Indeed, it is very important for a person to get a good night’s sleep. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) gave his followers guiding principles related to all aspects of life. However, the Prophet (PBUH) has also explained the method of sleeping and has made it easy and clear for us to follow it. By following this we can have a peaceful sleep and be safe from danger. Because it is not only important to sleep but to think about the time to sleep and adopting the best way to sleep is a matter of perfection. So let’s see what is the sunnah method of sleeping and what are its benefits. Do remember and follow these 5 things before sleeping.
1. Sleep on the Right Side
When our beloved Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) used to go to bed, he used to lie on his right side.
Lying on the right side has many scientific benefits as well.
The liver inside the human body is larger than the stomach and is on the right side. While the stomach is on the left side. The liver is also heavy due to its size. If a person lies on the right crotch, in such a condition, the liver remains fixed in its place below and does not hang, and the stomach remains relaxed above and does not exert pressure on it.
But if he lies on the left crotch, his stomach is down and in such a case the weight of the liver presses on the stomach, due to which his ducts are compressed, and stop working properly. It is common to get diseases especially, indigestion and stomach ailments. The disease of the stomach has been called the mother of diseases.
2. Ablution (Wudu) Before Sleeping
In the hadith, ablution before going to sleep has been ordered. Performing ablution best cleans the parts of the body that are washed; Because it has been ordered to pour water well on these organs while performing ablution. Along with the purity of all the organs, a person gets peace and comfort after ablution. All of your laziness, anger, nervousness, and anxiety will be removed. You will get physical and spiritual cooling, freshness, and relief. And then you can sleep peacefully.
Narrated Al-Bara ‘bin `Azib:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said to me, “Whenever you go to bed perform ablution like that for the prayer, lie on your right side and say, “Allahumma aslamtu wajhi ilaika, wa fauwadtu `Amri ilaika, wa alja’tu Zahri ilaika raghbatan wa rahbatan ilaika. La Malja’a wa la manja minka illa ilaika. Allahumma amantu bikitabika-l-ladhi anzalta wa bina-biyika-l ladhi arsalta”
O Allah! I surrender to You and entrust all my affairs to You and depend upon You for Your Blessings both with hope and fear of You. There is no fleeing from You, and there is no place of protection and safety except with You O Allah! I believe in Your Book (the Qur’an) which You have revealed and in Your Prophet (Muhammad) whom You have sent.
Then if you die on that very night, you will die with faith (i.e. or the religion of Islam) – Sahih Al-Bukhari 247
Not only this but from the Islamic point of view, through ablution, the sins of the believer have also washed away and spiritual worries are removed. An example of sleep is like death. Therefore, every believer should sleep with complete purity, repenting of his sins and remembering his Lord. Because there is a certain time of death, we do not know. When we sleep with full attention towards the Lord and repentance, then hopefully Allah will forgive us.
3. Recite Surah Ikhlas, Surah Falaq, & Surah Naas Before Sleeping
Our beloved Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) used to cup his hands and recite the last 3 Surahs of the Qur’an when he went to bed. An authentic Hadith from Sahih Bukhari can be seen below.
Narrated ‘Aisha:
Whenever the Prophet (ﷺ) went to bed every night, he used to cup his hands together and blow over it after reciting Surat Al-Ikhlas, Surat Al-Falaq and Surat An-Nas, and then rub his hands over whatever parts of his body he was able to rub, starting with his head, face and front of his body. He used to do that three times. – Sahih al-Bukhari 5017
4. Recite the Dua Before Sleeping
A lot of people frequently ask what to recite before sleeping. The Dua recited before sleeping by Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) can be seen in the following Hadith.
Narrated Hudhaifa:
Whenever the Prophet (ﷺ) intended to go to bed, he would recite: “Bismika Allahumma amutu wa ahya (With Your name, O Allah, I die and I live).” And when he woke up from his sleep, he would say: “Al-hamdu lil-lahil-ladhi ahyana ba’da ma amatana; wa ilaihi an-nushur (All the Praises are for Allah Who has made us alive after He made us die (sleep) and unto Him is the Resurrection). ” – Sahih al-Bukhari 6324
Related – Know the meaning of Allahumma bismika amutu wa ahya in English.
5. Cleaning the Bedsheet Before Going to Sleep
Narrated Abu Huraira:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “When anyone of you go 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, and then he should say: ‘Bismika Rabbi Wada`tu Janbi wa bika arfa’uhu, In amsakta nafsi farhamha wa in arsaltaha fahfazha bima tahfazu bihi ibadakas-salihin.” – Sahih al-Bukhari 6320
So as we have gone through the five things to do before going to bed in Islam, it is highly recommended we start practicing these on the regular basis. We should adopt the beloved Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) so that we can get the best reward for it and be protected from physical dangers.
