STAYING UP LATE: AN UNHEALTHY LIFESTYLE

STAYING UP LATE: AN UNHEALTHY LIFESTYLE www.giftofjumuah.com Staying Up Late: An Unhealthy Lifestyle Our lives are a continuous succession of Allāh’s favors. There are many favors that Allāh has bestowed upon us that cannot even be enumerated. Allāh says: ‫ﵘﵑﵜ‬ ‫الآية‬ ‫ﵝال ّنَ ۡحل‬ ‫ﵸ‬١٨ ‫م‬ٞ ‫هر ِحي‬ ‫ر‬ٞ ‫لَ َغ ُفو‬ ‫ٱَّهل َل‬ ‫إِ هن‬ ٓۗ‫ُتحۡ ُصو َها‬ َ ِ‫ٱَّهلل‬ ‫نِ ۡع َم َة‬ ْ‫َت ُع ُّدوا‬ ‫ﵹ َوِإن‬ ‫لا‬ “If you attempt to count (all) Allāh’s bounties, you will never be able to do so (because they are so many). Verily Allāh is the Most Forgiving, the Most Merciful.” (Naḥl 16:18) • Some of these favors are of what we know, but there are yet many favors that we are not even aware of. • In other words, there are many blessings of Allāh which we cannot even imagine them. Allāh says: ‫ﵹ َوأَ ۡس َب َغ َع َل ۡي ُك ۡم نِ َع َم ُهۥ َظَٰ ِه َر ٗة َوبَا ِط َن ٗة ۗٓﵸ ﵝ ُل ۡق َمان الآية ﵐﵒﵜ‬ “Allāh has (amply) showered His visible (apparent) and hidden (unapparent) favors on you (favors that are perceived either by one’s senses or by one’s intellect).” (Luqmān 31:20) • Among these favors is that Allāh has created sleep, and He has created the night so that we may rest in it. Allāh reminds us about these favors in the Qur’ān when He states: ‫ﵸ ﵝال َّن َبإ من الآية ﵙ الى الآية ﵐﵑﵜ‬١٠ ‫ َو َج َع ۡل َنا ٱله ۡي َل ل ِ َبا ٗسا‬٩ ‫ﵹ َو َج َعلۡ َنا نَ ۡو َم ُك ۡم ُس َبا ٗتا‬ “(And have We not) Made your sleep a means of rest. And the night a drape (covering the earth in tranquil darkness.” (Nabā’ 78:9,10) NOTE: This verse points to the fact that man naturally feels sleepy when light decreases and darkness prevails, when there is tranquility all around and there is the absence of noises. It additionally signifies that Allāh did not only give man sleep but created in the entire world conditions that are 1

STAYING UP LATE: AN UNHEALTHY LIFESTYLE www.giftofjumuah.com suitable for sleep. That is to say: [1] darkness of night; [2] the state of sleep is imposed on all humans and animals simultaneously so that they sleep at the same time. In this way, there will be peace and tranquility throughout the world. Like other works, if there are different times for different people to sleep, no one will have peace and tranquility. ‫ﵹ َفالِ ُق ٱل ۡ ِإ ۡص َبا ِح َو َج َع َل ٱله ۡي َل َس َك ٗناﵸ ﵝالأَ ۡن َعام الآية ﵖﵙﵜ‬ “He causes the dawn to break, made the night a (time of) rest.” (Anʿām 6:96) • Humans get physically and mentally tired during their daily activities and need sleep to recuperate and replenish their energy. • After a good night’s rest, they again have the energy to continue their daily activities. • The Arabic word “subāta” (translated above as a means of rest) refers to the cessation of movement. • This word aptly describes sleep because the voluntary movements of a person’s limbs terminate while he sleeps and his fatigue is alleviated. • Sleep and nightfall are a great divine gift from Allāh.1 1 Types of sleep in the Qur’ān: “Sleep” is frequently described by several different terms and descriptions in the Qur’ān. Sinah: A verse in Qur’ān uses the word sinah when describing Allāh. ‫ﵕﵕﵒﵜ‬ ‫الآية‬ ‫ﵝالبَ َق َرة‬ ‫ﵸ‬ٞۚٞ‫نَ ۡوم‬ ‫َول َا‬ ‫ة‬ٞ ‫ِس َن‬ ‫تَأۡ ُخ ُذ ُهۥ‬ َ “Neither drowsiness nor sleep overcomes Him.” (Baqarah 2:255) ‫ﵹلا‬ Sinah has been defined as slumber or dozing off for a very short period after which arousal due to any environmental stimulant is prompt. In the Qur’ān, sleep implies a manifestation of weakness and signals that the body needs rest. Therefore, while the Creator does not sleep or doze off, His creations, including mankind, need sleep every day. Nuʿās: This term appears twice in the Qur’ān to describe sleep. One verse says, ‫ﵹإِ ۡذ ُي َغ ِشي ُك ُم ٱل ُّن َعا َس أَ َم َن ٗة مِ ۡن ُهﵸ ﵝال َأن َفال الآية ﵑﵑﵜ‬ “(Remember) when (in the thick of battle) slumber was made to envelop you as a means of serenity from Him (so that you do not panic).” (Anfāl 8:11). This verse describes how slumber (nuʿās) provided the Companions () with feelings of calmness during a period of fear and stress. The other verse says, ‫ﵹ ُث هم أَن َز َل َعلَ ۡي ُكم مِ ۢن َب ۡع ِد ٱ ۡل َغ ِم أَ َمنَ ٗة ُّن َعا ٗسا َي ۡغ َش َٰى َطائِ َف ٗة ِمن ُك ۡمۖۡﵸ ﵝآل ع ۡم َران الآية ﵔﵕﵑﵜ‬ “Then, after the distress, Allāh sent serenity (peace) down on you, (in the form of) a light sleep (slumber) that overcame a party of you” (Al-ʿImrān 3:154). Commentators of the Qur’an describe the word nuʿās as a short nap, which may indicate a state of sleep deeper than sinah. Ruqūd: The Qur’ān describes the sleep of the People of the Cave (Aṣhāb al-Kahf) who are known in Christian literature as “the Seven Sleepers of Ephesus”. When these young believers asked Allāh for mercy, He directed them to seek refuge from persecution in a cave. Then, He put them into a sleep state. The Qur’ān describes their sleep with the following verse, ‫ﵸ ﵝال َك ۡهف الآية ﵘﵑﵜ‬ٞۚ‫د‬ٞ ‫ﵹ َو َتحۡ َسبُ ُه ۡم َأ ۡي َقا ٗظا َو ُه ۡم ُر ُقو‬ 2

STAYING UP LATE: AN UNHEALTHY LIFESTYLE www.giftofjumuah.com Allāh tells us in the Qur’an: ‫ قُ ۡل‬٧١ ‫ﵹ ُق ۡل أَ َر َء ۡي ُت ۡم إِن َج َع َل ٱَّهل ُل َعلَ ۡي ُك ُم ٱله ۡي َل َس ۡر َم ًدا إِل َ َٰى يَ ۡو ِم ٱلۡقِ َيَٰ َم ِة َم ۡن إِ َلَٰ ٌه َغيۡ ُر ٱَّهللِ يَأۡتِي ُكم بِ ِض َياءٍۚ أَفَلَا ت َ ۡس َم ُعو َن‬ ‫أَ َر َء ۡي ُت ۡم إِن َج َع َل ٱَّهل ُل َعلَ ۡي ُك ُم ٱل هن َها َر َس ۡر َم ًدا إِل َ َٰى يَ ۡو ِم ٱ ۡل ِق َيَٰ َم ِة َم ۡن إِ َلَٰ ٌه َغ ۡي ُر ٱَّهللِ يَأۡتِي ُكم بِلَ ۡي ٖل ت َ ۡس ُك ُنو َن فِي ٍۚهِ أَ َفلَا ُت ۡب ِص ُرو َن‬ ‫ﵸ ﵝال َق َصص من الآية ﵑﵗ الى الآية ﵒﵗﵜ‬٧٢ Say, “Have you not considered: if Allāh made the night continuous until the Day of Resurrection, what deity other than Allāh could bring you light? Then will you not hear?” Say, “Have you not considered: if Allāh made the day continuous until the Day of Resurrection, what deity other than Allāh could bring you a night in which you may rest? Do you not see?” (Qaṣaṣ 28:71,72) • Sleep is a great source of relaxation for the entire creation - for rich as well as for poor, for learned people, as well as for the illiterate ones, for rulers as well as for laborers. • This gift is made available equally and simultaneously for all. • Rather, experience shows that this gift is most readily available to the poor and laboring class, as compared to the affluent and the elite class. • The latter class has all the means of comfort, they have comfortable homes, they have moderately warm and cold places, they have comfortable mattresses and pillows that are rarely available to the poor. • The gift of sleep is not dependent upon the mattresses, pillows, homes, and bungalows. • It is purely a divine gift that is given directly by Allāh. “(Had you seen them,) You would have thought that they were awake though they were asleep.” (Kahf 18:18) The most appropriate interpretation of the term ruqūd is “sleep for a long period”. The Qur’an tells us that the People of the Cave slept in their cave for three hundred (solar) years, i.e., 309 lunar years. ‫ﵸ ﵝال َك ۡهف الآية ﵕﵒﵜ‬٢٥ ‫ﵹ َولَ ِب ُثواْ ف ِى َك ۡهفِ ِه ۡم ثَ َلَٰ َث مِاْئَةٖ ِسنِي َن َوٱ ۡز َدا ُدواْ ت ِ ۡس ٗعا‬ “They (the people of the cave) remained in their cave for three hundred years and (others) add another nine (making it a total of 309 years). (Some commentators state that the period they slept was 300 years according to the solar calendar and 309 years according to the lunar calendar, which is shorter).” (Kahf 18:25) Hujūʿ: This term indicates sleep at night. The Qur’ān describes pious believers who fear Allāh in the following verse, ‫ﵸ ﵝال َّذاريَات من الآية ﵗﵑ الى الآية ﵘﵑﵜ‬١٨ ‫ َوبِٱل ۡ َأ ۡس َحارِ ُه ۡم ي َ ۡس َت ۡغفِ ُرو َن‬١٧ ‫ﵹ َكانُواْ َقلِي ٗلا ِم َن ٱله ۡي ِل َما َي ۡه َج ُعو َن‬ “They used to sleep but little by night. And in the hours before dawn, they were (found) asking (Allāh) for forgiveness.” (Dhāriyāt 51:17,18) Subāt: The Qur’ān describes human sleep in one verse as subāt. ‫ﵸ ﵝالنَّ َبإ الآية ﵙﵜ‬٩ ‫ﵹ َو َج َعلۡنَا نَ ۡو َم ُك ۡم ُسبَا ٗتا‬ “And we made your sleep (a means for) rest.” (Nabā’ 78:9) In Arabic, the word subāt is derived from the word sabt, which means disconnecting. Therefore, subāt indicates a disconnection from the surrounding environment during sleep because the voluntary movements of a person’s limbs terminate while he sleeps and his fatigue is alleviated. 3

STAYING UP LATE: AN UNHEALTHY LIFESTYLE www.giftofjumuah.com • Often the poor, with no means of comfort and without bed or bedding, enjoy the best sleep in an open space. • Sometimes, the affluent and the men of means suffer from insomnia and can only get sleep when they take sleeping pills. Often the pills do not work either. • Not only that this great gift is given to all creatures - humans as well as animals - and it is given free of charge, without working for it. • Allāh has made it compulsory for everyone in a way that even if he wishes to keep awake because of the load of work, sleep is imposed on him by Allāh’s mercy so that his tiredness is removed and he is refreshed to work further. • This arrangement is a wonderful means of providing rest and peace for humans. • During the night, people are calm and their bodies and minds are relaxed, which results in the required rest. • Allāh created this time for people to unwind, calm down and rest in, and this is from His mercy. Allāh says: ‫ﵸ ﵝال َق َصص الآية ﵓﵗﵜ‬٧٣ ‫ﵹ َو ِمن هر ۡحمَتِهِۦ َج َع َل لَ ُك ُم ٱله ۡي َل َوٱل هن َها َر لِ َت ۡس ُك ُنواْ فِيهِ َول ِ َت ۡب َت ُغواْ ِمن َف ۡضلِهِۦ َولَ َع هل ُك ۡم ت َ ۡش ُك ُرو َن‬ “Out of His mercy, He has created the day and the night for you so that you may find peace (rest) in them, seek from His bounty (earn your living), and express your gratitude to Him (for these and other favors).” (Qaṣāṣ 28:73) • In the past, the nights were a field of competition and hard work; during them, one would only see people praying, crying, supplicating, or reciting the Qur’ān. • Our Salaf () used to view the nights as the best means that lead one to Paradise. • However, many people today take their nights as a means of entertainment and frivolity. • Shayṭān dispatches his followers and spreads his evil ideas, and this has led to late nights being a source of immorality, corrupt behavior, crime, wasting of time, killing hours, and a path that leads to one’s destruction. • Late nights are the source of all evil and any objective person will testify to this. • Late nights have become a serious problem that is widespread especially among the youth. • In fact, many of us adults are afflicted with this same disease ourselves. We come back from parties, functions, and dinners late at night. • It is mandatory upon Muslims from all walks of life, and especially the parents, leaders, and those in authority, to educate ourselves and also protect the younger generation from this destructive habit. • Staying up late during the night and resisting sleep when the body is in desperate need of it results in serious problems such as health diseases, psychological disturbances, bad tempers, and loss of enthusiasm; one would thereby become physically weak, lazy, and apathetic to the extent that one can no longer shoulder any responsibilities nor fulfill any duties which one has during the day because staying up late is tiring and burdensome. Thawbān () narrates that the Prophet () said: .»‫«ِإ َّن َهَ َذإ إل َّس ََه َر َجهَ ٌذ َوِث ََق ٌل‬ (‫)سنن إلدارمي‬ 4

STAYING UP LATE: AN UNHEALTHY LIFESTYLE www.giftofjumuah.com “Staying up late is tiring and burdensome (for the body).” (Sunan al-Dārimī) • A person may resist sleep to stay up for an extra hour and lose as a result of many hours if not days. • Staying up late is a major reason behind heavy usage of social media, drug abuse, violence, many social crimes, community problems, numerous youth issues, gangster activity, and many other challenges facing young people today. • Let us examine the household of the Prophet () to see the Prophetic methodology and guidance so that we can follow in his footsteps and protect ourselves with his Sunnah from the finely decorated evil of Shayṭān. ʿĀ’ishah () states: .»‫ َوَلا َسَم َر َثَ َع َذ َ َها‬،‫« َما َنا َم َر ُسوُل الَّل ِه ﷺَ َقبَ َل إلَ ِعَ َشا ِء‬ (‫)سنن ابن ماجه‬ “The Prophet () never slept before the ʿIshā’ prayer and never stayed up after it.” (Ibn Mājah) And when she heard ʿUrwah () talking after the ʿIshā’ prayer she remarked: .»‫ َإو َرا ِق ًذإ َق َيش َل ُم‬،‫ ِإ َّما ُمُ َص ِ َل ً َتا َق َبَ َع َن ُم‬،‫ َوَلا ُم َت َح ِذ ًنا ََث َع َذ َهَا‬،‫« َما َ َه َذإ ال َح ِذيث َثَ َع َذ إلَ َعَ ََت َم ِة؟ َما َرَإيث َر ُسوَل الَّل ِه َﷺ َرا ِق ًذإ َقَ ُّط َق َب َلَ َهَا‬ (‫) ُم َص ِتف عتَذ إلرراق‬ “What is this talk after ʿIshā’? I have never seen the Prophet () sleeping before it or talking after it. He was either praying and gaining (reward) or sleeping and saved (from evil).” (Muṣannaf ʿAbd al-Razzāq) Al-Aswad () states: ‫َق ِا َذإ‬ ،‫ِق َرإ ِس ِه‬ ‫ِإ َلي‬ ‫بَر ِجِ ُع‬ ‫ُث َّم‬ ،‫َق ُبَ َصِلي‬ ،‫إ ِج َرُه‬ ‫َ َوِث ُقُوُم‬ ‫َإ َّ َول ُه‬ ‫َي َنَا ُم‬ ‫« َكا َن‬ :‫َقا َلث‬ ‫ِنال ََّل َت ِل؟‬ ‫ﷺ‬ ‫إل ََّت ِب ِي‬ ‫َصل َا ُة‬ ‫َكايَث‬ ‫َكَتِ َف‬ ،‫َعن َهَا‬ ‫َس َالث َعا ِئ َش َة َر ِض َي الَّل ُه‬ .»‫َإ َّذ َن إل ُ ُم َوِذ ُن َ يوَ َث‬ (‫)م ِتقُق علبَه‬ “I asked ʿĀ’ishah () ‘How was the night prayer of the Prophet ()?’ She replied, ‘He used to sleep early at night, and get up in its last part to pray, and then return to his bed. When the Mu’adhdhin pronounced the adhān, he would get up right away.’” (Agreed Upon) • Sleeping early has many benefits. • Those who follow the Prophet () in doing this find that their body has been properly rested. ʿAbdullāh Ibn ʿAbbās () relates: ‫َم ُث َّم‬،‫ََن َِقذََِبها‬،‫ََُّتوَإوَمهَ ُل َ ُعه ِفنيَوطُجَِهوِلَ َِههَاِي‬.‫ر َف ُجثَُسََّلَموََُقال َساملََُّيثُل َمِهََصِسَل ُيح إ»ﷺل‬،َ‫ه‬،ُ ‫بَُ َعإورَّسصَِيَا ْب َِضقَم َإنلََُهِطاوََ َقرسَاا ُسَذجِوُة َ َلشوااَلَنّل ُِضُهوطَ َُضجَوََﷺءع‬،َ ‫ٍيَلق‬،‫ َلي ُثُه ََّمِجِث ََقاقََاِلَلَُتَمَب ٍُِهإ َللَق َايإ َوضُسََث ٍعََطن ََ ُذجَمُهَعَعَِِثَِّلَقََقَِل ٍثةبَِف‬،ََ‫مَ ََﷺإَرَاووََِقنهب‬،‫عتَتَ َجاذَّبلَ َخمَيَيِ ُوإمُا َِثذوَنَإم َاةِميََنَرن َو ِصِ َسُج إوَلف َّرَتِإِةلب َِّإلَيِتَ ُل ِلع‬،ِِ ‫ََقرَ« َرَإإَُّسن ُإوهَُل ََنَعلاالشَََّل ِرته َإلَلتَ َآلَن ًةاﷺ‬ (‫)م ِتقُق علبَه‬ 5

STAYING UP LATE: AN UNHEALTHY LIFESTYLE www.giftofjumuah.com “Once I spent the night at the house of my aunt Maymūnah, the wife of the Prophet () who was his maternal aunt. I put my head on a pillow while laying down sideways while the Prophet () and his wife lay down lengthways. The Prophet () slept until midnight, or shortly before or after. Then he woke up and wiped the sleep from his face by rubbing his face with his hands and then he recited the last ten verses from Sūrah Āl-ʿImrān. Thereafter he got up and went to a hanging water-skin and performed a perfect wuḍū and stood up for prayer. (Agreed Upon) • This is how the Prophet’s () night was, but where are those who imitate him? • We also have two angels accompanying us all during our entire lives and they record all the deeds that we carry out. ʿUrwah () narrates: ‫ « َنا ُع َر ُّي َإلَا بُ ِري ُح َكاِي َنَ َك ؟! َق ِا َّن َر ُسوَل الَّل ِه ﷺ َلَم َت ُكن َي ََنا ُم َق َب َلَ َهَا َوَلا َي َنَ َ َج َّذت‬:‫ َقَ َقَاَلث‬،‫َ ِسمَ َعَتَ ِبي َعائِ َش ُة َوَإ َنا َإ َت َك َّل ُم َثَعَ َذ إلَ ِ َع َشا ِء إلآ ِج َرِة‬ .»‫َثَ َع َذ َ َها‬ (‫)صحتَح ابن ج َتان‬ “I was talking once after the ʿIshā’ prayer and ʿĀ’ishah () heard me, so she said, ‘Why don’t you give your record keepers a rest? The Prophet () never slept before ʿIshā’ nor did he stay up after it.’” (Ṣahīh ibn Ḥibbān) Imām Mālik () reports: .»‫ « َإ َلا بُ ِريُحَو َن إل ُكَ َّ َتا َت‬:‫ ََثعَ َذ إلَ َعَ َتَ َم ِة َق َبْ ُقُوُل‬،‫َإ َّن ُه َن َلَ َ َع ُه َإ َّن َعا ِئ َش َة َرو َج إل َّتَ ِب ِي َﷺ َكايَث بُر ِس ُل ِإ َلي ََثعَ ِض َإهَ ِلَ ََها‬ (‫)مُو َطا مالك‬ “ʿĀ’ishah (), used to send some of her family members a message after the ʿIshā’ prayers saying, ‘Why don't you give your record keepers a rest?’” (Muwaṭṭā’ Imām Mālik)2 • The Prophet () dispraised staying up late and warned against it. ʿAbdullāh ibn Masʿūd () states: .»‫« َكا َن َر ُسوُل الَّل ِه َﷺ َيج ِذت ََل َتَا إل َّسَ َم َر ََث َع َذ إلَ ِعَ َشا ِء‬ (‫)رواه أحمد‬ “The Messenger of Allāh () rebuked us for staying up (talking) after the ʿIshā’.” (Aḥmad) The Prophet () also said: 2 Imām al-Zurqānī () commenting on this ḥadīth states: ‫َقَ ََقذ‬ ‫بَ َرَكََها‬ ‫َق ِا َذإ‬ ‫إل َّش ِي ََب ِة‬ ‫ِل َآع َما ِل‬ ‫َكا ِرَ َه ٌة‬ ‫ِل َآ َّن ََها‬ ‫َإصَجا َت‬ ‫َإع َل ُم‬ ‫ِن َذ ِل َك‬ ‫َإ َرا َذت‬ :‫ َقا َل َإ ُثَو َعتَ ِذ إلَ َم ِل ِك‬،‫ِق َب ِه‬ ‫إل َكلَا َم إ َّل ِدي لَا َثَ َوا َت‬ ‫إل ُكَ َّتَا َت) إ َل َملَا ِت َك َة إل ِك َرا َم ِمن َكَتَ ِث‬ ،‫ َإنلَاَكبَُ ِرار َيَُهحَِن َهَو َان‬:‫َإ(َ َقرَاْب َُقُج َهَوُال ِم‬ ‫إ َذ َم‬ ‫اب ِن‬ ،‫إل ِسَ َما ِل‬ - ‫َوالَّل ُه‬ - .‫َع ََلنِهَم‬ ‫ َقلَا َثَ ُعَوُذ إل ِآ َرا َج ُة‬،‫إلُ َّصا ِ ِلح‬ ‫ئُ َش ُّرو َن َِث َ َع َم ِل اب ِن إ َذ َم‬ ‫ َف َُهم‬،‫َوَإ َّما إ َل َملَا ِت َك ُة إ َّل ِدب َن َع ِن إ َل َ َت ِمن ِن‬ (‫)كَ َتات شرج إلررقاني علي المُو َطا‬ 6

STAYING UP LATE: AN UNHEALTHY LIFESTYLE www.giftofjumuah.com .»‫ َق ِا َّت ُ َكم َلا َنذ ُرو َن َما َن ُي ُّث الل ُه ِمن َجلِ ِقَ ِه‬،‫«ِإ َّنا ُ َكم َوإل َّسَ َم َر َثَ َع َذ َهَذَإ ِة إل ِرج ِل‬ (‫)المسَ َتذرك علي إ ُل َص َج َتجَنن للجَاكم‬ “Beware of staying up after people’s movements settle because you do not know what spreads out on the earth from the creatures of Allāh.” (Mustadrak of Imām al-Ḥākim) Another narration mentions: .»‫ َق ِا َّت ُ َكم َلا َنذ ُرو َن َما َن ُي ُّث الل ُه ِمن َجلِ ِ َق ِه‬،‫«ِإ َّنا َك َوإل َّسَ َم َر ََثعَ َذ َهَذ َإ ِة إل ََّل َت ِل‬ (‫)المسَتَذرك علي إ ُل َص َجتَ َجنن لل َجاكم‬ “Beware of staying up after the night has settled because you do not know what spreads out on the earth from the creatures of Allāh.” (Mustadrak of Imām al-Ḥākim) Abū Barzah al-Aslamī () narrates: .»‫ َوال َح ِذي َث َثَ َع َذ َهَا‬،‫« َكا َن إل ََّت ِب ُّي ﷺَ َتك َرُه إل َُّتوَم َق َب َل إ َل ِ َع َشا ِء‬ (‫)رواه إل َتجَاري‬ “The Messenger of Allāh () disliked going to bed before the ʿIshā’ prayer and engaging in conversation after it.” (Bukhārī) Ḥafiẓ ibn Ḥajar () commenting on this ḥadīth states: ‫واَإإِل َ َّقسَمَس ًََجمرإُ َرإَسََّثًَوَمَعاَللِذإَللَهَمََّلاا َتَّ َقذِِةلذ‬:ََ‫لل‬،‫ ِا َن ََهوُِيا َمتُ ُمَُِثك ُطَنَضِل ًَِإَقرانَإتُيوإحل َََّعبَماَِ َنلإإ ُلسل َ َعوَقكلَ َ ِيرا ََثذهَلِإُةَلَ َُلمكيَجََوِثَإتَُلقُِا ِآوُر َط‬،‫إَيُلَوِكِإاطُ ََجونإَ ِرُاعلََِم َُج َوَهرإبالِ ُِقََنع َاصنلا َِخََروطَق‬،‫قَقو َقَبَاَعلَِ َهَرٌناق ِقَقَنَ َبنذاَُِنثَم َإإوللََِّّذلََلَتَتَاِِيل ِلإيَل‬.‫تُ َذَإولِإِوَّإمتُ َذَشوَإعِم َِرثِ ََقَنَقعبََّإََرلُلََمََُهرَُِّاإَطصَ َّتَََّتَنوًِاة ِحعلَقََّحلَإ َِذةذيوَيإلَ ََّعتَس َثِيمهنََِثُّ َيرَعوَقَقَذَِذلِبَن ََهَهََِااصكإِيللََُقََُآرَقَمََّمنِذتَجَإَََُّتِثلَب ََّاُتَقًِةِرورََُإ»م‬،‫َُِلثَ ََوَ«ثآَوَََِّذوونكًماإالَينَِّإإ َتَلِشجييكََرَءُإهلرَُِّإه‬ (‫)فتح إلبَاري‬ “This is because sleeping before ʿIshā’ might make a person pray it after its due time, and staying up late might cause one to miss the Fajr prayer, or make a person miss out on the (optional) night prayer. ʿUmar () used to punish people the people who did this and would say, ‘You stay up for the first part of the night, then sleep for the last part of it?’” Ibn Ḥajar () continued by saying: “Some people may differentiate between the seasons where the nights are long and those whose nights are short, but to settle this issue, we must realize that the advice of the Prophet () was general and applicable at all times.” (Fatḥ al-Bārī) Imām al-Nawawī () states: .»‫« َوا َّثِ َقُ َق إلَ ُعَ َل َما ُء َعلَي َك َرا َهَ ِة ال َح ِذي ِث َثَ َع َذ َهَا ِإ َلّا َما َكا َن ِفي َجي ٍر‬ (‫)شرج إلتُووي‬ 7

STAYING UP LATE: AN UNHEALTHY LIFESTYLE www.giftofjumuah.com “The scholars have agreed that staying up after ʿIshā’ is dispraised, unless it is for the purpose of doing something (religiously) beneficial.” (Sharḥ al-Nawawī) • The Prophet () did stay up late on some occasions to fulfill some needs or accomplish some tasks for the benefit of the community. ʿUmar () states: .»‫َم َعَ ُه‬ ‫َوَإ َنا‬ ،‫إلَ ُمش ِلِمن َن‬ َ َ ‫ِفي‬ ‫َك َذلِ َك‬ ،‫َتك ٍرإل ََّلتَ َل َة‬ َ ‫ِعتَ َذ‬ ‫َيسُم ُر‬ ‫ﷺ‬ ‫الَّل ِه‬ ‫َر ُسوُل‬ ‫« َكا َن‬ ‫إم ِر‬ ‫إلآم ِر ِمن‬ ‫إ ِني‬ (‫)رواه إحمذ‬ “The Prophet () stayed up late one night with Abū Bakr (), discussing some issue of the Muslims, and I was with him.” (Aḥmad) Similarly, ʿAbdullāh ibn Masʿud () narrates that the Prophet () said: .»‫ َإو ُم َشا ِق ٍر‬،‫ ِلَ ُ ُم َص ٍل‬:‫«لَا َسَم َر ِإلَّا ِل َآ َج ِذ َرج َلن ِن‬ (‫)رواه إحمذ‬ “Staying up late is permitted for one of two categories of people; either those traveling, or those praying.” (Aḥmad) ʿĀ’ishah () states: .»‫ِنال ََّل َت ِل‬ ‫ُم َن َهَ ِجَ ٌذ‬ َ ‫ُم َشا ِق ٍر‬ َ ‫ِلَ َ َع ُرو ٍس‬ :‫َِل َتَلَا َن ٍة‬ ‫«إل َّ َس َم ُر‬ ‫إو‬ ‫إو‬ (‫)م َس َتذ إني َثعَلي المُوصلي‬ “Staying up late is for one of three categories of people; those traveling, those praying the night prayers, or those on their wedding night.” (Musnad Abū Yaʿlā) • It so for this very reason Imām Bukhārī (), titled two of the chapters in his Ṣaḥīḥ as: “Staying Up Late with the Wife and the Guest, Staying Up Late for Learning or Being Benevolent After ʿIshā’”.3 • The ruling regarding staying up late summarizes that staying up after the ʿIshā’ prayer is dispraised unless it is due to necessity or for a religiously beneficial purpose. • If staying up late results in abandoning or missing out on an obligatory act of worship then it becomes prohibited, even if the reason for staying up was to perform a religiously beneficial deed or act in obedience to Allāh; anything that leads one to commit a prohibition is itself prohibited. • As a consequence, staying up late carrying out religiously beneficial acts is praised only if none of the above-mentioned prohibitions take place. • Many people nowadays have taken the prohibition of staying up late very lightly, which leads many to miss their Fajr prayer, and this has become such a chronic problem that those who attend this prayer in congregation are very few! 3 The chapters are as follows: ‫َنات إل َّ َس َم ِر َم َع إلُ َّ َصتِ ِف َوإل َآ َه ِل‬ ‫َنات إل َّسَ َم ِر ِفي إ ِل ِ ْق َق ِه َوال َحي ِر ََث َع َذ إ َل ِ َع َشا ِء‬ 8

STAYING UP LATE: AN UNHEALTHY LIFESTYLE www.giftofjumuah.com • This phenomenon has become very common, so much so that people do not feel any resentment towards it, even though the Prophet () said: .»‫ َ َوُلو َثَعَ َل ُُمو َن َما ِقنِهَ َما َل َآ َثَو ُه َما َ َوُلو َجتُ ًوا‬،‫«ََلي َس َصل َا ٌة َإ ِث َقَ َل َعلَي إل ُم َتَا ِقَ ِ َقن َن ِم َن إ ِل َقَجَ ِر َوإلَ ِعَ َشا ِء‬ (‫)متِقُق عل َبه‬ “No prayer is more burdensome to the hypocrites than the Fajr and the ʿIshā’ prayer; if they knew what blessing lies in them, they would come to them even if they had to crawl to do so.” (Agreed Upon) ʿAbdullāh ibn Masʿud states: .»‫« َوَِل ََقذ َرإن ُي ََبا َوَما َي َنَ َجَ َّلِف َعن َهَا إل َّآ ُم ََتا ِف ٌق َم َع ُلُوُم إل ِ ْب َقَا ِق‬ (‫)رواه مشلم‬ “Only a known hypocrite would miss out on these two prayers.” (Muslim) • Hence, we need to fear Allāh and stay away from such dispraised habits which have very bad consequences. • If we happen to forget or become absent-minded, then we should remember the statement of Allāh wherein He says: ‫ﵸ ﵝالأَ ۡن َعام الآية ﵘﵖﵜ‬٦٨ ‫ﵹ َوِإ هما يُن ِس َي هن َك ٱل هش ۡي َطَٰ ُن َفلَا َت ۡق ُع ۡد َب ۡع َد ٱل ِذ ۡك َر َٰى َم َع ٱ ۡل َق ۡو ِم ٱل هظَٰلِ ِمي َن‬ “And if Shayṭān should cause you to forget, then do not remain after the reminder with the wrongdoing people.” (Anʿām 6:68) • We have to know that during every second of our life, our every word, thought and deed are recorded and exposed to Allāh! Allāh says: ‫الى‬ ‫ﵗﵑ‬ ‫الآية‬ ‫من‬ ‫ﵝق‬ ‫ﵸ‬١٨ ‫د‬ٞ ‫َعتِي‬ ‫َرقِي ٌب‬ ِ‫لَ َديۡه‬ ‫ه‬ ‫َق ۡول‬ ‫ِمن‬ ‫يَلۡ ِف ُظ‬ ‫هما‬ ١٧ ‫د‬ٞ ‫قَ ِعي‬ ‫ٱل ِش َما ِل‬ ‫َو َع ِن‬ ‫ٱلۡ َي ِمي ِن‬ ‫َع ِن‬ ‫ٱلۡ ُم َتلَ ِق َيا ِن‬ ‫َي َتلَ هقى‬ ‫ﵹإِ ۡذ‬ ‫إِلا‬ ‫الآية ﵘﵑﵜ‬ “(Do not forget each time) When the two receivers (angels) receive (record the good and bad acts of a person), sitting on his right and left-hand sides (respectively). Whenever a word escapes (from a person’s mouth), there is a guard ready by him. (An angel immediately records the good or bad speech).” (Qāf 50:17,18) • Let us also ponder over the saying of the Prophet (): .»‫ َ َوكا َن َلَ َُهم َجش َرٌة‬،‫ ِإل َّآ َقا ُ ُموإ َعن ِمتَل ِج ِت َقَ ِة ِح َما ٍر‬،‫« َما ِمن َفوٍم َِث ُقُوُ ُمو َن ِمن َمج ِلَ ٍس ل َآ َنذ ُك ُرو َن الله َثَ َعَا َلي ِق َب ِه‬ (‫)رواه إثَوذاوذ‬ “There are not a people who disperse from an assembly (gathering) where they did not remember Allāh, except that it is as if they had stood up from the decaying corpse of a donkey, and it will be a cause of regret for them (on the Day of Resurrection).” (Abū Dāwūd) 9

STAYING UP LATE: AN UNHEALTHY LIFESTYLE www.giftofjumuah.com .»‫ َ ِوإن َسا َء َعَ ََقا َعن ُهَم‬،‫ ِإن َسا َء إ َج َذ ُهم ِن ِه‬،‫ َ ُوُث َص ُُّلوإ َعلَي َن ِي ِنِهَم ِإ َلّا َكا َن َع َلَنَِهم ِب َرًة َثَوَم إلِ ِ َق َتَا َم ِة‬،‫« َما َج ََل َس َفوٌم َمج َِل ًشا ََلم َنذ ُك ُروإ ِق َب ِه َ َّرن ُهَم‬ (‫)رواه إحمذ‬ “If people sit in a gathering in which they do not remember Allāh nor exalt the Prophet (), such a gathering becomes a cause of dismay and loss for them. If Allāh wills. He will punish them and if He wills. He will forgive them.” (Aḥmad) • The time that precedes dawn is the time for supplicating and seeking forgiveness and repentance. The Prophet () states: ‫َمن‬ ،‫َق ُاعَ ِ َط َ َت ُه‬ ‫ئَش َا ُل ِبي‬ ‫َمن‬ ،‫َل ُه‬ ‫َق َاس َِتحي َث‬ ‫َنذ ُعُوِني‬ ‫َمن‬ :‫َق َ ْب ُقُوُل‬ ‫إلآ ِج ُر‬ ‫إل َّلَتَ ِل‬ ‫ُن ُلث‬ ‫َينْ َقي‬ ‫ِجن َن‬ ،‫إل ُّدي َنَا‬ ‫إل َّسَ َما ِء‬ ‫ِإ َلي‬ ‫ََلتَ َل ٍة‬ ‫ُك َّل‬ ‫« َني ِرُل َرُّي َنَا َي َنَا َر َك َوََث َ َعا َلي‬ .»‫ئَ َس ََتعْ ِقَ ُ ِرني َق َاعَ ِ َق َر َل ُه‬ (‫)رواه إل َتجَاري‬ “Our Lord descends (in a way which befits His Majesty) descends every night to the lowest heaven when there is only one-third of the night remaining and says, ‘Who supplicates me so that I may answer him? Who asks of me so that I may give to him? Who asks my forgiveness so that I may forgive him?’” (Bukhārī) .»‫َق ُكن‬ ‫إل َّشا َع ِة‬ ‫ِنل َك‬ ‫ِفي‬ ‫الَّل َه‬ ‫َنذ ُك ُر‬ ‫ِم ََّمن‬ ‫َت ُكُو َن‬ َ ‫إسَ َتُطَ َع َث‬ ‫َق ِان‬ ،‫إلآ ِج ِر‬ ‫إل َّلَ َت ِل‬ ‫َجَو ِف‬ ‫ِفي‬ ‫إلَ َعَتَ ِذ‬ ‫ِم َن‬ ‫إل َّر ُّت‬ ‫َت ُكُو ُن‬ ‫َما‬ ‫« َإق َرت‬ ‫إن‬ (‫)رواه إليرمذي‬ “The closest that Allāh comes to the slave is in the last portion of the night. So, if you can be among those who remember Allāh during this time, then do so.” (Tirmidhī) • Is it befitting for a Muslim to spend these honorable and virtuous times with evil and lusts? • Parents and guardians are also instructed to prevent their children from going out whenever darkness falls. The Prophet () states: .»‫ َق ِا َّن ََها َسا َع ٌة َيج َي ِرُق ِقن َهَا إل َّسَ َ َتا ِطَن ُن‬،‫«اج ِيسُوإ ِضَتَ َبَا َت ُ َكم َج َّبي َنذ َهَ َث َفو َع ُة إلَ ِعَ َشا ِء‬ (‫)رواه إحمذ‬ “Prevent your children from going outside after dark, because this is the time during which Shayṭān emerges.” (Aḥmad) ‫ َوَإع ِ ِل ُقُوإ إل َآثَ َوا َت‬،‫ َق ِا َذإ َذ َ َه َ َتث َسا َع ٌة ِم َن إل ََّل َت ِل َفجَ ُّلُو ُهم‬،‫ َق ِا َّن إل َّ َس َتَا ِ َطن َن َني ََب ِش ُر ِجي َتَ ِ َب ٍذ‬،‫ َق ُ ْك ُّقُوإ ِ َضتَ َ َبا َت ُ َكم‬،‫ َإو َإم َشي ُنم‬،‫«ِإ َذإ َكا َن جت ُح إل َّلَ َت ِل‬ .»‫ َق ِا َّن إل َّسَ ُتطَا َن ل َآ َِثقَ َتَ ُح َنا ًنا ُمعَ َلِ ًقَا‬،‫َواذ ُك ُروإ إس َم الَّل ِه‬ (‫)متِقُق عل َبه‬ “When night falls (or it is the evening), keep your children close to you for the devils spread out at that time. But when an hour of the night elapses, you can let them free. Close the doors and mention the name of Allāh, for Shayṭān does not open a closed door.” (Agreed Upon) In addition to this, the Prophet () also said: 10

STAYING UP LATE: AN UNHEALTHY LIFESTYLE www.giftofjumuah.com ‫ َق ِا َّن إل َّسَ َتَا ِطَن َن َني َبَ ِ َعث ِإ َذإ َعايَ ِث إل َّ َسمس َج َّبي َنذ َ َه َث‬،‫«لَا بُر ِس ُلُوإ َف َوإ ِسَ َ َت ُ َكم َو ِ َضتَ َبَا َت ُ َكم ِإ َذإ َعايَ ِث إل َّ َسمس َج َّبي َنذ َهَ َث َفخ َم ُة إلَ ِعَ َشا ِء‬ .»‫َفخ َم ُة إلَ ِعَ َشا ِء‬ (‫)رواه مشلم‬ “Do not let your animals and children go out from sunset until it becomes dark, because the Shayṭīn are sent from the time the sun sets until darkness falls.” (Muslim) Another narration mentions: .»‫« َق ِا َّن لِلَ ِ َج ِن ان ِي َشا ًرإ َو َجَطْ َقَ ًة‬ “Because the Jinn spread out and possess people.” (Abū Dāwūd) (‫)رواه إثَوذاوذ‬ CONCLUSION • We should look at ourselves and the way we behave towards Allāh’s blessings. Do we use them in obedience to His commands? Do we realize that Allāh has a right over us in everything that He gives us? • Part of our gratitude to Allāh is to serve Him with what He gives us and to use what we have in ways that are lawful and pleasing to Him. • We often do not notice a blessing that we have until we lose that blessing or are threatened with its loss. • We need to realize that staying up late is an unhealthy lifestyle that results in many unfavorable consequences. • One should avoid it unless there is a legitimate reason for it. • Not only should we keep our kids away from it, but we also need to break this bad habit and develop healthy lifestyles and wholesome ways. • Nightfall and sleep are huge gifts from Allāh so don’t take them for granted and abuse them by staying up late at night. .‫ِإَلَ َت َك‬ ‫َوَإ ُثَوت‬ ‫َإسَ ََتعْ ِ َق ُر َك‬ ‫َإي َث‬ ‫ِإ َّلا‬ ‫ِإَل َه‬ ‫َلا‬ َ ‫َإش َهَ ُذ‬ ،‫َ ِويَحم ِذ َك‬ ‫إل َّلَ ُهَ َّم‬ ‫ُست َحا َن َك‬ ،‫َ ِويَحم ِذ ِه‬ ‫الَّل ِه‬ ‫ُست َحا َن‬ ‫إن‬ 11