Can I Pray When I Wake Up If Insomnia Causes Me To Sleep Before Fajr?

Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat

Question

I have insomnia, which makes it hard for me to sleep. So I go to bed late and often, I am unable to get up for the Fajr prayer. And I’m also unable to stay up all night until the Fajr prayer. Often I need to take medication to sleep. 

So what should I do? Can I make the prayer when I wake up or before going to bed and would it be counted?

Answer

You should go to bed every night with the intention to wake up and pray Fajr on time. Along with this, take the means to making it happen, such as multiple alarms, and asking someone to wake you. If you do not manage to wake up, then make up the prayer.

Usually, it’s blameworthy to stay up late into the night if it means one will not be able to pray Fajr on time. However, in your situation, staying awake is not due to neglect or heedlessness. Due to this, we hope that there won’t be a sin involved. However, you should work on getting the insomnia treated as soon as you can. [Shurunbulali, Maraqi al-Falah]

Ask for Forgiveness

It is part of the behavior of a servant that he asks for forgiveness for his mistakes. Yes, there is an excuse for you here, but it is excellent conduct to turn to Allah as though you have done something wrong and ask for His forgiveness.

As human beings, we are weak and flawed. Allah loves it when we turn to Him and express our human weakness. This is what the Prophet Adam (blessings and peace be upon him) and his wife did. They said, “Our Dear, Loving Lord, we have wronged ourselves, and if you don’t forgive us and show us mercy, we will certainly be among the losers.” [Quran, 7:23]

This expresses humility and need before Allah. This is the proper adab. Adam had an excuse too, but he was inspired to say these words as they convey slavehood better than an excuse does.

Iblis did the opposite and blamed Allah for his own choice. This was the height of arrogance. He got what he deserved. May Allah make us like Adam, and never like Iblis. Amin.

Healing Through Therapy

Insomnia is usually a symptom of unresolved emotional turmoil. We may actively forget about painful events and feelings, but they are always running in the background, like a program that needs constant updating.

In some circumstances, this prevents one from sleeping in order that we heal from it. However, in our times, the body’s natural means of healing trauma is not as efficient due to what life in the modern world has become.

You should look into a form of therapy to heal from the issue. Medication is only a means of managing it, and it won’t prevent the issue from worsening.

Please listen to this seminar for a more thorough explanation. May Allah remove your difficulty very soon. Amin.

[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim Reasat
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat began his studies in Arabic Grammar and Morphology in 2005. After graduating with a degree in English and History, he moved to Damascus in 2007, where, for 18 months, he studied with many erudite scholars. In late 2008 he moved to Amman, Jordan, where he continued his studies for the next six years in Sacred Law (fiqh), legal theory (Usul al-fiqh), theology, hadith methodology, hadith commentary, and Logic. He was also given licenses of mastery in the science of Quranic recital. He was able to study an extensive curriculum of Quranic sciences, tafsir, Arabic grammar, and Arabic eloquence.