Discover the Sunnah of Sleeping for Better Rest and Spirituality

Sleep is an essential part of life and a way to recharge yourself so that you can prepare for your daily activities. Whether you’re taking a quick nap during the day or going to bed for the night, sleep is crucial for helping your mind function and enhancing both physical and mental health. In Islam, sleep is encouraged to ensure one performs duties efficiently, but there are certain religious etiquettes and guidelines to sleep peacefully and mindfully.

In this post, we’ll explore the Islamic etiquettes and Sunnah of sleeping, helping us to incorporate these blessed practices into our routines for a more peaceful and productive sleep. Also read the etiquette of making dua everytime.

The Importance of Sleep in the Light of Hadiths

Everyone agrees that sleep is necessary for your well-being. On average, an adult should get at least eight hours of sleep at night. Islam encourages sleep for a person to function well and perform duties safely since sleep deprivation has numerous negative effects. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) advised one of his companions, Ibn Amr, who used to spend the entire night in prayer, to strike a balance by praying and also getting adequate sleep, as the body has a right over you. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

“If one of you feels drowsy while praying, let him complete his sleep until his drowsiness is gone.” (Sahih Bukhari)

Things to Do Before Sleeping (Sunnah of Sleeping)

Islam guides every aspect of life, including how to sleep in a manner that is spiritually beneficial and protective. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) taught specific etiquettes of sleeping in Islam that not only promote physical and mental health but also ensure a peaceful night’s rest. These Etiquettes or sunnah of sleeping are as follows:

1. Sleeping After Isha Prayer

After offering the night prayer, it is recommended to sleep promptly so that you can wake up early. It is not forbidden to meet with friends and family in the evening, it is generally advised to avoid unnecessary gatherings unless in cases of emergencies. It is also prohibited to sleep before Isha’s prayer. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

“One should not sleep before the Isha prayer nor engage in conversations after it.” (Sahih Bukhari 574)

2. Avoid Heavy Meal Before Sleep

Scientifically, your body struggles to digest heavy food when you lie down, causing it to stay in your system longer. Keeping your dinner light and simple helps your body digest it quickly, making it easier to fall asleep. The Prophet (peace be upon him) mentioned that excessive eating leads to trouble, saying:

“A believer eats in one intestine (is moderate in eating), while a disbeliever eats in seven intestines (is excessive).” (Sahih Muslim 2060)

3. Perform Wudu Before Sleeping

Wudu, the act of purifying oneself by washing specific parts of the body with water, is not only for prayer but is also a Sunnah to perform before sleeping. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:

“Whenever you intend to go to bed, perform Wudu as you do for prayer.” (Bukhari and Muslim)

4. Dust Your Bed Before Sleeping

The Prophet (peace be upon him) instructed that before lying down to sleep, one should dust the bed three times. Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:

“When any of you comes to bed, he should dust his bed three times, and say ‘Bismillah’ (In the name of Allah), for he does not know what may have settled on it after he left it.” (Sahih Bukhari, Sahih Muslim)

5. Putting Out Lamps and Closing Doors at Night

Put your lamps, candle, or fire out as it is the sunnah of sleeping. It is narrated from Jabir bin Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

“When you are about to sleep at night, extinguish your lamps and close the doors.” (Sahih Bukhari)

Similarly, Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Do not leave fire burning in your houses when you go to sleep.” (Sahih Bukhari)

6. Lie Down on Your Right Side

It is narrated from Al-Bara bin Azib (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

“When you go to bed, perform ablution as you would for prayer, then lie down on your right side and say: ‘O Allah, I submit my face to You, and I entrust my affairs to You.” (Sahih Bukhari)

7. Dua Before Sleeping

We should recite the specific dua before sleep. It is narrated by Hudhayfah ibn al-Yaman (may Allah be pleased with him) that reciting dua for sleeping and waking up was the best Prophet’s sunnah of sleeping. He said:

When the Prophet (PBUH) wanted to sleep, He recited (sleeping dua), “بِاسْمِكَ اللَّهُمَّ أَمُوتُ وَأَحْيَا” (In your name, O Allah, I die and I live)”, and when He woke up He recited (morning dua), “الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي أَحْيَانَا بَعْدَ مَا أَمَاتَنَا، وَإِلَيْهِ النُّشُورُ (Praise be to Allah who has brought us back to life after causing us to die, and to Him is the resurrection).” Narrated by al-Bukhari (6324)

8. Reciting the Quran Before Sleeping

We should recite at least some portion of the Quran as reciting the Quran before bed offers protection from the evil actions of Satan. At night, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) would recite Surah Al-Mulk, Surah As-Sajdah, Surah Al-Ikhlas, Surah Al-Falaq, and Surah An-Nas. In some narrations, it is also mentioned that he would recite the “Musabbihat,” which includes Surah Al-Isra, Surah Al-Hadid, Surah Al-Hashr, Surah As-Saff, Surah Al-Jumu’ah, Surah At-Taghabun, and Surah Al-Ala.

As recorded in Sunan al-Tirmidhi, these practices are sunnah of sleeping as part of his regular nightly worship.

9. Reciting the Ayat al Kursi

The Prophet (peace be upon him) would not go to sleep without reciting some verses from the Quran one of those is the verse of Kursi. An incident involving Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) demonstrates that A thief repeatedly stole from his house, once he was caught up, before being released, the thief advised Abu Hurairah to recite Ayat al-Kursi before sleeping, promising that it would provide divine protection. When this was reported to the Prophet (peace be upon him), He said:

“He spoke the truth, even though he is a liar. Do you know who that was? It was Satan.” (Sahih Bukhari)

These sunnah of sleeping provide practical steps for ensuring a peaceful and protected sleep, while also fostering spiritual growth and connection to Allah.

10. Forgiving Others Before Sleeping

Conclusion

Incorporating the Sunnah of sleeping into our lives not only helps us maintain good health and well-being but also strengthens our spiritual connection with Allah. By following the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in our nightly routine—whether it’s performing wudu before bed, reciting recommended surahs, or simply being mindful of our sleeping posture—we can transform sleep into an act of worship. These practices ensure that we end each day on a note of peace, gratitude, and remembrance of Allah.