Question:

Is there any authenticity with the concept that it is Sunnah to sleep with your face facing towards Qiblah and that one should keep comb, water bottle, prayer rug, siwak, and kohl near a pillow before we go for sleep. And that one should change to a night suit before going to bed.

Answer:

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

 

There are three issues to your query. They are as follows:

1. Is it Sunnah to sleep while facing Qiblah?
2. Should one change to a night suit before retiring to bed?
3. Is it a Sunnah to keep a comb, water bottle, prayer rug, Siwāk, and Kuhl near a pillow before sleeping?

Each one is answered below in its respective order:

1. It is a Sunnah of Rasūlullāh Sallallāhu Alaihi Wa Sallam to face Qiblah while sleeping. Consider the following Hadīth:

كَانَ فِرَاشُ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ نَحْوًا مِمَّا يُوضَعُ الْإِنْسَانُ فِي قَبْرِهِ وَكَانَ الْمَسْجِدُ عِنْدَ رَأْسِهِ (سنن أبي داود، بَابُ كَيْفَ يَتَوَجَّهُ)

The bed of Rasūlullāh Sallallāhu Alaihi Wa Sallam was positioned similar to a man placed in a grave and the Masjid was towards his head. (Sunan Abi Dāwūd)

In Badhl al-Majhūd, a commentary on Sunan Abī Dāwūd, Hadhrat Molānā Khalīl Ahmad Sahāranpūri Rahimahullāh quotes Hadhrat Molānā Yahyā Rahimahullāh saying that this Hadīth explains that Rasūlullāh Sallallāhu Alaihi Wa Sallam used to face the Qiblah while sleeping.[1] If Rasūllullāh Sallallāhu Alaihi Wa Sallam used to sleep towards the right side and his head was in the direction of the Masjid, then undoubtedly he was facing Qiblah as well.

The first part of the Hadīth also gives a similar meaning. The deceased is positioned in the grave facing the right side towards the Qiblah.[2]

 

2. Changing ones clothes prior to sleeping is also a Sunnah of Rasūlullāh Sallallāhu Alaihi Wa Sallam. Consider the following Hadīth[3]:

 

عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ: ” تَضَيَّفْتُ مَيْمُونَةَ زَوْجَ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، وَهِيَ خَالَتِي وَهِيَ لَيْلَةَ إِذْ لَا تُصَلِّي، فَأَخَذَتْ كِسَاءً فَثَنَتْهُ، وَأَلْقَتْ عَلَيْهِ نُمْرُقَةً، ثُمَّ رَمَتْ عَلَيْهِ بِكِسَاءٍ آخَرَ، ثُمَّ دَخَلَتْ فِيهِ، وَبَسَطَتْ لِي بِسَاطًا إِلَى جَنْبِهَا، وَتَوَسَّدْتُ مَعَهَا عَلَى وِسَادِهَا، ” فَجَاءَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، وَقَدْ صَلَّى الْعِشَاءَ الْآخِرَةَ، فَأَخَذَ خِرْقَةً فَتَوَزَّرَ بِهَا، وَأَلْقَى ثَوْبَهُ، وَدَخَلَ مَعَهَا لِحَافَهَا  (مسند أحمد، ج 4، ص 347، مؤسسة الرسالة)

Ibn Abās Radhiyallāhu Anhu says, “I was a guest at Maimūnah Radhiyallāhu Anhā’s house, who was a wife of Rasūlullāh Sallallāhu Alaihi Wa Sallam and also my aunt. That night she was in a state wherein she did not have to perform Salāh. She took a sheet and doubled it up. She then placed a cushion on top of it. Then she put another sheet on top of the cushion and she went inside. Then she spread a bedding for me next to her. I shared her pillow with her. Then Rasūlullāh Sallallāhu Alaihi Wa Sallam entered after performing Ishā Salāh. He took a cloth and covered himself with it and took off the clothes he was previously wearing. He then entered with Maimūnah Radhiyallāh Anhā in the sheet. (Musnad Ahmad)

 

 In Sunan Abu Dāwūd, there is a narration in which it is stated that a Siwāk and water for Wudhu used to be kept for Rasūlullāh Sallallāhu Alaihi Wa Sallam at night time. When he would awaken for Tahajjud, he used to brush his teeth with the Miswāk and perform Wudhu. This Hadīth indicates that the Siwāk and water bottle were kept in close proximity to Rasūlullāh Sallallāhu Alaihi Wa Sallam prior to sleeping. The Hadīth is as follows:

عَنْ عَائِشَةَ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ كَانَ يُوضَعُ لَهُ وَضُوءُهُ وَسِوَاكُهُ، فَإِذَا قَامَ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ تَخَلَّى ثُمَّ اسْتَاكَ(سنن أبى داؤد، باب السواك لمن قام باالليل)

Aishah Radhiyallāhu Anhā reports that the Wudhu water and Siwāk was prepared for Rasūlullāh Sallallāhu Alaihi Wa Sallam at night. When he used to awaken at night, he used to relieve himself and thereafter he would use the Siwāk. (Sunan Abi Dāwūd)

 

3. Regarding the blessed comb of Rasūlullāh Sallallāhu Alaihi Wa Sallam, it is reported that Aishah Radhiyallāhu Anhā used to comb the hair of Rasūlullāh Sallallāhu Alaihi Wa Sallam even while she was menstruating. Another Hadīth states that Rasūlullāh Sallallāhu Alaihi Wa Sallam would often comb his beard in order to keep it neat. These Ahādīth indicate that Rasūlullāh Sallallāhu Alaihi Wa Sallam had a comb and kept it in close proximity to himself. The Ahādīth are as follows:

 

عن عائشة قالت:كنت أرجّل رأس رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وأنا حائض (الشمائل المحمدية للترمذى، باب ما جاء في ترجل رسول الله صل الله عليه وسلم)

Aishah Radhiyallāhu Anhā says, “I used to comb the hair of Rasūlullāh Sallallāhu Alaihi Wa Sallam even when I was in the state of menstration. (al-Shamāil al-Muhammadiyyah)

 

 

عن أنس بن مالك قال:«كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يكثر دهن رأسه وتسريح لحيته (الشمائل المحمدية للترمذى، باب ما جاء في ترجل رسول الله صل الله عليه وسلم)

Anas bin Mālik Radhiyallāhu Anha says, “Rasūllullāh Sallallāhu Alaihi Wa Sallam used to oil his hair and comb his beard often. (al-Shamāil al-Muhammadiyyah)

 

In relation to the blessed Kohl container of Rasūlullāh Sallallāhu Alaihi Wa Sallam, it is reported that Rasūlullāh Sallallāhu Alaihi Wa Sallam used to have a Kohl container from which he used to apply Kohl to his eyes every night. This Hadīth indicates that the Kohl container was in close proximity to Rasūlullāh Sallallāhu Alaihi Wa Sallam at night time. The Hadīth is as follows:

عن ابن عباس: إن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم كانت له مكحلة يكتحل منها عند النوم ثلاثا في كلّ عين (الشمائل المحمدية للترمذى، باب ما جاء في كحل رسول الله صل الله عليه وسلم)

Ibn Abās Radhiyallāhu Anhu reports that Rasūlullāh Sallallāhu Alaihi Wa Sallam had a Kohl container and Rasūllullāh Sallallāhu Alaihi Wa Sallam would apply Kohl from it at night time thrice in each eye. (al-Shamāil al-Muhammadiyyah)

 

 

As regards the blessed prayer rug of Rasūlullāh Sallallāhu Alaihi Wa Sallam, it is reported that he used to pray on a Khumrah, a small prayer mat made from palm leaves.[4] This Hadīth is narrated by Maimūnah Radhiyallāhu Anhā, the wife of Rasūlullāh Sallallāhu Alaihi Wa Sallam. In this Hadīth there is an indication that Rasūlullāh Sallallāhu Alaihi Wa Sallam had a prayer mat very close to himself at night in order to perform Tahajjud Salāh on it. The Hadīth is as follows:

 

مَيْمُونَةُ بِنْتُ الْحَارِثِ، قَالَتْ: كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ «يُصَلِّي وَأَنَا حِذَاءَهُ وَأَنَا حَائِضٌ وَرُبَّمَا أَصَابَنِي ثَوْبُهُ إِذَا سَجَدَ وَكَانَ يُصَلِّي عَلَى الْخُمْرَةِ (سنن أبى داؤد، باب الصلاة على الخمرة)

Maimūnah Radhiyallāhu Anhā says, “Rasūlullāh Sallallāhu Alaihi Wa Sallam used to perform Salāh while I was next to him and in a state of menstruation. At times, his garment would touch me while making Sajdah. He used to perform Salāh on a Khumrah (small mat made of palm leaves). (Sunan Abu Dāwūd)

 

 

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Mufti Ebrahim Desai

Idealwoman.org

 

 

---