The Blessings of Early Morning: A Guide to Sleeping and Waking in Islam

The Importance of Staying Awake After Morning Prayer

Make this a habit:

Muslims are urged to stay awake after the morning prayer, so as to benefit from the great blessing of the early morning. Sakhr al-Ghamidi and other companions (ﺭﺿﻲ ﺍﻟﻠﻪ ﻋﻨﻬﻢ) reported that the Prophet (ﷺ) said:

“O Allah, bless the early part of the day for my Ummah. ”

[Recorded by Abu Dawud, an-Nasa’i. and others. Verified to be authentic by al-Albani (Sahih ul-Jami no. 1300 and Hidayat ur Ruwah no. 3831)]

Those who needlessly sleep in the early morning deprive themselves from this blessing. Therefore, some of the companions (ﺭﺿﻲ ﺍﻟﻠﻪ ﻋﻨﻬﻢ) considered this sleep an act of ignorance. Khawwat Bin Jubayr (رضي الله عنه) said:

“Sleeping in the beginning of the Day is ignorance, in its middle is a good quality, and in its end is an imprudent act.”

[Recorded by al-Bukhari (in al-Adab ul-Mufrad 1242) and verified to be authentic by al-Albani]

If a person gets tired during the day, it is best for him to take a nap during the late morning or early afternoon, even if for just a few minutes.

This was the practice of the Prophet (ﷺ) and his companions (ﺭﺿﻲ ﺍﻟﻠﻪ ﻋﻨﻬﻢ). Anas and Sahl Bin Sa‘d (ﺭﺿﻲ ﺍﻟﻠﻪ ﻋﻨﻬﻢ) reported:
“We used to pray Jumu‘ah and then take a nap (during the Prophet’s (ﷺ) time.)”

[Recorded by al-Bukhari (905,938-941), Muslim (859), and others.]