Why Sleeping on Stomach in Islam is Forbidden? We must adhere to Islam’s precepts in every area of our lives as Muslims. This applies to our sleeping habits as well.
The stomach, side, and back positions are typically the ones about which sleepers have the most questions.
This article will address whether sleeping on your stomach, back, or any other position is prohibited by Islam, according to the hadith and the Quran, or Makruh (disliked)
Is Sleeping on Your Stomach Haram?
The scholars and beliefs of Islam advise against sleeping on your stomach. You should sleep on your right side with your right hand supporting your head, and your left hand on the legs, just like the Prophet (PBUH) did. The sunnah method of sleeping has several advantages for our health.
Sleeping on your stomach is bad for digestion and can result in back and neck pain.
According to a hadith, the Prophet (PBUH) once woke up a man who was dozing off on his stomach by saying:
Imam Ahmad reported that Abu Hurayra (Allah be pleased with him) said,
“The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) passed by a man who was lying on his stomach, so he poked him with his leg and said, ‘This is a posture that Allah the Mighty and Majestic does not like.’”
Additionally, Ibn Hibban reported it in his Sahih, and numerous additional hadiths from the most important collections corroborate this.
We can conclude from the hadith that sleeping on one’s stomach is haram (prohibited).
Some academics disagree, claiming that neither the Quran nor the Hadith provide any conclusive proof that sleeping on one’s stomach is forbidden.
As a result, they do not believe that sleeping on your stomach is prohibited, but they still do not advise it. it is considered Makruh (disliked). This is because the Prophet had taught us to sleep on our right side according to the Sunnah.
As a result, they advise that we concentrate more on sleeping according to the sunnah.
We cannot determine if it is haram or halal, but it is advisable to avoid it because the Prophet established it as the sunnah method of sleeping.
Why is sleeping on your stomach haram in Islam?
The major reason lying on your stomach is haram is because there is a hadith that states that the Prophet (pbuh) saw a man sleeping on his stomach and said:
“Sleeping on the stomach or belly is the position of the people of Jahannam (Hell).”
Although some scholars doubt the authenticity of the hadith, it is best to avoid it because the Prophet had demonstrated the sunnah manner to sleep.
Additionally, a study suggests that lying on your stomach is bad for digestion and might result in neck and back problems. Islam therefore always teaches us to steer clear of anything that is harmful to our health.
How to Sleep according to Sunnah?
According to Islam, sleeping on your right side is the ideal position. The Prophet (PBUH) used to sleep in this position.
Here’s how to go about it:
1) On your right side, lie down.
2) Legs should remain straight.
3) Put your right hand beneath your head.
4) Your left hand should be on your leg.
There are various advantages to sleeping on your right side. It helps with blood flow, digestion, and back discomfort.
Dhikr and Dua
When falling asleep, one should remember Allah (dhikr), saying the tahlil (la ilaha illa Allah), tahmid (alhamdu lillah), and tasbih (subhan Allah) [after reciting the particular Prophetic invocations suggested before sleep] until sleep overcomes one. This is because the state in which one sleeps determines how one will be awakened in the morning.
General Recommendations on Correct Sleeping
It is written in the Fatawa al-Hindiyya, a beautiful compilation of accepted ideas within the Hanafi school, that a committee of experts appointed by the just Moghul emperor, Aurangzeb, stated:
“It is recommended to take advantage of the afternoon nap (qaylula), for the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, ‘Take afternoon naps, for the devils do not take afternoon naps,’ as mentioned in al-Ghayathiyya. It is recommended for one to sleep in a state of ritual purity and to lie on one’s right side, facing the qibla for a while [at least, and then, if it is difficult to fall asleep on one’s right] then one may sleep on one’s left side [without it being considered sub-optimal], as mentioned in al-Sirajiyya.”
Sleeping in the early morning and between maghrib and isha is not preferred [since it usually results in one missing isha in the congregation; otherwise, it is not opposed, but it is still preferable not to do]. No sleep was more cherished to Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah have mercy on him) than sleep [immediately] after isha before the end of the night, according to various sources. As this avoids extremely deep sleep that could cause one to miss prayer or tahajjud yet is still moderately comfortable, one should sleep on a bed that is halfway between being soft and hard.
Sunnah’s way of waking up
One should rise before fajr because the earth bemoans to Allah the adulterer’s ghusl, the blood that has been wrongfully spilt on it, and the sleep that follows fajr time.
As stated in al-Ghara’ib, one should awaken with the memory of Allah [the best of which are the particular Prophetic invocations], with a firm resolution to abstain from what Allah has forbidden, and determined not to offend any of Allah’s servants. [Al-Fatawa al-Hindiyya, 5:376]
The sunnah of waking include:
1. To recite “La Ilaha illa Allah,” “Alhamdulillah” 3 times, than “Alhamdulillahi alladhi ahyana ba`da ma amatana wa ilayhi an-nushur” (All praise is to Allah who gave us life after death, and to Him is the final return). [Bukhari, Abu Dawud, and others]
2. According to Shama’il al-Tirmidhi, it is beneficial to rub one’s face and eyes with both hands to eliminate the effects of sleep.
3. Due to hadiths in Ahmad’s Musnad and Abu Dawud’s Sunan to this effect, brushing one’s teeth is advised, ideally using a tooth-stick (miswak).
And by choosing to walk in the footsteps of Allah’s Beloved (peace and blessings be upon him), one can find all that is wonderful in this world and the next. All success also comes from Allah.
Also Read: Productive Muslim Daily Routine
Is sleeping on your back prohibited (Haram) in Islam?
No, sleeping on your back is not prohibited (haram) in Islam. It is not, however, the Sunnah manner of sleeping.
According to Islam, sleeping on your right side is the ideal position. The Prophet (PBUH) used to sleep in this position.
However, if you prefer to sleep on your back for any reason, there is no danger in doing so.
Is it forbidden (haram) to sleep on your left side?
No, sleeping on your left side is not forbidden in Islam. It is not, however, the Sunnah manner of sleeping.
According to Islam, it is preferable to sleep on your right side. The Prophet (PBUH) used to sleep in this position.
But if you want to sleep on your left side for any reason, there is no Islamic restriction against doing so.
Stomach-sleeping tempts the devil
If you stop to consider it, everything that is harmful to our health or that the Quran and Hadith command us to avoid inevitably turns into a source of temptation for the devil.
In a hadith, it is said:
“The Prophet (PBUH) saw a man sleeping on his stomach and said: “Sleeping on the stomach or belly is the position of the people of Jahannam (Hell).”
This hadith indicates that lying on your stomach when sleeping is a source of temptation for the devil.
Sleeping position haram (prohibited) in Islam
Islam forbids sleeping on one’s stomach. Even a few scholars do not believe it to be authentic, but since the Prophet has already shown the sunnah style of sleeping, it is best to stay away from it.
There is no other sleeping position that is forbidden in Islam save lying on one’s stomach. The sunnah states that it is preferable to sleep on your right side rather than your back or left side.
FAQs on Sleeping on Stomach in Islam
Is it harmful to sleep on your stomach?
Yes, it is harmful to sleep on your stomach. It's bad for digestion and might result in back and neck pain. Additionally, it is not the sunnah manner of sleeping in Islam. Therefore, it's best to avoid it.
Why shouldn't Muslims sleep on their stomachs?
What is the position of sleep prescribed by Islam?
According to Islam, sleeping on your right side is the ideal position. The Prophet (PBUH) used to sleep in this position.
How long should you sleep in Islam?
The answer is that Islam does not prescribe a certain hours of sleep. The Prophet did, however, state that the day is for working and the night is for sleeping. Therefore, it is preferable to go to bed after the Isha prayer and wake up early for the Tahajjud or Fajr prayers.
Conclusion
We should all make an effort to sleep according to the sunnah. Whether you believe the hadith about sleeping on your stomach to be true or not, it is always preferable to adhere to the sunnah method of sleeping. Because the Prophet had shown us the ideal sleeping position for us.
We hope that the answer to your question, “Why Sleeping on Stomach in Islam is Forbidden?” is apparent. Please feel free to ask us any further questions in the comment section below.
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