The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was the best human being to have walked on this earth. What he managed to achieve in such a short space of time is remarkable. What is just as remarkable is the intensity of his ʿibādah, which nourished his mission, his devotion to his Lord and how long he spent at night in the worship of his Lord despite his numerous obligations and responsibilities in the daytime. He made time for everyone, from the unnamed girl who took his hand and have him walk around with her in Madīnah, to his wives who he would take time out to teach and engage in quality conversation with. He had many roles: leader, judge, military strategist, counsellor, husband, father, grandfather, friend, Prophet of Allah. But none of these stopped him from getting up every night and spending hours in munājāh (private and intimate conversation with his Creator).
How was he able to manage his time so successfully? How can we also enjoy barakah in our time? Step number one is to try and sleep like the Messenger of Allah ﷺ slept.
The following are some of the ways to do this:
1. Sleep Early
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ disliked sleeping before ‘Ishā’ ṣalāh, sleeping before ʿIshā’ ṣalāh, and talking after it (Bukhārī). The wisdom in sleeping early is that one gains sufficient rest before waking up for tahajjud, one is able to wake up for Fajr on time, and more so in our times, one is protected from great fitnah. Allah (subḥānahū wa taʿālā) has designated the night for rest. By altering this divine design, where we sleep in the day instead of sleeping at night, we cause great damage to ourselves.
It has been reported that ʿUmar (raḍiy Allāhu ʿanhu) would hit people for talking after ʿIshā’ and he would say, “Do you chit-chat in the first part of the night, and sleep in the latter part? Give your scribes (i.e. angels) a rest!”
2. Sleep With Wudu’
The angels remain in the company of the one who sleeps with wuḍū’ and say, “O Allah, forgive your such and such servant for he slept in the state of purity” (Ibn Ḥibbān).
Imagine that! The angels could be making du‘ā’ for you every night.
3. Dust the Bed
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “When one of you goes to bed, he should shake out his bed with the inside of his waist sheet, for he does not know what has come on to it after him”(Bukhārī).
4. Sleep on Your Right Side
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ would sleep on his right side and place his right hand under his right cheek (Bukhārī).
5. Don’t Sleep on Your Stomach
Abū Dharr (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhū) said, “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ passed by me and I was lying on my stomach. He nudged me with his foot and said, ‘Junaydib! This is how the people of Hell-fire lie’” (Ibn Mājah). He ﷺ also said, “Allah dislikes that one sleeps in this manner” (Abū Dāwūd).
6. Cover Vessels and Say ‘Bismillah’
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Close the doors and mention the Name of Allah, for Shayṭān does not open a closed door. Tie up your waterskins and mention the Name of Allah. Cover your vessels, even if you only put something over them, and extinguish your lamps” (Bukhārī).
7. Recite Qur’an and Adhkar
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Whoever recites 10 verses at night (regularly), he will not be recorded among the negligent” (Ḥākim). He ﷺ also said: “When a man retires to his bed, an angel and a devil rush to him. The angel says, ‘O Allah, let it be a good ending.’ The devil says, ‘O Allah, let it be a bad ending.’ If he remembers Allah, and then sleeps, the angel spends the night protecting him” (Ibn al-Sunnī).
See here for a detailed list with the translation and virtues.
These have amazing rewards, including: you will be protected from the punishment of the grave, you will receive intercession in the hereafter, a guardian angel will keep watch over you, no devil will be able to come near you and you will be able to praise Allah with all the praises of His entire creation.
8. Ensure Your Will Is Written and Updated
The Prophet ﷺ said, “It is the duty of a Muslim who has anything to bequeath to not let two nights pass, except that he should have his will written in regards to it” (Bukhārī).
9. Plan for Tahajjud
Make a firm intention and plan to wake up for tahajjud. Even if you do not manage to wake up, you will be rewarded for it. The Prophet ﷺ said, “Whoever goes to bed intending to wake up and pray during the night, but sleep overcomes him until he gets up in the morning — (the reward of) what he intended will be recorded for him, and his sleep will be a charity given to him by his Lord” (Nasā’ī).
10. Hope to Be Rewarded for Your Sleep
Have an intention that you are sleeping in order to rest and gain energy for worshipping Allah. Muʿādh b. Jabal (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhū) said, “Indeed I hope for reward for my sleep just as I hope for reward for standing in prayer.”
