The Three Types of Daytime Sleep and Their Effects on Life and Livelihood

This section was written because RefetRefet Barutçu, one of the foremost students of Bediuzzaman. was curious about the meaning of the expression

قَائِلُونَThose taking their midday rest. — The Quran 7:4

in the noble verse

أَوهُمْ قَائِلُونَ...or while they were taking their midday rest. — The Quran 7:4

It was also written to prevent him from sleeping after the dawn prayer in prison—as the others did—and falling into lethargy, so that his "diamond pen" would not lose its sharpness.

There are three kinds of daytime sleep.

The first is ghaylūlahSleep after sunrise until the end of the karāhah period..

This is the sleep from sunrise until the end of the time of karāhahThe state of being religiously discouraged, though not prohibited.. It is contrary to the SunnahThe sayings, actions, and approvals of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) that serve as a model for Muslims. because, according to narrations, it causes one's livelihood to diminish and lose its barakahA divinely bestowed blessing of abundance and benefit.. The coolest hours of the morning are the most suitable time to prepare and strive for one's livelihood. Once that time has passed, a certain sluggishness usually sets in. This harms one's work for that day and, consequently, one's livelihood. Moreover, extensive experience has confirmed that it also diminishes the barakahA divinely bestowed blessing of abundance and benefit. in one's provision.

The second is faylūlahSleep between Asr and Maghrib..

This is the sleep from the afternoon (AsrThe afternoon prayer, the third of the five daily prayers in Islam.) prayer until MaghribThe sunset prayer, performed just after the sun has set.. This sleep shortens one's life. Because of the drowsiness it brings, the remainder of the day passes in a half-awake, sluggish state, amounting to a tangible reduction of one's life. Spiritually as well, since the results of one's daily efforts generally begin to appear after the afternoon prayer, whoever spends that time asleep fails to witness those results—as though he had not truly lived that day.

The third is qaylūlahA short midday nap around the time of Zuhr..

This is the sleep that belongs to the SunnahThe sayings, actions, and approvals of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) that serve as a model for Muslims. of the Prophet (saw)Sallallāhu alayhi wa sallam (Peace and blessings be upon him). It extends from the duhāThe forenoon period beginning after the karāhah period following sunrise and lasting until shortly before Zuhr. period until shortly after noon. This sleep is SunnahThe sayings, actions, and approvals of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) that serve as a model for Muslims. because it helps one rise during the night for worship (qiyām). Moreover, it was further also supported by the long-established custom of the Arabian Peninsula, where people traditionally suspended their work during the intense midday heat at the time of zuhrThe noon prayer, performed after the sun has passed its highest point..

This sleep contributes both to one's lifespan and to one's livelihood. Indeed, half an hour of qaylūlahA short midday nap around the time of Zuhr. is equivalent to two hours of sleep at night. In other words, it adds the equivalent of one and a half hours to one's life each day. It rescues an hour and a half of working time from the grasp of sleep—the brother of death—and adds it to the time available for living and earning one's livelihood.