Hazrat Sheikh-ul Hadeeth Maulana Muhammad Zakariyya Kandhelwi
(R.A.) explains;
In this chapter
is mentioned how Sayyidina Rasulullah Salla lahu 'Alayhi wa’ale hi Wasallam slept, and what he recited before retiring
for sleep etc.
Six ahaadith have been compiled in this chapter.
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Hadith Number 1.
Hasrat Baraa
Radiyallahu 'Anhu reports: "When Rasulullah Salla lahu 'Alayhi wa’ale hi Wasallam retired, he put his blessed
right hand under his blessed right cheek, and recited this du'aa:
Rabbi qini adhaa-baka yauma tub-a-thu 'ibaadaka
Translation. 'O
Allah, save me from Your punishment on the day of qiyaamah",
Commentary
It is stated in the Hisn
Haseen that Sayyidina Rasulullah Salla lahu 'Alayhi wa’ale hi Wasallam recited this du'aa thrice.
This has also been reported by Hasrat 'Abdullah bin Mas'ud Radiyallahu 'Anhu in a narration. We find that this
was the general practice of Sayyidina Rasulullah Salla lahu 'Alayhi wa’ale hi Wasallam, which many Sahaabah
Radiyallahu 'Anhum had witnessed. Although Sayyidina Rasulullah Salla lahu 'Alayhi wa’ale hi Wasallam was sinless,
he recited these types of.du'aas (supplications) to express his humbleness and bondmanship. Subhan-Allah. It is proper
that a devoted worshipper asks only his creator, or this was done simply to educate the Ummah - nation. It is clear,
from this hadith that Sayyidina Rasulullah Salla lahu 'Alayhi wa’ale hi Wasallam slept on his right
side. This was his noble practice. Therefore it is mustahab – preferable to sleep on the right side.
A special benefit may be derived from this. The heart is on the left side of the chest, and by sleeping on the right side,
the heart remains on the top side. One will not have a deep sleep, but will sleep lightly. If one sleeps on the left side,
the heart will be at the bottom, which will result in a deep slumber. Some physicians have for this reason said, that it is
good to sleep on the left side, because if one has a deep sleep, the food will digest better. This is a fact. However there
is a harm too, which has not be taken into consideration. If the heart is at the bottom, the weight of the whole body will
be on it and this will affect it. The heart is one of the main organs of the body. Putting a little pressure on it may cause
many diseases. Therefore, medically speaking, if it is good to sleep on the left, then too it is detrimental, from which one
should at all times take precaution. In this respect, from the medical point of view it is important to sleep on the right
side. Besides, sleeping on the right side reminds one of the grave. We have been commanded to remember death regularly. Many
worldly and religious benefits are derived by constantly remembering death. One should constantly remember the breaker of
all pleasures. The fact is this, how can one forget a thing that every being will experience which is sure to come and it
is not known when it shall take place?
(243) Hadith Number 2.
Hasrat Hudhayfah Radiyallahu 'Anhu says: "When
Rasulullah Salla lahu 'Alayhi wa’ale hi Wasallam lay down on a bed, he recited:
Allahumma bi-ith-mika a-mutu wa ahyaa
Translation: O Allah! In Thy name do I live and die'.
When he awakened he recited this du'aa:
Alhamdulillaahil ladhi ahyaanaa ba'da
rnaa amaatana wa-ilayhin nushur Translation: 'Praise be to Allah Who restored unto us life, having caused us to die and unto Him shall
be the Resurrection"'.
Commentary
Sleep is synonymous with death.
This is why sleep has been linked to death, and waking with life. For this reason too one should sleep on the right side,
as sleeping is an example of death. As sleep is likened to death, and waking up is becoming alive again. The 'ulama have
written, it is a thing that should be pondered upon, that, after dying in this manner on the day of qiyaamah one
will be given life again. In reality Allah 'Ta'aala has made this world a little replica of the Hereafter. An example
of everything has been made in this world, so that one may ponder and take heed of things to come. The life in this world
is not more than a dream. A person is happy, affluent, possessing all types of luxuries and does not experience any sort of
trouble. If this person sees in a dream that he is being taken to jail and flogged, and is experiencing all types of calamities,
not realising that it is a dream, he is distressed, and crying too. Suddenly the eyes open and all the tranquillity and happiness
returns. The troubles of this dream does not remain nor are its effects felt. In the same manner, this is the state of a pious
person. All the difficulties that are experienced in this world, are like a dream. After opening the eyes, when all the happiness
is experienced, what effect shall the dream have? Now imagine the opposite? If one is experiencing luxuries in a dream, but
upon awakening one finds oneself in jail with all its punishments, what taste shall remain of a sweet dream? If a detainee
that is sentenced to hard labour, sees in a dream that he has become king of the worlds, but after awakening finds himself
chained in the dark dungeons, of what benefit will this kingmanship be to him? The Sahaabah Radiyallahu
'Anhum understood this, they patiently endured all hardships, remembering that this life is but like a dream. May the
Almighty Allah through His Infinite Mercy also grant us this valuable treasure. His Mercy is widespread. Ameen
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Hadith Number 3.
Sayyidina 'Aayeshah
Radiyallahu 'Anha narrates: "Every night before Rasulullah Salla lahu 'Alayhi wa’ale hi Wasallam slept
on his blessed bed, he put together his blessed hands (as in the du'aa) and blew on it and recited (the Surahs of) AI-Ikhlaas
(Qul huwallahu Ahad), AI-Falaq (Qul a'udhu birabbil falaq), and An-Naas (Qui a'udhu birabbin
naas) and wiped those parts of the blessed body that he could (wherever the hand could reach). He began with the head, then
the face and then the front part of his blessed body. This was done thrice".
Commentary
The ahaadith state
that Sayyidina Rasulullah Salla lahu 'Alayhi wa’ale hi Wasallam recited different du'aas before he went to bed.
He also recited different Surahs and Aayaat of the Noble Qur-aan. It is reported from Sayyidina Rasulullah Salla lahu 'Alayhi
wa’ale hi Wasallam that if one recites a portion of the Noble Qur-aan before sleeping, an angel is appointed to protect
one till one awakens. From the above hadith, it is found that Sayyidina Rasulullah Salla lahu 'Alayhi wa’ale
hi Wasallam himself recited the three Surahs mentioned. Besides these, it has been narrated that he recited the musabbihaat.
i.e. those surahs that begin with Sabbaha, Yusabbihu, Subhaana etc. Sayyidina
Rasulullah salla lahu alayhi wa’ale hi wasallam also regularly recited the Surahs of (Alif Laam) Sajdah
and Surah Mulk (Tabaarak). The ahaadith state that Sayyidina Rasulullah salla lahu alayhi wa’ale
hi wasallam also recited the Aayatul Kursi (2,255) and the last two Aayahs of Suratul Baqarah. A Sahaabi (Ra) reports that, Sayidina Rasulullah Salla lahu 'Alayhi wa’ale
hi Wasallam advised him to recite Suratul Kaafirun (Qul yaa ayyuhal kaafirun) before
retiring to bed. Besides these, other du'aas have been narrated that were read by Sayyidina Rasulullah Salla lahu 'Alayhi
wa’ale hi Wasallam before sleeping. -Fathul Baari.
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Hadith Number 4.
Hasrat Ibn 'Abbaas Radiyallahu 'Anhu reports: "Once Rasulullah Salla lahu 'Alayhi
wa’ale hi Wasallam slept and began snoring. It was the blessed nature of Rasulullah Salla lahu 'Alayhi wa’ale
hi Wasallam that he snored, when he slept. Hasrat Bilaal Radiyallahu 'Anhu gave the call to prepare for salaah.
Rasulullah Salla lahu 'Alayhi wa’ale hi Wasallam awakened and performed the salaah. He did not perform the wudu".
This hadith has a detailed incident.
Commentary
It is a peculiarity of the Ambiyaa – Prophets (As) that their wudu does not become invalid
by sleeping. For this reason Sayyidina Rasulullah Salla lahu 'Alayhi wa’ale hi Wasallam did not perform wudu. Sayyidina
Rasulullah Salla lahu 'Alayhi wa’ale hi Wasallam informed us of the reason. When the Ambiyaa (As) sleep, their hearts
and minds do not sleep, only their eyes sleep. The dreams of the Ambiyaa (AS) are also Divine Revelations. They are protected
from the influence of the shaytaan - devil. The incident that Imaam Tirmidhi (Rh) refers to took place at
the house of the aunt of Sayyidina ibn 'Abbaas Radiyallahu 'Anhu. It will be discussed in the fifth hadith
of the ensuing chapter. The subject was not relevant to this chapter, therefore the author omitted it here.
(246) Hadith Number 5.
Hasrat Anas bin Maalik
Radiyallahu'Anhu says: "When Rasulullah Salla lahu 'Alayhi wa’ale hi Wasallam went to bed, he recited this
du'aa: Alhamdulillaahil
ladhi at'a-manaa wa-saqaanaa wa-kafaanaa wa-aa-waa-naa-fa-kam mim-mal laa kaafiya lahu wa-laa mu-wiya
Translation: 'Praise be to Allah Who gave us food and
drink, provided us sufficiently, and gave us (a place for) shelter! How many there are who have neither a provider nor a shelterer!"'
Commentary
The law of Allah is that when one leaves one's work to Allah, Allah Ta'aala also takes care and fulfils
one's work through an unknown source. And whosoever put his trust in Allah, He will suffice him. – Surah Talaq, 3.
This is certainly completed on Sayyidina Rasulullah Salla lahu
'Alayhi wa’ale hi Wasallam. Therefore the sufficing is of a complete nature. Thereafter, the more one relies and
has trust in Allah, so much more does Allah fulfill one's needs. This has been mentioned in many Ahaadith
under different headings.
It is reported
in a hadith: 'To whom poverty reaches and that person asks the people for
rescue from starvation, then the persons needs are not fulfilled. If one puts forward one's request to Allah Ta'aala,
then soon in someway or the other, that need is fulfilled'.
In another
hadith it is reported that Allah Ta'aala says: "O son of man. If you
free yourself (from all things) for the sake of My worship. I will fulfil your needs and fill you with richness (from all
wants). Otherwise I will fill your hearts with problems and I will not let your needs be fulfilled".
Those who wait for their material needs to be fulfilled, so that they can spend their time for religious activities,
should take heed from this. The only way to fulfil religious needs is to make oneself free from material needs, and concentrate
on the path of Allah (swt). The du'aa of the above hadith has been mentioned by Sayyidina Rasulullah
Salla lahu 'Alayhi wa’ale hi Wasallam so that one may be reminded to express gratitude to Allah (swt). It is important
that everyone thank Allah (swt) according to one's capacity. The more one thanks Allah (swt), the more one receives of
His blessings. Allah Ta'aala says in the Qur-aan: "If ye give thanks, 1 will give you more;.." -
Surah Ebrahim, 7.
Allah
Ta'aala has also commanded that one should remember those who are less fortunate, so that thanks may emit from the heart.
How many people are there in the world who have no food and are starving? They do not have someone to aid them in their difficulties.
How great is Allah Ta'aala's Mercy, that He has bestowed upon us such great bounties. Al Hamda lillah. Praise be to
Allah (swt)
(247) Hadith Number 6.
Hasrat Abu Qataadah Radiyallahu 'Anhu relates: "If Rasulullah
Salla lahu 'Alayhi wa’ale hi Wasallam made an early joumey-break in the last portion of the night on his travels,
he slept on his blessed right side. If he was staying there till before the morning, he lifted his right arm, put his head
on it and slept".
Commentary
The reason being that if there was more
time he lay flat and slept. His noble habit was to sleep on the right side. But if time was short, he lifted his arm and slept
on it for a little while. In such circumstances he did not lie flat and sleep, as this might result in a deep slumber, and
the time for the Salaah - prayer may pass.
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