Is It Permissible to Sleep after the ’Asr (Afternoon) Prayer?
Answered by Shaykh Bassem Itani
Question
Is it permissible to sleep after the ‘Asr (afternoon) prayer?
Answer
All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and blessings and peace be upon our master Muhammad, his family, and all his companions.
It is not recommended to sleep after the ‘Asr prayer. However, if you need to sleep after the ‘Asr prayer due to tiredness or illness, then the disliking (karaha tanzihiyya) is lifted in that case.
Sleep and night are two systems established by Allah Almighty to halt human activity so that rest can be achieved from extensive efforts in livelihood during the day. Daytime is a system created by Allah (Most High) for people to go about their business, earn their living, engage in trade, seek knowledge, fulfill needs, and other activities.
This is the basic principle in the systems of night and day. The night is suited for sleep, and the day is suited for wakefulness. That’s why Allah (Most High) says:
“And We have made your sleep for rest, and made the night as a cover, and made the day for livelihood.” [Quran, 78:9-11]
Qaylula
However, a person may get tired in the middle of the day. Therefore, the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, recommended the Qaylula, which is taking a period of rest and sleep. He said:
“Take a qaylula, for indeed, the devil does not take a qaylula” [Tabarani, al-Mu‘jam al-Awsat]
This is because it helps the body to stay awake for those who wish to perform the night prayers (Qiyam al-Layl).
Scientific research confirms that daytime sleep, lasting between 15 to 20 minutes, helps improve brain functions from memory to concentration and creativity.
Recommended and Disliked Times
In summary, the Hanafi jurists mentioned the preferred and mildly disliked (makruh tanzihi) times for sleep. They stated:
It is recommended to have a qaylula for those who want to perform the night prayers, and its time is from midday until the sun approaches its zenith. One should not sleep at the beginning of the day, between Maghrib (sunset) and ‘Isha (night) prayers, after ‘Asr (afternoon), and it is recommended to sleep in the middle of the day [Ala’ al-Din Ibn ‘Abidin, al-Hadiyya al-‘Ala’iyya]
I advise you to read about the sleep of the Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace) and his wakefulness. Contemplate this, for you will find his sleep the most balanced and precise, as well as his wakefulness.
And Allah is the bestower of success.
[Shaykh] Bassem Itani
Shaykh Bassem Itani has a rich background in both academic and administrative fields. He has held significant positions in many governmental and non-governmental institutions in Lebanon and abroad. This includes his role as a member of the Academic Committee at SeekersGuidance and a senior teacher with the free online global seminary.
From 2020 to 2021, he served as the Dean of the College of Da‘wa – University for Islamic Studies (Lebanon) – Postgraduate Studies. He was the Director of Dar Iqra for Islamic Sciences from 1998 to 2018. Shaykh Itani is a well-versed teacher in several academic subjects, including Fiqh, Usul, Aqida, and Tafsir. He has supervised and examined numerous Master’s and Doctoral theses at various universities and colleges in Lebanon.
His contributions to Islamic sciences are also evident in his writings and research. His notable works include “The Relied-upon Statements of Imam Zufar in the Hanafi School,” “Collective Ijtihad: The Sublimity of Thought in the 21st Century,” and “Custom and its Impact in Islamic Jurisprudence.” Shaykh Itani has actively participated in numerous scientific conferences and seminars, both in Lebanon and internationally. He is linguistically adept, excelling in Arabic, proficient in French, and comfortably conversant in English.
