Question
Is there any hadith that prohibits sleeping after the Fajr prayer? Please clarify.
(Hafiz Usman Sadiq, Okara)
Answer
Before discussing the narration in question, it should be kept in mind that the time immediately after Fajr is the time about which the Prophet ﷺ made this supplication:
((اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكُ لِأُمَّتِي فِي بُكُورِهَا))
“O Allah! Bless my ummah in its early hours of the morning.”
From this hadith it is known that there is blessing in the morning hours. Therefore, one should not waste it by sleeping or by engaging in idle and useless pursuits. However, no authentic hadith prohibits sleeping; the narrations that mention a prohibition are weak in their chains. Their details are as follows:
❀ In Amali al-Mahamili (189), it is narrated from Sayyiduna Ali that
” نھی رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ عَنِ النَّوْمِ قَبْلَ طُلُوعِ الشَّمْسِ ”
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ prohibited sleeping before the rising of the sun.
Analysis:
This narration has three defects in its chain:
➊ Nawfal bin Abd al-Malik
Hafiz Ibn Hajar described him as “mastur” (unknown in reliability).
Imam Yahya bin Ma’in said:
”ليْسَ بِشَيْءٍ”
➋ Rabi’ bin Habib
Hafiz Ibn Adi declared his narrations to be “ghayr mahfuz” (irregular).
From indications it is known that “النوم” is a scribal error (tashif), as in Sunan Ibn Majah (2206) where it reads: “نَهى رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ عَنِ السَّوْمِ ..”.
From the above-mentioned defects it becomes clear that this narration is weak and not valid as evidence.
In Shu’ab al-Iman of al-Bayhaqi (4406), it is also narrated from Sayyiduna Ali that
“دَخَلَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَلَى فَاطِمَةَ بَعْدَ أَنْ صَلَّى الصُّبْحَ وَهِيَ نَائِمَةٌ ….”
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ came to Sayyidah Fatimah while she was sleeping after the morning prayer, and he said:
“O my daughter! Do not be among the heedless. Between the break of dawn and sunrise, the distribution of sustenance takes place among people, so (stay awake and) take part in it.”
Analysis:
This narration is severely weak, because in its chain is Abd al-Malik bin Harun bin Antarah, who is a matruk (abandoned) narrator accused of lying; see the books of criticism and evaluation (jarh wa ta’dil) and others.
To our knowledge, there is no authentic hadith that prohibits sleeping after the Fajr prayer. Therefore, if there is a need to sleep after the Fajr prayer, one may sleep; however, spending the morning in the best of occupations will certainly be a source of blessing.
ان شاء اللہ
