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While going to sleep and getting up he used to go to bed early and get up just after midnight. He would then clean his teeth with a toothbrush (miswaak), perform ablution and offer prayers to the extent destined by Allah. In this way his whole body and potentialities got rest and ease.
He neither slept nor kept awake more than was needful. As and when he felt the need he would take rest inclined on the right side and remembering Allah he fell asleep. At sleeping time, he never ate to his fill. He never slept on the ground nor had a fat bedding. On the other hand he used a leather mattress filled with the bark of date palm. He would rest his head on a pillow and would sometimes place his hand under his cheek and it is best to sleep on the right side. (Zaadul Ma’aad)
In sleep he was temperate. He neither slept nor kept himself awake unnecessarily. In other words, the Holy Prophet SAW slept as well as kept awake. It was customary for the Holy Prophet SAW in offering voluntary prayers and other devotions that he used to go to sleep and then get up for prayer and again go to sleep. In this way he went to sleep and got up many a time. As such anyone who wanted to see him awake could see him like that and anyone who wanted to see him asleep could also see him in that state. (Zaadul Ma’aad; Madaarijun Nubuwwah)
His Bedding
It has been reported by Sayyidina Imam Baqir that on being asked what sort of bedding the Holy Prophet SAW had in his house, Aisha RA replied “It consisted of a leather mattress filled with the bark of date palm”. On being asked the same question Hafsa RA replied “It consisted of a piece of canvas which we folded into two before spreading it for the Holy Prophet e to sleep on. Once I thought that if I folded it into four it would be more comfortable. So I did that. Next morning, the Holy Prophet SAW asked me, “What was it that you spread for my bed last night?” I replied “It was the usual piece of canvas, only I had folded it fourfold to make it softer”. The Holy Prophet SAW said “Let it be as it was before. Its softness prevented my saying the tahajjud (midnight prayer) last night.” (Shamaail-e-Tirmidhi)
It is mentioned in a number of traditions that his bed was sometimes a piece of canvas and sometimes only a matmade of palm leaves.
In a number of traditions it has been reported that whenever the noble companions of the Holy Prophet SAW used to say “What have I to do with a worldly ease and comfort. I am like a wayfarer who treading his path sits in the shade of a tree for a little rest and after a short while sets out again.” (Khasaail-e-Nabawi)
Aisha RA related: Once a woman of the Ansar saw the Holy Prophet SAW had spread his mantle for bedding. She made a bedding filled with wool and sent it to me for the use of the Holy Prophet SAW. When he came and noticed it, he asked what it was. I told him that it had been sent for him by a certain woman of the Ansar. He directed it to be returned to her at once. As I liked it, I was not willing to return it but the Holy Prophet SAW insisted and said “If I so desire, Allah (magnified be His glory) can move mountains of gold and silver for me.” So I returned to bed.
Sayyiduna Abdullah Ibnu Masood RA has reported: “I once came to the Holy Prophet SAW when he was resting on a mat made of palm leaves. Marks of the leaves were noticeable on his noble body. Seeing this I began to weep. The Holy Prophet SAW asked me what it was that made me weep. I said “Oh Messenger of Allah! The Caesar and Chosroes rest on beds of velvet and silk but you on this mat!” The Prophet SAW said: “There is nothing to lament. For them is the comfort of this world and for us is that of the Heareafter. (Khasaail-e-Nabawi)
It has been related by Aishah RA that the Holy Prophet SAW used to say his prayers on a mat of palm leaves. (Ibn Sa’d) |
