The Second Habit: Resting with Barakah and Intention
Bismillāh.
This is a reminder first to myself, written in need, not from a place of knowing, but hoping.
If it benefits you too, then All Praise is due to Allah سبحانه وتعالى alone.
I’ve struggled for years with inconsistent, restless, and poorly structured sleep.
What felt like a minor issue slowly grew into something much heavier - affecting my Imaan, my patience, my energy for worship, and even my ability to think clearly. It seeped into my mood, my body, and the way I showed up for others.
This isn’t just about tiredness. It’s about accountability.
And it has to change - in sha’ Allah.
We talk a lot about “productivity” - about morning routines, hustle culture, getting more done. But rarely do we reflect on how we rest, and the role rest plays in our Imaan.
In Islam, sleep is not just recovery - it’s a sign, a mercy, and a daily reminder of our dependence on Allah.
“And it is He who makes the night for you as clothing, and sleep [a means for] rest, and makes the day a resurrection.”
— Sūrah al-Furqān (25:47)
💬 A Letter to Myself
Dear self,
Your mind doesn’t always need more information - it needs rest.
Your body doesn’t need endless scrolling - it needs repose.
You weren’t created to be constantly switched on.
Rest is not laziness.
Sleep is not wasted time.
Sleep - when done with correct intention - is worship.
And bad sleep doesn’t just leave you tired.
It weakens your focus in salaah.
It pushes you into emotional reaction.
It dulls your memory for Qur’an.
And it often invites sin in the hours when heedlessness is easy.
You need better. Start sleeping like someone who wants Allah’s closeness.
🧠 What I’m Trying to Build
These are small, structured steps I'm working on - not all at once, but gradually, with purpose:
🌙 1. Sleep After ‘Isha
“The Prophet ﷺ disliked sleeping before ‘Isha and speaking after it.”
—Sahih al-Bukhari 521, 522
No late-night chats or content scrolling.
Dim the lights, lower stimulation, and set a consistent wind-down time.
🧼 2. End with Wudhu
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“When you go to bed, perform ablution like that for prayer.” — Sahih al-Bukhari 247
Even if you’re not praying again, it’s a cleanse to sleep on.
🛏 3. Make Duʿa and Dhikr Before Bed
Learn and recite the Sunnah Adhkaar before sleep (from Hisnul Muslim).
The Prophet ﷺ taught:
“Say: ‘Allāhumma bismika amūtu wa aḥyā.’”
(“O Allah, in Your name I die and I live.”)
— Sahih al-Bukhari 6325
💧 4. Sleep on Your Right Side
The Prophet ﷺ laid on his right, placing his hand under his cheek (Sahih Muslim).
Use this posture to remind your body: I am submitting to my Rabb.
📖 5. Avoid Sleeping After Fajr or After ‘Asr if possible
The early hours hold barakah.
The Prophet ﷺ made duʿa:
“O Allah, bless my Ummah in the early morning.” — Sunan al-Tirmidhī, 1212
🧱 Start Small, Stay Consistent
If your current pattern is disordered, begin with one anchor:
Go to bed 15 minutes earlier than usual.
Keep your phone across the room — and put it away 10 minutes before sleep.
Choose one dhikr to repeat (e.g. Subḥān Allāh, Alḥamdulillāh, Allāhu Akbar x33 before sleep).
Build your wind-down like you build your wudhu.
Quietly, intentionally, for the One who sees.
📖 Qur’an and Sunnah
“And We made your sleep [a means for] rest.”
— Sūrah an-Nabaʾ (78:9)
“They used to sleep but little of the night, and in the hours before dawn, they would seek forgiveness.”
— Sūrah adh-Dhāriyāt (51:17–18)
Discipline in sleep is not about perfection, it’s about training readiness.
Sleep with a clear heart. Wake with purpose in sha’ Allah..
🧵 Final Reflections
You are not a machine.
You are a soul with a body and your rest matters.
In the stillness of the night, Allah sees the one who wants to return and strength is restored.
If you want your salaah, your Qur’an, your discipline to improve —
Start with your nights.
Sincerely,
still striving, still learning —
your sister in need of Allah.
