How to get ready for sleep

Sleep is a great grace from the Almighty. It soothes the heart, relieves fatigue, strengthens the nerves and removes all the burden and consequences of the past day. Since a person does not know when he will die, his soul may taste death during sleep. Therefore, we should not neglect the etiquette of sleeping; rather we should study as much as we can about it, since it is known that ignorance ruins a person. Let us try to remind readers of some aspects of preparing for bed that are beneficial both for body and soul.

Here are some tips:

The first is to go to sleep being in ablution and after the use of siwak (toothbrush).

A hadith transmitted from At Tabarani says, “The soul of the one who goes to bed with ablution ascends to Arsh (Throne) and the dreams he sees are true.”

Another hadith says, “One who goes to bed in the state of wudu (ablution) will receive the same reward as one who spent the night in worship and the day in fasting.” (Narrated by Hakim

The second advice is that before going to sleep we should prepare some water for ablution and siwak so that we can use if we suddenly wake up in the middle of the night. Then we make intention to get up at night to worship Allah the Almighty, as did our Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and those who followed his path. Ibnu Abas (may Allah be pleased with him) said, “When the Prophet e woke up in the middle of the night, he used siwak several times.”

Another hadith says: “Whenever the Prophet got up at night, he used to cleanse his mouth with siwak.” (Narrated by Muslim and Al Bukhari).

Abu Darda (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), “Whoever goes to his bed intending to get up and pray qiyam at night and then sleep overwhelms him until morning, will have recorded that which he intended and his sleep is a charity given to him by his Lord, the Mighty and Sublime.”

If one cannot perform ablution and get up to worship, it is advisable to sit praising the Almighty, make dua and remember Allah. This is said to equate as worshiping all night. Next, it is advisable to have made a will, for we are not safe from death during sleep. Indeed, one who has died without a will will be dumb in Barzakh (the place where the human soul dwells between death and the Day of Resurrection).

A hadith of our Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) says, “He who died without writing a will is not allowed to talk to the dead.” The companions asked, “O Prophet of Allah , are they talking there?” The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) replied, “Yes, they talk and visit each other.” “Whoever dies leaving a will, dies on the right path and Sunna and he who dies with piety and witness, dies forgiven.” (Narrated by Jabir)

Next we need to repent for all our sins to the Almighty and forgive other people who have done something bad to us. But if we ourselves have harmed someone or owe something to someone, we must ask them for forgiveness and should compensate harm caused them.

The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Whosoever says three times before going to sleep, ‘Astaghfirullah alladhi la ilaha illa HuwalHaiyul Qayyumu, wa atubu ilaihi,’ with the intention of not returning to sins, not to harm anyone and to do only good to Muslims, Allah forgives his sins when waking up from sleep.”(Narrated by AtTirmidhi)

The commander of the faithful Umar ibn Al Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) said, “Every night before going to sleep a Muslim is supposed to ponder over the past day and the deeds he committed the whole day. If he has done a good thing, then he should thank the Almighty, Who instructed him to do this. But if he has done something bad, then he should, with sincere regret, ask for forgiveness.”

Then he should turn himself to the direction of the qibla: one can lie in two positions, as a sick person or on the right side, as our Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did. The position of a sick person is such that the feet and face are turned towards the qibla, while, in another case, it is like placing the deceased into the grave, turning face and whole body to the qibla. It is undesirable to lie on one’s stomach. This pose is harmful to the person for it makes breathing difficult and this is not encouraged in religion.

One should not force oneself to sleep unless one intends to get up at night to worship. The righteous predecessors slept only when they strongly wanted to; they did the same with regard to food and speech. Therefore, they were described as those whose night was short of sleep. But this does not mean that sleep is prohibited. It is narrated that one of the companions said to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), “I perform prayers all night and never sleep and during the day I fast.”

The Prophet answered him, “I perform (optional night) prayers (sometimes) and sleep at night (at other times); I fast (sometimes) and break my fast (at other times). So whoever turns away from my Sunna (i.e. the way) is not of me.” It is advisable to read dua before going to bed.

In a hadith of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) it is said, “Before going to sleep, renew your ablution, as is done before prayer and then, lying on your right side, say, ‘In Your name my Lord, I lie down and in Your name I rise, so if You should take my soul then have mercy upon it and if You should return my soul then protect it in the manner You do with Your righteous servants.” (Narrated by Muslim and Al Bukhari).

Further, one should read some Suras from the Koran. The companion Ali ibnu Abu Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) said, “I cannot understand those Muslims who do not read Ayat al Kursi before going to bed. If you only knew how great this ayat would be, you would never neglect to read it, because it was given to the Prophet Muhammad from the treasures of AlArsh.

Ayat al Kursi was not sent down to any of the Prophets before the Prophet Muhammad . And I never go to bed without first reading Ayat al-Kursi three times.” This ayat is the most worthy of the ayats in the Book of Almighty Allah and it contains the Great Name of Allah.

It is advisable to shake pillows and sheets and blankets before going to sleep. And at that very moment one should remember that, just like one lies down in bed, one day one will be put into the grave alone. And the only thing one will have will be one’s deeds. After awakening from sleep, it is desirable to say, “Praise is due to Allah, Who gave us life after our death (sleep) and unto Thee is resurrection.” (Narrated by AlBukhari).

MUHAMMADARIF KURBANOV

Theologian