What does Islam say about sleep and health?

The short answer

Sleep is one of Allah's signs and a mercy, and your body has a right to rest. The Sunnah is to sleep early after Isha, lie on your right side with the bedtime dua, and look after your health, including seeking medical treatment when you are ill.

Explanation

Allah made "your sleep [a means for] rest", the night a covering, and the day for earning a living 1. He counts sleep, by night and by day, among His signs 2. Rest is not laziness; it is part of how Allah designed us.

The Prophet ﷺ corrected a Companion who prayed all night and fasted every day. He warned that his eyesight and strength would suffer and said, "your body has right on you... offer Salat (for sometime) and then sleep" 3. When one of a group of men vowed to pray all night forever, he said, "I do sleep", and that whoever turns away from his way is not from him 4. Balance is the Sunnah.

He also disliked sleeping before Isha and talking after it 5. Scholars explain that late-night chatting makes it hard to wake for Fajr. The modern version is scrolling in bed at 2 am.

Before sleeping, he taught: make wudu, lie on your right side, and say the dua beginning "Allahumma aslamtu wajhi ilaika" (O Allah, I submit myself to You), making it the last thing you say 6.

Health itself is a gift that "many people are deceived into losing" 7, which means we should protect it before it is gone. And taking medicine does not contradict trust in Allah. When asked whether to seek treatment, the Prophet ﷺ said, "Make use of medical treatment, for Allah has not made a disease without appointing a remedy for it", except old age 8.

A simple plan: pray Isha, put the phone away, make wudu, say the bedtime dua, and sleep on your right side. You will wake more easily for Fajr, and your sleep itself can become worship.

The evidence

  1. 1
    Quran An-Naba · 78:9–11

    Allah made sleep for rest, the night a covering and the day for livelihood.

    وَجَعَلۡنَا نَوۡمَكُمۡ سُبَاتࣰ ا ۝٩ وَجَعَلۡنَا ٱلَّيۡلَ لِبَاسࣰ ا ۝١٠ وَجَعَلۡنَا ٱلنَّهَارَ مَعَاشࣰ ا ۝١١

    9 And made your sleep [a means for] rest 10 And made the night as clothing 11 And made the day for livelihood

  2. 2
    Quran Ar-Room · 30:23

    Your sleep by night and day is one of Allah's signs.

    وَمِنۡ ءَايَٰتِهِۦ مَنَامُكُم بِٱلَّيۡلِ وَٱلنَّهَارِ وَٱبۡتِغَآؤُكُم مِّن فَضۡلِهِۦٓۚ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَأٓيَٰتࣲ لِّقَوۡمࣲ يَسۡمَعُونَ ۝٢٣

    And of His signs is your sleep by night and day and your seeking of His bounty. Indeed in that are signs for a people who listen

  3. 3
    Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari 1153
    Sahih Bukhari

    Your body has a right over you; pray part of the night and sleep.

    Narrated 'Abdullah bin 'Amr:Once Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said to me, "I have been informed that you offer Salat (prayer) all the night and observe Saum (fast) during the day." I said, "(Yes) I do so." He said, "If you do so, your eye sight will become weak and you will become weak. No doubt, your body has right on you, and your family has right on you, so observe Saum (for some days) and do not observe it (for some days), offer Salat (for sometime) and then sleep

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ عَمْرٍو، عَنْ أَبِي الْعَبَّاسِ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عَمْرٍو ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ قَالَ لِي النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ أَلَمْ أُخْبَرْ أَنَّكَ تَقُومُ اللَّيْلَ وَتَصُومُ النَّهَارَ ‏"‏ قُلْتُ إِنِّي أَفْعَلُ ذَلِكَ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏"‏ فَإِنَّكَ إِذَا فَعَلْتَ ذَلِكَ هَجَمَتْ عَيْنُكَ وَنَفِهَتْ نَفْسُكَ، وَإِنَّ لِنَفْسِكَ حَقٌّ، وَلأَهْلِكَ حَقٌّ، فَصُمْ وَأَفْطِرْ، وَقُمْ وَنَمْ ‏"‏‏.‏

  4. 4
    Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari 5063
    Sahih Bukhari

    The Prophet ﷺ said he fasts and breaks his fast, sleeps and marries; this is his Sunnah.

    Narrated Anas bin Malik:A group of three men came to the houses of the wives of the Prophet (ﷺ) asking how the Prophet (ﷺ) worshipped (Allah), and when they were informed about that, they considered their worship insufficient and said, "Where are we from the Prophet (ﷺ) as his past and future sins have been forgiven." Then one of them said, "I will offer the prayer throughout the night forever." The other said, "I will fast throughout the year and will not break my fast." The third said, "I will keep away from the women and will not marry forever." Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) came to them and said, "Are you the same people who said so-and-so? By Allah, I am more submissive to Allah and more afraid of Him than you; yet I fast and break my fast, I do sleep and I also marry women. So he who does not follow my tradition in religion, is not from me (not one of my followers)

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا سَعِيدُ بْنُ أَبِي مَرْيَمَ، أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا حُمَيْدُ بْنُ أَبِي حُمَيْدٍ الطَّوِيلُ، أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ أَنَسَ بْنَ مَالِكٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ يَقُولُ جَاءَ ثَلاَثَةُ رَهْطٍ إِلَى بُيُوتِ أَزْوَاجِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَسْأَلُونَ عَنْ عِبَادَةِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَلَمَّا أُخْبِرُوا كَأَنَّهُمْ تَقَالُّوهَا فَقَالُوا وَأَيْنَ نَحْنُ مِنَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَدْ غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ وَمَا تَأَخَّرَ‏.‏ قَالَ أَحَدُهُمْ أَمَّا أَنَا فَإِنِّي أُصَلِّي اللَّيْلَ أَبَدًا‏.‏ وَقَالَ آخَرُ أَنَا أَصُومُ الدَّهْرَ وَلاَ أُفْطِرُ‏.‏ وَقَالَ آخَرُ أَنَا أَعْتَزِلُ النِّسَاءَ فَلاَ أَتَزَوَّجُ أَبَدًا‏.‏ فَجَاءَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ ‏ "‏ أَنْتُمُ الَّذِينَ قُلْتُمْ كَذَا وَكَذَا أَمَا وَاللَّهِ إِنِّي لأَخْشَاكُمْ لِلَّهِ وَأَتْقَاكُمْ لَهُ، لَكِنِّي أَصُومُ وَأُفْطِرُ، وَأُصَلِّي وَأَرْقُدُ وَأَتَزَوَّجُ النِّسَاءَ، فَمَنْ رَغِبَ عَنْ سُنَّتِي فَلَيْسَ مِنِّي ‏"‏‏.‏

  5. 5
    Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari 568
    Sahih Bukhari

    The Prophet ﷺ disliked sleeping before Isha and talking after it.

    Narrated Abu Barza:Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) disliked to sleep before the `Isha' prayer and to talk after it

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ سَلاَمٍ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَهَّابِ الثَّقَفِيُّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا خَالِدٌ الْحَذَّاءُ، عَنْ أَبِي الْمِنْهَالِ، عَنْ أَبِي بَرْزَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ يَكْرَهُ النَّوْمَ قَبْلَ الْعِشَاءِ وَالْحَدِيثَ بَعْدَهَا‏.‏

  6. 6
    Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari 6311
    Sahih Bukhari

    Make wudu before bed, lie on your right side and say the bedtime dua.

    Narrated Al-Bara bin `Azib:Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said to me, "When you want to go to bed, perform ablution as you do for prayer, then lie down on your right side and say: 'Allahumma aslamtu wajhi ilaika, wa fawwadtu 'amri ilaika wa alja'tu dhahri ilaika, raghbatan wa rahbatan ilaika, la malja'a wa la manja minka illa ilaika. Amantu bikitabik al-ladhi anzalta wa binabiyyika al-ladhi arsalta'. If you should die then (after reciting this) you will die on the religion of Islam (i.e., as a Muslim); so let these words be the last you say (before going to bed)" While I was memorizing it, I said, "Wa birasulika al-ladhi arsalta (in Your Apostle whom You have sent).' The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "No, but say: Wa binabiyyika al-ladhi arsalta (in Your Prophet whom You have sent)

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، حَدَّثَنَا مُعْتَمِرٌ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ مَنْصُورًا، عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ عُبَيْدَةَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي الْبَرَاءُ بْنُ عَازِبٍ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ إِذَا أَتَيْتَ مَضْجَعَكَ فَتَوَضَّأْ وَضُوءَكَ لِلصَّلاَةِ، ثُمَّ اضْطَجِعْ عَلَى شِقِّكَ الأَيْمَنِ، وَقُلِ اللَّهُمَّ أَسْلَمْتُ وَجْهِي إِلَيْكَ، وَفَوَّضْتُ أَمْرِي إِلَيْكَ، وَأَلْجَأْتُ ظَهْرِي إِلَيْكَ، رَغْبَةً وَرَهْبَةً إِلَيْكَ، لاَ مَلْجَأَ وَلاَ مَنْجَا مِنْكَ إِلاَّ إِلَيْكَ، آمَنْتُ بِكِتَابِكَ الَّذِي أَنْزَلْتَ، وَبِنَبِيِّكَ الَّذِي أَرْسَلْتَ‏.‏ فَإِنْ مُتَّ مُتَّ عَلَى الْفِطْرَةِ، فَاجْعَلْهُنَّ آخِرَ مَا تَقُولُ ‏"‏‏.‏ فَقُلْتُ أَسْتَذْكِرُهُنَّ وَبِرَسُولِكَ الَّذِي أَرْسَلْتَ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏"‏ لاَ، وَبِنَبِيِّكَ الَّذِي أَرْسَلْتَ ‏"‏‏.‏

  7. 7
    Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari 6412
    Sahih Bukhari

    Health and free time are two blessings many people lose.

    Narrated Ibn `Abbas:The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "There are two blessings that many people are deceived into losing: health and free time

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا الْمَكِّيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ ـ هُوَ ابْنُ أَبِي هِنْدٍ ـ عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ قَالَ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ نِعْمَتَانِ مَغْبُونٌ فِيهِمَا كَثِيرٌ مِنَ النَّاسِ، الصِّحَّةُ وَالْفَرَاغُ ‏"‏‏.‏ قَالَ عَبَّاسٌ الْعَنْبَرِيُّ حَدَّثَنَا صَفْوَانُ بْنُ عِيسَى، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ سَعِيدِ بْنِ أَبِي هِنْدٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، سَمِعْتُ ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم مِثْلَهُ‏.‏

  8. 8
    Hadith Sunan Abi Dawud 3855
    Sahih graded by Al-Albani

    Seek medical treatment; Allah has made a remedy for every disease except old age.

    Narrated Usamah ibn Sharik: I came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and his Companions were sitting as if they had birds on their heads. I saluted and sat down. The desert Arabs then came from here and there. They asked: Messenger of Allah, should we make use of medical treatment? He replied: Make use of medical treatment, for Allah has not made a disease without appointing a remedy for it, with the exception of one disease, namely old age

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا حَفْصُ بْنُ عُمَرَ النَّمَرِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ زِيَادِ بْنِ عِلاَقَةَ، عَنْ أُسَامَةَ بْنِ شَرِيكٍ، قَالَ أَتَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَأَصْحَابُهُ كَأَنَّمَا عَلَى رُءُوسِهِمُ الطَّيْرُ فَسَلَّمْتُ ثُمَّ قَعَدْتُ فَجَاءَ الأَعْرَابُ مِنْ هَا هُنَا وَهَا هُنَا فَقَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَنَتَدَاوَى فَقَالَ ‏ "‏ تَدَاوَوْا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ لَمْ يَضَعْ دَاءً إِلاَّ وَضَعَ لَهُ دَوَاءً غَيْرَ دَاءٍ وَاحِدٍ الْهَرَمُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

This answer was compiled with the help of AI, using only the verified texts shown here. Every reference links to its source. If you find a mistake, please report it. Updated 2026-09-24

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