This blog was originally uploaded on the previous version of the www.sajidumar.com website on February 11, 2018.

Assalāmu ʿalaykum everyone,

Please see this informative message that was shared with me earlier today. May it be a means of benefit for many in this group and beyond. Āmīn.

1. Sleep Early

Try to sleep as early as possible after ʿIshāʾ Ṣalāh.

The Prophet ﷺ disliked talking after ʿIshāʾ Ṣalāh (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, 568).

Sleeping early helps align your routine with the Sunnah and ensures you rise easily for Fajr.

2. Sleep with Wuḍūʾ (Ablution)

Perform wuḍūʾ before sleeping as advised by the Prophet ﷺ (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, 247).

It is narrated that angels remain in the company of one who sleeps in a state of purity and say:

“O Allah, forgive Your such-and-such servant, for he slept in the state of purity.”

(Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Ḥibbān, 1051; al-Muʿjam al-Kabīr, 13620)

3. Sleep on Your Right Side

Lie on your right side and place your right hand under your cheek, as was the habit of the Prophet ﷺ (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, 6314).

4. Recite the Qurʾān Before Sleeping

It was the habit of the Prophet ﷺ to recite the Qurʾān before resting. Some of the chapters he recited include:

1. Sūrah al-Sajdah and Sūrah al-Mulk (Sunan al-Tirmidhī, 2892)
2. Sūrah al-Isrāʾ and Sūrah al-Zumar (Sunan al-Tirmidhī, 2920)
3. Sūrah al-Ikhlāṣ, Sūrah al-Falaq, and Sūrah al-Nās (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, 5017)
4. Āyah al-Kursī (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, 5010)
5. The final two verses of Sūrah al-Baqarah (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, 5009)

A weak narration by ʿAllāmah Ibn Mardawayh (d. 498 AH) mentions that whoever recites the final five verses of Sūrah al-Kahf before sleeping, Allah will awaken them at any time of the night they wish (Tanzīh al-Sharīʿah, 1:302; Fayḍ al-Qadīr, 3:104).

ʿAllāmah Ālūsī al-Baghdādī noted in Rūḥ al-Maʿānī (8:190) that he personally tested this and found it beneficial.

If you struggle to wake up for Fajr Ṣalāh, try this and place your trust in Allah.

5. Read the Masnūn Duʿās

Recite the Masnūn supplications before sleeping and make these your final words.

Ask Allah for Tawfīq and the ability to wake up for Fajr.

Among the authentic supplications are:

1. سُبْحَانَ الله 33 times
2. اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰه 33 times
3. اللهُ أَكْبَر 34 times (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, 5361)
4. اَللّٰهُمَّ بِاسْمِكَ أَمُوْتُ وَأَحْيَا (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, 6314)
5. اَللّٰهُمَّ قِنِيْ عَذَابَكَ يَوْمَ تَبْعَثُ عِبَادَكَ (Sunan al-Tirmidhī, 3398)
6. اَللّٰهُمَّ أَسْلَمْتُ نَفْسِيْ إِلَيْكَ... (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, 247)
7. سُبْحَانَكَ اللّٰهُمَّ رَبِّيْ بِكَ وَضَعْتُ جَنْبِيْ... (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, 2714)

6. Make a Firm Intention

Before sleeping, make a sincere and firm intention to wake up for Fajr Ṣalāh.

A strong niyyah brings barakah (blessing) and determination.

7. Use an Alarm and a Buddy

Set an alarm clock, and if needed, on more than one device.

Buddy up with a neighbour or a friend to wake one another for Fajr.

Allah ﷻ says:

“Cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and aggression.”

(Qurʾān, 5:2)

8. Take a Midday Nap

A short nap (qaylūlah) in the afternoon is an established Sunnah (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, 905).

Try to maintain a consistent daily routine of sleeping and waking up at fixed times.

9. Daily Reminders for Fajr

Reflect on the virtues of Fajr Ṣalāh and the loss of missing it.

The Prophet ﷺ said:

“Whoever performs the Bardayn [Fajr and ʿAṣr prayers performed when it is cool] will enter Paradise.”

(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, 574)

“There is no prayer more burdensome for the hypocrites than ʿIshāʾ and Fajr.

If they knew what reward they contain, they would attend even if they had to crawl.”

(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, 657)

10. Wake Up Immediately

When your eyes open, rise right away.

Read the following Masnūn duʿās and resist the whispers of Shayṭān, who tempts you to delay.

Do not fall for “five more minutes.” Before you realise, Fajr time will pass.

1. اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ الَّذِيْ أَحْيَانَا بَعْدَ مَا أَمَاتَنَا وَإِلَيْهِ النُّشُوْرُ (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, 6314)
2. اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ الَّذِيْ عَافَانِيْ فِيْ جَسَدِيْ وَرَدَّ عَلَيَّ رُوْحِيْ وَأَذِنَ لِيْ بِذِكْرِهِ (Sunan al-Tirmidhī, 3401)

Let every night be one that revives your Sunnah and every dawn be one that draws you nearer to Allah.

Implementing these simple yet profound steps can transform your spiritual routine and your relationship with Ṣalāh.

Your brother

Sajid Umar

Location: 'somewhere en route to the hereafter'

25/05/1439 (AH) - 11/02/2018