The Dislike of Sleeping After the Fajr Prayer

Jabir narrated from Abu Ja'far Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir عليه السلام who said: "Indeed, Iblis deploys his soldiers of the night from sunset until the disappearance of twilight and deploys his soldiers of the day from the time the Fajr (morning) light appears until the sun rises." He also mentioned that "the Prophet of Allah صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم used to say: 'Increase your remembrance of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Mighty and Majestic, during these two hours, and seek refuge in Allah سبحانه وتعالى from the evil of Iblis and his soldiers, and seek protection for your children during these two hours, for they are times of heedlessness.'"

Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام said: "The morning sleep (after Fajr) is inauspicious; it drives away sustenance, causes paleness and disfigures the complexion, and alters it negatively. It is the sleep of every unfortunate person. Indeed, Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Blessed and Exalted, distributes sustenance between the rising of Fajr and the rising of the sun, so beware of that sleep."

Al-Baqir عليه السلام said: "Sleeping at the beginning of the day is wastefulness, the nap at midday is a blessing, sleeping after Asr (afternoon prayer) is foolishness, and sleeping between the two night prayers (Maghrib and Isha) deprives one of sustenance."

Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام said: "If you see someone sleeping on their face, wake them up."

Imam عليه السلام said: "Three things bring forth the dislike (anger) of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Almighty and Majestic: sleeping without fatigue, laughing without wonder, and eating when already full”.

A Bedouin came to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم and said: "O’ Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم, I used to have a strong memory but now I have become forgetful." The Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم asked: "Did you use to take a midday nap (Qailulah)?" The man replied: "Yes." The Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم then asked: "And did you stop doing that?" The man answered, "Yes." The Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم said: "Resume it." The man did so and his memory returned.

Abu Basir narrated from Imam Abu Abdullah Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام who said: "There are five types of people who cannot sleep: one who is anxious about shedding blood, the possessor of a great amount of wealth who lacks a trustworthy guardian, one who spreads lies and false accusations among people to gain a worldly benefit, one held liable for a large sum that he does not possess, and one who deeply loves someone and fears separation from them."

It is narrated: "Take a midday nap (Qailulah), for indeed Allah سبحانه وتعالى nourishes and provides drink to the fasting person during their sleep."

It is narrated, "Take a midday nap (Qailulah), for indeed the Shaytan does not take a nap."

Imam عليه السلام said: "Sleeping in the morning (after dawn) is an omen of misfortune; it deprives one of sustenance and pales the complexion. The manna and quails used to descend upon the Children of Israel between the time of dawn until sunrise, so whoever slept during that hour would not receive their share. When they woke up and did not find their portion, they were compelled to ask and seek provision”.

Imam al-Ridha عليه السلام said regarding the verse of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Exalted: "By those who distribute commands" He (Imam عليه السلام) explained: "The angels distribute the sustenance of the children of Adam from the time of dawn until sunrise. Therefore, whoever sleeps during this period sleeps away their sustenance."

Muammar ibn Khallad narrated from Imam al-Ridha عليه السلام that when he was in Khurasan, after performing the Fajr prayer, he would sit in his prayer place until the sun rose. Then, a pouch containing miswaks (tooth-cleaning sticks) would be brought to him, and he would use them one by one. Afterward, he would be given frankincense, which he would chew for some time before leaving it aside. He would then be brought a Qur'an, which he would read from.

The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم said: "Whoever remains seated in their place of prayer after the Fajr prayer until the sun rises, Allah سبحانه وتعالى will protect them from the Fire."