Sunnats and Aadaab of Sleeping – Part 3

1. One should not while away one’s time after the Esha salaah in vain talk. Instead one should try to sleep as early as possible so that one can wake up for tahajjud salaah and perform his Fajr salaah on time. However, if there is a valid need e.g. participating in a deeni program, discussing Deeni masaail, an important mashwara etc, then it will be permissible for one to engage in discussions after Esha.

عن أبي برزة رضي الله عنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم كان يكره النوم قبل العشاء والحديث بعدها (البخاري رقم 568)

Hadhrat Abu Barzah (Radhiallahu Anhu) reports that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) disliked one to sleep before Esha, and to engage in discussions after Esha (in the case where there is no need).

عن عمر بن الخطاب قال : كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم يسمر مع أبي بكر في الأمر من أمر المسلمين وأنا معهما (ترمذي رقم 169)

Hadhrat Umar (Radhiallahu Anhu) reports that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) engaged in discussions after Esha with Hadhrat  Abu Bakr (Radhiallahu Anhu) regarding a matter concerning the Muslims while I was also present.

عن عائشة زوج النبي قالت : ما رأيت رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم نائما قبل العشاء ولا لاغيا بعدها إما ذاكرا فيغنم وإما نائما فيسلم قالت عائشة زوج النبي صلى الله عليه و سلم . قالت : السمر لثلاثة : لعروس أو مسافر أو متهجد بالليل (مجمع الزوائد رقم 1761)

Hadhrat Aaisha (Radhiallahu Anha) reports that she had never seen Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) sleep before Esha, nor did she see him engage in vain discussions after Esha. He would either engage in the remembrance of Allah Ta’ala after Esha thereby reaping the rewards of the Hereafter and becoming successful, or he would go to sleep thereby saving himself (from being engaged in things of no benefit). Hadhrat Aaisha (Radhiallahu Anha) further says: “Engaging in talks after Esha is permissible for three groups of people; for a married couple, the traveler (in order that he remains awake to complete the journey) and the one who intends performing salaah during the night.”

2. Recite the masnoon du`aas before sleeping. Below are a few masnoon duaas that should be read at the time one retires to bed:

اللَّهُمَّ بِاسْمِكَ أَمُوتُ وَ أَحْيَى

 O Allah. With Your name do I die and live.

اللَّهُمَّ قِنِى عَذَابَكَ يَوْمَ تَبْعَثُ عِبَادَكَ

O Allah. Save me from Your punishment on the day when You shall raise Your servants (from the grave)

اَلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي أَطْعَمَنَا وَسَقَانَا وَكَفَانَا وَآوَانَا فَكَمْ مِمَّنْ لَا كَافِيَ لَهُ وَلَا مُؤْوِيَ

All praises are due to Allah Ta’ala, who gave us food, drink, fulfilled our needs and gave us shelter. There are many who do not have anyone to support them, nor anyone to provide them with shelter.

 

عن حذيفة رضي الله عنه قال كان النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم إذا أخذ مضجعه من الليل وضع يده تحت خده ثم يقول اللهم باسمك أموت وأحيا وإذا استيقظ قال الحمد لله الذي أحيانا بعد ما أماتنا وإليه النشور. (بخارى رقم 6314 )

Hadrat Huzaifa (Radiallahu anhu) reports that when retiring to bed at night, Rasulullah (Salallahu alaihi wasallam) would place his (right) hand under his (right) cheek and would recite the duaa  اللهم باسمك اموت و احيى , and upon awakening would recite الحمد لله الذى احيانا بعد ما اماتنا واليه النشور

عن حفصة رضي الله عنها زوج النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم كان إذا أراد أن يرقد وضع يده اليمنى تحت خده ثم يقول اللهم قنى عذابك يوم تبعث عبادك  ثلاث مرار. (ابو داود رقم 5047)

Hadrat Hafsa (Radiallahu anha) reports that when Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) intended to sleep, he would place his right hand under his cheek and recite the following duaa thrice:

اللَّهُمَّ قِنِى عَذَابَكَ يَوْمَ تَبْعَثُ عِبَادَكَ

 

عن أنس رضي الله عنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم كان إذا أوى إلى فراشه قال: الحمد لله الذي أطعمنا وسقانا وكفانا وآوانا فكم ممن لا كافي له ولا مؤوي. (مسلم رقم 2715)

Hadhrat Anas (Radhiallahu Anhu) reports that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) would recite the following Duaa when retiring to bed:

اَلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي أَطْعَمَنَا وَسَقَانَا وَكَفَانَا وَآوَانَا فَكَمْ مِمَّنْ لَا كَافِيَ لَهُ وَلَا مُؤْوِي