Sleep is one of the human needs. After carrying out lots of activities during the day, rest at night will provide a good spirit to the body. In Islam, it is highly recommended to sleep early at night because it has many virtues. The following are some of the virtues of sleeping early at night in Islam:
From Abu Barzah, it is stated that the Prophet Sallallaahu ‘Alaihi Wasallam did not like to sleep before prayer Isha’ and chat afterward.” (H.R. Bukhari)
From the Prophet Sallallaahu ‘Alaihi Wasallam, he said: “There is no chat (after the Isha’` prayer) except for people who are praying or people who are traveling ” (H.R. At-Tirmidzi)
By going to bed early, we will find it easier to wake up at night to perform the midnight prayer.
Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala said:
كَانُوا قَلِيلًا مِنَ اللَّيْلِ مَا يَهْجَعُونَ وَبِالْأَسْحَارِ هُمْ يَسْتَغْفِرُونَ
“They sleep very little at night; and at the end of the night they begged forgiveness (to God).” (Adz-Dzaariyaat 51: 17 – 18)
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By sleeping earlier, it will also be easier to get up early so that the Fajr prayer will not be missed. The Apostle said,
“Whoever does the bardain prayer (dawn and Ashar) then he will go to heaven.” (H.R. Bukhari no. 574 and Muslim no. 635)
The Prophet Sallallaahu ‘Alaihi Wasallam said,
لَنْ يَلِجَ النَّارَ أَحَدٌ صَلَّى قَبْلَ طُلُوعِ الشَّمْسِ وَقَبْلَ غُرُوبِهَا
“It is not going to go to hell the person who performs the prayer before the sun rises (i.e. fajr prayer) and prays before the sun sets (i.e. Ashar prayer).” (Narrated by Muslim no. 634)
The Prophet Sallallaahu ‘Alaihi Wasallam always prayed every morning,
اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ لأُمَّتِى فِى بُكُورِهَا
“O Allah, bless my people in the morning.” (Narrated by Abu Daud no. 2606, Tirmidhi no. 1212, and Ibn Majah no. 2236. Shaykh Al Albani said that this hadith is saheeh)
Someone who sleeps early at night or does not stay up late, then he or she will get enough sleep so that his heart will be healthier than people who often sleep late at night. Researchers at the Misao Health Clinic in Gifu, Japan, stated that those who sleep late at night will be more susceptible to hardening of the arteries, causing poor blood flow. (Also read: 12 Useful Tips to Change Undesired Habits in Islam).
Enough sleep will certainly be very good for our body. With enough hours of sleep, we will be more eager to do various activities in the morning. According to Kathy R. Gromer, MD, of the Minnesota Sleep Institute, workers who get the night shift so they have to sleep in the morning usually do not have the enthusiasm to work because they have an unusual sleep cycle.
Therefore, take advantage of sleep as well as possible so you can be more eager to find fortune in the morning. (Also read: 10 Effectual Dua in the Morning in Islam You Can Recite).
Allah says,
“Have they not noticed that in fact, We have made the night so that they rest and the day that illuminates? Verily in that, there are signs (of the power of Allah) for those who believe.” (Surah An-Naml 86)
Allah says,
“And He is the one who put you to sleep at night and He knows what you do in the daytime, then He wakes you up in the day to be perfected (your) age that has been determined, then to Allah you will return.” (Surah Al-An’am 60)
According to scientists such as Jessica D. Payne of Notre University and Elizabeth A. Kensinger of Boston College, sleeping early will help to strengthen memory. Brain nerve cells will work more optimally when the brain is in a state of rest so that the memory power of the brain to remember will also strengthen.
It cannot be denied that the number of hours of rest will greatly affect one’s health. The body that gets enough sleep will have a very good immune system. In the American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology found that when sleeping, the body releases T cells, growth hormones, and epinephrine so that the body will attack other bacteria or pathogens.
The virtue of sleeping at the beginning of nighttime in Islam is, people who sleep early, then their body and mind will be much healthier. This is what makes people who sleep early can avoid stress. Dr. Joerg Huber from Roehampton University in London England states that adequate sleep will make the mind more calm and vibrant in activities so that the level of depression is greatly reduced.
According to a researcher at the University of California, San Francisco, someone who gets enough sleep will live longer than those who like to sleep late. This is because people who have enough rest will be much healthier so that they avoid many diseases.
According to Christine Choi Kim, MD, a dermatologist in Santa Monica, California, someone who sleeps faster and gets enough rest will have a more youthful face. When sleeping, the body will be more maximal in producing hormones that increase the body’s metabolism, as well as the face.
The face will be drained with blood carrying oxygen so that it will look fresher and blush when you wake up in the morning. The body will also feel fresher and more active to carry out various kinds of activities.
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From ‘Ubadah bin Shamit Radhiyallahu ‘Anhu, from the Prophet Sallallaahu ‘Alaihi Wasallam, he said,
مَن تَعارَّ من الليل فقال: لا إله إلا اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لا شَرِيْكَ لَهُ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ ولهُ الْحَمْدُ وهُوَ على كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيْرٌ، الحمدُ للهِ، وسبحانَ اللهِ، ولا إله إلا اللهُ، واللهُ أَكْبَرُ، ولا حَوْلَ ولا قُوَّةَ إلا بِاللهِ، ثم قال: اَللّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لي – أو دعا – استُجِيبَ له، فإنْ توضأ وصلى قُبِلتْ صلاتُه
“Whoever is awake at night, then he reads (the remembrance mentioned above)”:
لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له, له الملك وله الحمد وهو على كل شيء قدير, الحمد لله, وسبحان الله, ولا إله إلا الله, والله أكبر, ولا حول ولا قوة إلا بالله
[Laa ilaha illallah wahdahu laa syarika lah, lahul mulku wa lahul hamdu wa huwa ‘ala kulli syain qodiir. Alhamdulillah wa subhanallah, wa laa ilaha illallah, wallahu akbar, wa laa hawla wa laa quwwata illa billah] “All praise be to Allah. There is no right worship except Allah and there is no partner for Him, His property all kingdoms/powers and for Him all praise, and He is capable of all things, all praise be to Allah, the Most Holy God, there is no right worship except Allah, Allah is great, and there is no power and strength except with (help) from Allah,” then he says:
اَللّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لي
“O Allah, forgive (my sins)”, or he prays (with another prayer), then his prayer will be granted, if he performs his wudhu and performs the prayer, he will receive his prayer. ”
So, those are the 13 virtues of sleep at the beginning of the night in Islam. I hope this article is helpful for all of us.
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