It is great to know that even a posture during sleeping is rewarding and appreciated in Islam. But what if we sleep following the sunnah of the prophet Muhammad( pbuh)? Sleeping on the right side is rewarding and sunnah. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) stressed upon sleeping posture by saying,
“If anyone who is about to sleep on his bed lies on his right side, then recites ‘Say, He is God, One’ a hundred times, the Lord will say to him on the day of resurrection, ‘My servant, enter paradise to your right’.” [1]
Du’a before Sleeping on the Right Side that the Prophet (Peace and Blessings be upon him) supplicated is: Narrated Al-Bara’ bin `Azib:
When Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) went to bed, he used to sleep on his right side and then say,
“O Allah, I submit my soul to You, and I turn my face towards You, and I entrust my affairs to You, and I seek refuge in You out of desire and fear of You. There is no refuge or escape from You except in You. O Allah, I believe in Your Book that You have revealed and in Your Prophet that You have sent.” [2]
Rewards of Sleeping on the Right Side in Islam
Following the path of Sunnah: There is evidence in Hadith that the Prophet (peace be upon him) favored sleeping on his right side. We know following the Sunnah is worship. And what is easier than sleeping on the right side? It is walking on the same path of guidelines set by our Prophet (peace be upon him).
And following the Sunnah, his companions followed the same pattern. Hence, in Islam, it is regarded as a Sunnah prayer to follow the teachings of our Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) to sleep on one’s right side. It is reported that Al-Bara’ bin `Azib (ra) narrated that:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to lay his head upon his right hand when going to sleep, then say: “My Lord, safeguard me from Your punishment the Day You resurrect Your slaves (Rabbi qinī `adhābaka yawma tab’athu `ibādak).” [3]
Rewards from Allah (SWT): There have been countless times when we have wished to be rewarded for just sleeping. Fortunately, Islam gives us so much ease in our lives that even the act of sleep is rewarded. In a Hadith, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said,
“There is no man who habitually prays at night, then sleep overwhelms him, but Allah (SWT) will record for him the reward of his prayer, and his sleep is a charity given to him.” [4]
This Hadith highlights the importance of intention and how it can lead to rewards from Allah (SWT). How great is that? You just follow the recommended Sunnah and earn countless blessings for only sleeping.
Increased Spiritual Connection: An individual’s spiritual relationship with Allah might be strengthened by sleeping on their right side (SWT). The night is seen as a time of devotion and spiritual development in Islam. People might strengthen their spiritual ties to Allah (SWT) and receive more benefits by sleeping on their right side and rising early for voluntary prayers like Tahajjud.
Protection from Shaytan: According to Islamic belief, Shaytan (Devil) intends to enter a person’s head while they are sleeping and whisper bad thoughts there. One can shield themselves from Shaytan’s whispers by sleeping on the right side.
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) asked me, “What did your prisoner do last night.” I answered, “He promised to teach me some words which he claimed will benefit me before Allah. So I let him go.” The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) asked, “What are those words that he taught you?” I said, “He told me: ‘When you go to bed, recite Ayat- ul-Kursi from the beginning to the end i.e., [Allah! None has the right to be worshipped but He, the Ever Living, the One Who sustains and protects all that exists. Neither slumber nor sleep overtakes Him. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. Who is he that can intercede with Him except with His Permission? He knows what happens to them (His creatures) in this world, and what will happen to them in the Hereafter. And they will never compass anything of His Knowledge except that which He wills. His Kursi encompasses the heavens and the earth, and preserving them does not fatigue Him. And He is the Highest, the Greatest].’ (2:255). He added: ‘By reciting it, there will be a guardian appointed over you from Allah who will protect you during the night, and Satan will not be able to come near you until morning’.” The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “Verily, he has told you the truth though he is a liar. O Abu Hurairah! Do you know with whom you were speaking for the last three nights?” I said, “No.” He (ﷺ) said, “He was Shaitan (Satan).” [5]
We can easily understand from this hadith that reciting Ayat-ul-Kursi before calling it a night works as our protection. We are submitting to Allah and asking Him for protection from Shaitan’s whispers.
Benefits of Sleeping on the Right Side
Improves Digestion: Sleeping on your right side is said to aid digestion. Because your stomach is on the left side of the body, gravity helps move food through your digestive tract. It helps reduce heartburn and heartburn, as sleeping on your left side can cause these conditions.
Reduces Snoring and Sleep Apnea: Snoring and sleep apnea are also less common when you sleep on your right side. This is because it helps keep the airways open, facilitating easier breathing. Sleeping on the left side can induce snoring and sleep apnea because of the tongue’s propensity to fall back and block the airways.
The Heart Relieves Stress: Another benefit of lying on your right side while sleeping is that it evens and slows the rate of your heartbeat. Because our heart is placed a little towards the left, it is easier for our body to pump up blood and it results in relieving stress on our other organs.
Improved Pregnancy Conditions: Another added benefit of sleeping on the right is for pregnant women. Many of our organs such as the liver are situated on the left and with the pregnancy it might be harmful to lie down on the left side. It might cause unnecessary pressure and cause unusual side effects. On the other hand, if pregnant women sleep on their right side, their blood will circulate better and the flow will reach the baby. It significantly reduces the chances of complications.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Islam strongly advises resting on your right side and offers several benefits. People can improve their blood flow, heart health, and digestion by sleeping on their right side. They can also strengthen their spiritual ties to Allah (SWT), forbear their misdeeds, and shield themselves from the devil’s whispers. To preserve sound physical and mental health and get blessings from Allah (SWT), it is crucial to prioritize getting a good night’s sleep and adhere to Islamic sleeping rules.
Sleeping early at night is rewarding and is part of a fantastic series of content. For more, you are very much encouraged to follow our whole series Time to Revive where we discuss the forgotten sunnah or Prophet Muhammad Peace be Upon Him and try to revive them by considering most of the perspectives of the modern world. Reading them and making them a habit is now your choice.
To know more about the unintended yet rewarding worship we can implement daily, follow our series Time to Revive.
References
- Mishkat al-Masabih 2159: Book 8, Hadith 49
- Sahih al-Bukhari 6315: Book 80, Hadith 12
- Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3399: Book 48, Hadith 30
- Sunan an-Nasa’i 1784: Book 20, Hadith 187
- Riyad as-Salihin 1020: Book 8, Hadith 30
