Dars Content

As we know sleep is an essential part of our daily routine and comprises nearly one third of our life time. All living things require rest as it allows many vital regenerative process to occur within the body. Some benefits of sleep are helping keep our immunity strong, promoting cardiovascular health and restoring energy. It helps with attention and concentration and is essential for learning and memory formation.

The example of the Holy Prophet (saw) is the best ideal in this respect. He generally went to bed early and got up a short while after midnight for offering Tahajjud prayers, taking a nap at times again in the forenoon. We find that all the animals and birds get up early in the morning. A Muslim is commanded to get up early in the morning to say their prayers, and this practice generally promotes healthy sleep habits and good health. We have all heard the saying ‘early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.’

The Promised Messiah (as) states in the Philosophy of the Teachings of Islam:
‘So far as our eating, drinking, sleeping and awaking are concerned, they are essential physical actions and they affect our spiritual well-being. Our physical figure is manifestly related to our humanity…. The relationship of body and soul is such that one cannot explain it easily. Careful observation shows that the body is mother to the soul.”

Neglecting sleep can cause a reduction in various physical, mental and emotional aspects so it is vital we practice good sleeping habits. There is a Hadith of the Holy Prophet (saw) in Sahih Al-Bukhari in relation to this. A companion of the Holy Prophet (saw) was praying the whole night, to which the Holy Prophet (saw) told him, ‘Offer prayers and also sleep at night as your body has a right on you’.