Nasai

1784. Commentary:

➊ These words can be interpreted as praise or as criticism. Praise, in the sense that he does not disrespect the Qur’an by throwing it down like a pillow or by placing his head upon it, rather he honors and venerates it. And criticism, in the sense that he does not hold fast to the Qur’an as one would to a pillow, meaning he does not recite it regularly and consistently with devotion.

➋ Another translation of «لایتوسد القران» is that the Qur’an does not become a pillow with him. (In this case, the Qur’an would be the subject.) This meaning too can be understood both as praise and as criticism. Praise, in the sense that after memorizing the Qur’an, he does not remain asleep so that the Qur’an becomes a pillow, i.e., a means of sleep, rather he stays awake with the Qur’an, meaning he recites it and remembers it. And criticism, in the sense that he has not memorized the Qur’an and does not recite it, so that when he sleeps, the Qur’an would be with him like a pillow.

➌ The chapter of this narration, that is, the time of the Sunnah prayers of Fajr, has no connection with it; however, it is related to the night prayer (salah al-layl), which is a praiseworthy act, and sleeping through the night prayer is blameworthy. The night prayer has always been the practice and habit of all the righteous people of the past.