How to Sleep
Like the Prophet ﷺ

In Islām, no act is too mundane to be a source of immense reward. Even the nightly rest Allāh has gifted us can be transformed into an act of worship when aligned with the beautiful example of our beloved Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ. By preparing our hearts and bodies for sleep according to his Sunnah, we not only find physical rejuvenation but also spiritual tranquility and protection, turning our hours of rest into a means of drawing closer to our Creator.
The book recounts the story of a devout man who was deeply distressed because he consistently struggled to wake up for the Fajr prayer. Despite setting numerous alarms and asking his family for help, he would oversleep. In his despair, he sought the counsel of a wise scholar (raḥimahu Allāh). The scholar asked about the man’s routine before bed. The man admitted that after a long day of worldly engagements, he would often collapse into bed exhausted, without any remembrance of Allāh. The scholar gently explained that the key to waking for Fajr is not merely in the physical alarms we set, but in the spiritual alarm we set within our hearts. He advised the man to treat sleep as a sacred transition, a minor death, and to prepare for it accordingly.
Following this guidance, the man transformed his nightly routine. He began by performing a thorough wuḍū’ (ablution), purifying his body for rest. He then lay on his right side, facing the Qiblah, as was the practice of the Prophet ﷺ. Before closing his eyes, he would reflect on his day, seek forgiveness for his shortcomings, and recite the prescribed supplications. He made it a point to recite Āyat al-Kursī and other adhkār. Miraculously, he began waking up before his alarm, feeling refreshed and spiritually energized. He learned that by honoring the Sunnah in his sleep, Allāh had blessed his efforts to worship Him upon waking.

Practical Applications:

Perform wuḍū’ before sleeping: 

This purifies the body and soul. The Prophet ﷺ stated that when a person sleeps in a state of purity, an angel stays with them and supplicates for their forgiveness throughout the night.

Sleep on your right side:

This was the consistent practice of the Prophet ﷺ and is now known to have physiological benefits, such as reducing pressure on the heart.

Recite Āyat al-Kursī (Qurʾān 2:255): 

The Prophet ﷺ. taught that whoever recites this powerful verse before sleep, Allāh appoints a guardian for them, and no Shayṭān (devil) can come near them until morning.

Recite Sūrah al-Mulk (Chapter 67):

Known as the protector from the torment of the grave, the Prophet ﷺ. would not sleep until he had recited it.

Make dhikr (remembrance of Allāh): 

Recite SubḥānAllāh (33 times), Alḥamdulillāh (33 times), and Allāhu Akbar (34 times). This is a profound way to end the day with the praise of Allāh.

Make a sincere duʿā’ (supplication):

Ask Allāh for forgiveness, guidance, and protection, and make a firm intention to wake up for Fajr.

May Allāh grant us the tawfīq to adorn our lives with the Sunnah of our beloved Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ. May He allow our sleep to be a source of peace and reward, and may He make it easy for us to rise and worship Him with renewed devotion.
Āmīn.