helps us manage stress and makes our waking hours more productive.

It is a mistake to dismiss the importance of sleep. We all need it, and we all get our daily quota of sleep. Therefore, it is wrong that we make light of the subject of sleep and disdain reading or speaking about it, as if it were something superfluous.
In order to sleep better, we should first relax a bit. We need to unwind from the pressures, worries, and distresses of the day. We need to end the day on a note of forgiveness and with a few moments of tenderness with our families. We need to recite our remembrances of Allah (The One & Only God) and rid our hearts of all our animosities. We should not lay our heads down on our pillows with resentfulness in our hearts and angry thoughts in our minds. We should make our last thoughts of the day positive ones.

 

 

 

 

Mu'aadh bin Jabal reported from the Messenger of Allah [sall'Allahu aleihi wa salam] that he said, "Fear Allah wheresoever you may be, and follow up and evil deed with a good one, it will efface it (the evil deed). And deal with mankind with good manners." [Reported by at-Tirmidhee and he said that it was a Hasan hadeeth]

 

 

The Holy Prophet [sall'Allahu aleihi wa salam] also said: The strong believer is better and more beloved to Allah than a weak believer, though both are good; work hard for that which is beneficial for you and seek Allah's help, and do not give up. If you are stricken by misfortune do not say: 'If only I had done differently …", rather say: 'That is what Allah decreed, He does as He wills." 'If only' opens the door to Satan's works." (Agreed upon).

 

 

The Holy Prophet (sall'Allahu aleihi wa salam) said, "By the One beside whom there is no other God, one of you does the actions of Paradise until there is just a handspan between him and Paradise and then the book [preordainment] overtakes him and he does the actions of the people of Hell and he enters into it." (al-Bukhari and Muslim.)

 

"O believers, observe your duty to Allah with right observance, and die not save as Muslims [surrendering yourselves to Allah]" (al-Imran: 102).