Mid-Day Sleep and Sleeping Etiquettes

There are advantages of a midday nap as in the below Ahadith.

قرب الإسناد عَنْ هَارُونَ عَنِ ابْنِ صَدَقَةَ عَنِ الصَّادِقِ عَنْ أَبِيهِ ع قَالَ: إِنَّ أَعْرَابِيّاً أَتَى النَّبِيَّ ص فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص- إِنِّي كُنْتُ رَجُلًا ذَكُوراً فَصِرْتُ نَسِيّاً

(The book) ‘Qurb Al Asnaad’ – from Haroun, from Ibn Sadaqah,

‘From Al-Sadiq^-asws, from his^-asws father^-asws having said: ‘A Bedouin came to the Prophet^-saww. He said, ‘O Rasool-Allah^-saww said: ‘I used to be a remembering person, then I have become forgetful’.

فَقَالَ لَهُ النَّبِيُّ ص لَعَلَّكَ اعْتَدْتَ الْقَائِلَةَ فَتَرَكْتَهَا

The Prophet^-saww said to him: ‘Perhaps you used to have a midday nap, then you neglected it’.

فَقَالَ أَجَلْ

He said, ‘Yes’.

فَقَالَ لَهُ النَّبِيُّ ص فَعُدْ يَرْجِعْ إِلَيْكَ حِفْظُكَ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ‏.

The Prophet^-saww said to him: ‘Return (to midday nap), your memory will return to you, if Allah^‑azwj so Desires’’.[1]

 

مكا، مكارم الأخلاق قَالَ الصَّادِقُ ع قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‏ النَّوْمُ مِنَ أَوَّلِ النَّهَارِ خُرْقٌ وَ الْقَائِلَةُ نِعْمَةٌ وَ النَّوْمُ بَعْدَ الْعَصْرِ حُمْقٌ وَ بَيْنَ الْعِشَاءَيْنِ يَحْرِمُ الرِّزْقَ‏.

(The book) ‘Makarim Al Akhlaq’ –

‘Al-Sadiq^-asws said: ‘Rasool-Allah^-saww said: ‘The sleeping from beginning of the day is a violation, and the midday nap is a bounty, and the sleeping after Al-Asr is stupidity, and between the two Isha’s deprives the sustenance’’.^[2]

 

دَعَوَاتُ الرَّاوَنْدِيِّ، عَنْ زَيْنِ الْعَابِدِينَ ع‏ أَنَّهُ كَانَ يُصَلِّي صَلَاةَ الْغَدَاةِ ثُمَّ يُعَقِّبُ فِي مُصَلَّاهُ حَتَّى تَطْلُعَ الشَّمْسُ ثُمَّ يَقُومُ فَيُصَلِّي صَلَاةً طَوِيلَةً ثُمَّ يَرْقُدُ رَقْدَةً ثُمَّ يَسْتَيْقِظُ فَيَدْعُو بِالسِّوَاكِ فَيَسْتَنُّ ثُمَّ يَدْعُو بِالْغَدَاةِ.

(The book) ‘Dawaat’ of Al Rawandy –

‘From Zayn Al Abideen^-asws, he^-asws used to pray the morning Salat, then he^-asws would follow it in his^-asws Prayer mat until the sun emerged, then he^-asws would stand and he^-asws would pray a lengthy Salat, then he^-asws would lie down for a nap, then he^-asws would wake up for brushing the teeth. Then he^-asws would legislate (narrate Ahadeeth), then call for the lunch’’.^[3]

Some Ahadith on Sleeping etiquettes are cited in the Appendix.

APPENDIX: Sleeping etiquettes

وَ قَالَ لَا يَنَامُ الرَّجُلُ عَلَى وَجْهِهِ وَ مَنْ رَأَيْتُمُوهُ نَائِماً عَلَى وَجْهِهِ فَأَنْبِهُوهُ وَ لَا تَدَعُوهُ.

And he^-asws said: ‘The man should not sleep (prone) upon his face, and the one you see him sleeping upon his face, wake him up and do not leave him’’.[4]

وَ قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‏ إِذَا أَرَادَ أَحَدُكُمُ النَّوْمَ فَلْيَضَعْ يَدَهُ الْيُمْنَى تَحْتَ خَدِّهِ الْأَيْمَنِ فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَدْرِي أَ يَنْتَبِهُ مِنْ رَقْدَتِهِ أَمْ لَا.

And Amir Al-Momineen^-asws said: ‘Whenever one of you wants to sleep, let him place his right hand under his right cheek, for he does not know whether he will wake up from his sleep or not?’’^[5]

ع، علل الشرائع عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ سَعْدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ هَاشِمٍ عَنِ النَّوْفَلِيِّ عَنِ السَّكُونِيِّ عَنِ الصَّادِقِ عَنْ أَبِيهِ ع قَالَ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ص‏ إِذَا أَوَى أَحَدُكُمْ إِلَى فِرَاشِهِ فَلْيَمْسَحْهُ بِطَرَفِ إِزَارِهِ فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَدْرِي مَا يَحْدُثُ عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ لْيَقُلِ اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ أَمْسَكْتَ نَفْسِي فِي مَنَامِي فَاغْفِرْ لَهَا وَ إِنْ أَرْسَلْتَهَا فَاحْفَظْهَا بِمَا تَحْفَظُ بِهِ عِبَادَكَ الصَّالِحِينَ.

(The book) ‘Ilal Al Sharaie’ – from his father, from Sa’ad, from Ibn Hashim, from Al Nowfaly, from Al Sakuni,

‘From Al-Sadiq^-asws, from his^-asws father^-asws having said: ‘The Prophet^-saww said: ‘Whenever one of you shelters to his bed, let him touch an edge of his undergarment, for he does not know what has occurred upon him, then let him say, ‘O Allah^-azwj! If You^-azwj were to Withhold my soul during my sleep, then Forgive for it, and if You^-azwj were to Send it (back), then Protect with what You^-azwj Protect Your^-azwj righteous servants with’’.^[6]

الخصال ن، عيون أخبار الرضا عليه السلام ع، علل الشرائع‏ فِي خَبَرِ الشَّامِيِّ أَنَّهُ سَأَلَ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع عَنِ النَّوْمِ عَلَى كَمْ وَجْهٍ هُوَ

(The books) ‘Al Khisaal’, (and) ‘Uyoun Akhbar Al-Reza^-asws’, may the greetings be upon him^-asws, (and) ‘Ilal Al Sharaie’ –

‘In a Hadeeth of the Syrian, he asked Amir Al-Momineen^-asws about the sleep, ‘How many aspects is it upon?’

فَقَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع النَّوْمُ عَلَى أَرْبَعَةِ أَصْنَافٍ الْأَنْبِيَاءُ تَنَامُ عَلَى أَقْفِيَتِهَا مُسْتَلْقِيَةً وَ أَعْيُنُهَا لَا تَنَامُ مُتَوَقِّعَةً لِوَحْيِ رَبِّهَا عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ

Amir Al-Momineen^-asws said: ‘The sleep is upon four types – the Prophets^-as sleep upon leaning upon their back and their^-as do not sleep in anticipation for Revelation of their^-as Lord^-azwj Mighty and Majestic.

وَ الْمُؤْمِنُ يَنَامُ عَلَى‏ يَمِينِهِ مُسْتَقْبِلَ الْقِبْلَةِ وَ الْمُلُوكُ وَ أَبْنَاؤُهَا عَلَى شَمَائِلِهَا لِيَسْتَمْرِءُوا مَا يَأْكُلُونَ وَ إِبْلِيسُ وَ إِخْوَانُهُ وَ كُلُّ مَجْنُونٍ وَ ذُو عَاهَةٍ يَنَامُونَ عَلَى وُجُوهِهِمْ مُنْبَطِحِينَ‏.

And the Momin sleeps upon his right, facing the Qiblah; and the kings and their sons sleep upon their left in order to continue what they are eating; and Iblees^-la and his^-la brethren^-la, and every insane, and one with disability are sleeping upon their faces, prone’’.^[7]

الخصال عَنْ مَاجِيلَوَيْهِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدٍ الْعَطَّارِ عَنِ الْأَشْعَرِيِّ عَنِ الْيَقْطِينِيِّ عَنِ الدِّهْقَانِ عَنْ دُرُسْتَ عَنِ ابْنِ عَبْدِ الْحَمِيدِ عَنْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ ع قَالَ: لَعَنَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص ثَلَاثَةً الْآكِلَ زَادَهُ وَحْدَهُ وَ الرَّاكِبَ فِي الْفَلَاةِ وَحْدَهُ وَ النَّائِمَ فِي الْبَيْتِ وَحْدَهُ‏.

(The book) ‘Al Khisaal’ – from Majaylawiya, from Muhammad Al Attar, from Al Ashary, from Al Yaqteeny, from Al Dihqan, from Dorost, from Ibn Abdul Hameed,

‘From Abu Al-Hassan^-asws having said: ‘Rasool-Allah^-saww cursed three – the eater eating his provision alone, and the rider in the wilderness alone, and the one sleeping in the house alone’’.^[8]

الخصال عَنِ ابْنِ مُوسَى عَنِ ابْنِ زَكَرِيَّا عَنِ ابْنِ حَبِيبٍ عَنْ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنْ هُدْبَةَ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنْ مُبَارَكِ بْنِ فَضَالَةَ عَنِ ابْنِ نُبَاتَةَ قَالَ: قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ لِلْحَسَنِ ابْنِهِ ع- يَا بُنَيَّ أَ لَا أُعَلِّمُكَ أَرْبَعَ خِصَالٍ تَسْتَغْنِي بِهَا عَنِ الطِّبِّ

(The book) ‘Al Khisaal’ – from Ibn Musa, from Ibn Zakariya, from Ibn Habeeb, from Usman Bin Saaed, from Hudah Bin Khalid, from Mubarik Bin Fazalat, from Ibn Nubata who said,

‘Amir Al-Momineen^-asws said to his^-asws son^-asws Al-Hassan^-asws: ‘O my^-asws son^-asws! Shall I^-asws let you^-asws know of four traits you^-asws can be needless by it from the medicine?’

فَقَالَ بَلَى يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ

He^-asws said: ‘Yes, O Amir Al-Momineen^-asws!’

قَالَ لَا تَجْلِسْ عَلَى الطَّعَامِ إِلَّا وَ أَنْتَ جَائِعٌ وَ لَا تَقُمْ عَنِ الطَّعَامِ إِلَّا وَ أَنْتَ تَشْتَهِيهِ وَ جَوِّدِ الْمَضْغَ وَ إِذَا نِمْتَ فَاعْرِضْ نَفْسَكَ عَلَى الْخَلَاءِ فَإِذَا اسْتَعْمَلْتَ هَذِهِ اسْتَغْنَيْتَ عَنِ الطِّبِ‏.

He^-asws said: ‘Do not seat upon the meal except and you are hungry, and do not stand from the meal except and you are still desirous (of eating), and chew (the food) well, and when you sleep, then present yourself to the toilet. When you^-asws were to utilise this, you^-asws will be needless from the medicine’’.^[9]

الأمالي للصدوق فِي خَبَرِ الْمَنَاهِي عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ص قَالَ: لَا يَبِيتَنَّ أَحَدُكُمْ وَ يَدُهُ غَمِرَةٌ فَإِنْ فَعَلَ فَأَصَابَهُ لَمَمُ الشَّيْطَانِ فَلَا يَلُومَنَّ إِلَّا نَفْسَهُ‏.

(The book) ‘Al Amaali’ of Al Sadouq –

‘In a Hadeeth of the prohibitions from the Prophet^-saww having said: ‘Not one of you should spend the night and his hand is with food stains and insanity from the Satan^-la afflicts him, he should not blame except himself’’.^[10]

عيون أخبار الرضا عليه السلام بِالْإِسْنَادِ إِلَى دَارِمٍ عَنِ الرِّضَا عَنْ آبَائِهِ ع قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ‏ ص‏ اغْسِلُوا صِبْيَانَكُمْ مِنَ الْغَمَرِ فَإِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ يَشَمُّ الْغَمَرَ فَيَفْزَعُ الصَّبِيُّ فِي رُقَادِهِ وَ يَتَأَذَّى بِهِ الْكَاتِبَانِ‏.

(The book) ‘Uyoun Akhbar Al-Reza^-asws’, may the greetings be upon him^-asws – by the chain to Darim, from Al-Reza^-asws having said: ‘Rasool-Allah^-saww said: ‘Wash your children from food stains, for the Satan^-la smells the food stains, so the child panics in his sleep and two recording Angels are hurt by it’’.^[11]

المحاسن عَنِ ابْنِ فَضَّالٍ عَنِ ابْنِ بُكَيْرٍ عَنِ ابْنِ مُسْلِمٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‏ أَنَّهُ كَانَ يَكْرَهُ الْبَيْتُوتَةَ لِلرَّجُلِ عَلَى سَطْحٍ وَحْدَهُ أَوْ عَلَى سَطْحٍ لَيْسَتْ عَلَيْهِ حُجْرَةٌ وَ الرَّجُلُ وَ الْمَرْأَةُ فِيهِ بِمَنْزِلَةٍ.

(The book) ‘Al Mahasin’ – from Ibn Fazzal, from Ibn Bukeyr, from Ibn Muslim,

‘From Abu Abdullah^-asws having disliked for the man to be spending the night along upon a rood, or upon a roof not having a room upon it, and the man and the woman are at the same status regarding it’’.^[12]

وَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‏ إِذَا أَوَيْتَ إِلَى فِرَاشِكَ فَانْظُرْ مَا سَلَكْتَ فِي بَطْنِكَ وَ مَا كَسَبْتَ فِي يَوْمِكَ وَ اذْكُرْ أَنَّكَ مَيِّتٌ وَ أَنَّ لَكَ مَعَاداً.

And Abu Abdullah^-asws said: ‘When you shelter to your bed, then look (consider) what has gone into your belly, and what you have earned during your day, and remember that you will be dead and there is a Hereafter for you’’.^[13]

Abbreviations:

saww: – Sal lal la ho Allay hay Wa Aal lay he Wasallam

azwj: – Az Za Wa Jalla

asws: – Allay hay Salawat Wass Salam

AJFJ: Ajal Allah hey wa Fara Jaak

ra: – Razi Allah^-azwj

La: – Laan Allah^-azwj

[1] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 73 – The book of Etiquettes – Ch 42 H 1

[2] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 73 – The book of Etiquettes – Ch 41 H 6

[3] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 73 – The book of Etiquettes – Ch 42 H 2

[4] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 73 – The book of Etiquettes – Ch 43 H 1 a

[5] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 73 – The book of Etiquettes – Ch 43 H 1 b

[6] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 73 – The book of Etiquettes – Ch 43 H 2

[7] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 73 – The book of Etiquettes – Ch 43 H 4

[8] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 73 – The book of Etiquettes – Ch 43 H 5

[9] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 73 – The book of Etiquettes – Ch 43 H 8

[10] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 73 – The book of Etiquettes – Ch 43 H 9

[11] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 73 – The book of Etiquettes – Ch 43 H 10

[12] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 73 – The book of Etiquettes – Ch 43 H 15

[13] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 73 – The book of Etiquettes – Ch 43 H 21 b