sleep in Islamic way

"Verily! In the creation of the heavens and the earth, and in the alternation of night and day, there are indeed signs for men of understanding. Those who remember Allah (always, and in prayers) standing, sitting, and lying down on their sides, and think deeply about the creation of the heavens and the earth.'' (Ali Imran - The Family of Imran : 190,191)

I always stay with my sons before they go to bed in the night...just for reading a book, talking about their day or laughing....and of course a little reminder about good deeds...

One night I told them about what a moslem should be done before they went to sleep...

1. Performing ablution.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) told Al-Baraa` bin Aazib (RA) "If you go to your bed, then do your ablution as you would do it for prayer, then lie on your right". (Sahih Bukhari & Sahih Muslim)

2. Sweep your bed.

"When any of you goes to bed, he should shake off (or dust off) his bedsheet because he does not know what might have fallen on it after he had left it." (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

This Hadith calls our attention to a very important matter that before going to bed, we must shake off our bed-sheet, mattresses, etc. It is quite possible that some poisonous insect might have passed over it when we are not there and the effects left by it may prove harmful to us.

3.  Supplication before sleep.

Hudhaifah and Abu Dharr (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) used to supplicate when he went to bed at night: "Bismik-Allahumma ahya wa amut (With Your Name, O Allah, I expire and return to life)." (hadith Al-Bukhari)

4. Recite Al Quran.

Recite Ayat Al Kursi, Al Ikhlas (The Purity of Faith) three times, Al Falaq (The Dawn) and An Nas (Mankind).

Abu Amamah (ra) narrates that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said that whomsoever recites ayat Al-Kursi in the night before sleeping, Allah Most High will protect him, his house and the neighbouring houses.

The Prophet once told Lady Fatima (peace be upon her) to recite the entire Qur'an, perform one Hajj and one Umrah, make all the believers pleased with her, and receive the intercession of all the Prophets before going to bed every single night.

When she asked how such a feat could be accomplished, he taught her that reciting Surah Al Ikhlas (The Purity of Faith) three times would be equivalent to the reward of reciting the whole Qur'an, reciting Tasbehaat Arba three times would equal the reward of one Hajj and one Umrah, asking for the forgiveness of the believers will make all of them pleased with her, and sending peace and blessings upon the Prophets would guarantee her their intercession on the Day of Judgment.

There are still some manners to do before sleep...but at this time I just told them to do those four points first...

May Allah bless and protect you from bad deeds my son...

I have bad dream...

It is still 07:15 am when I got this phone call

"Mom, I have a bad dream", I heard my youngest one crying in the other side of phone. I was wondering cause he should be in his way to the school by taxi.

"It is ok honey...just stop crying and istighfar (seeking forgiveness from Allah)," I said

"Ok Mom," he replied but still in his cry

"Can I talk to Aditya (he is my oldest one)".

then he gave the phone to his big brother...when I heard Aditya's voice I just told him to cuddle his brother hoping that he will be more calm and secure.

In the night before they went to bed, I always stayed with them just to talking or laughing and of course my main purpose is to remind them praying before they slept.

However this time we talked about the bad dream that my youngest son had this morning.

"Rakha, could you tell us what dream you had this morning"

"It is about LEGO man Mom. I become LEGO man and somebody try to take of my leg and my arms...so I was so scared and I cried".

"It is maybe because sometimes you become so mean to your friend,"my oldest son said

"A good dream is from Allah, so if anyone of you saw a dream which he liked, he should not tell it to anybody except to the one whom he loves, and if he saw a dream which he disliked, then he should seek refuge with Allah from its evil and from the evil of Satan, and spit three times (on his left) and should not tell it to anybody, for it will not harm him." (Hadith - Bukhari 9:168, narrated Abu Salama)

then he continued his speech :)

"next time if you have bad dream...just don't cry...wake up and blow or spit three times to your left side and istighfar".

He kept talking,"You should listen to the Friday preach and not sleeping during the preach".

"Yeah...your brother is right...that what you should do when you have a bad dream," I said...

thanks God that my son knows what to do and listen what the Imam (priest) said during the Friday pray....

Hand prayer beads (tasbih tangan)

Subhanallah...HE is the best creator, the All-Knowing....

Every day when you walk in the Arab country either in shopping mall, traditional market or even in cineplex you will see many people bringing a prayer beads in their hand in order to remembrance Allah.
However if you forget to bring the beads with you doesn't mean you can't do it...
Allah created our hands to fulfil the needs to glorify HIM...

courtesy of Google

As hadith said :

"I saw the Prophet counting beads readings (with fingers) his right hand."

(HR. Abu Dawud with the same lafazh 2/81, At-Tirmidhi 5/521, and see Saheeh al-Jami '4/271, no. 4865)

Counting the beads with tip of your fingers is the sunnah as finger will actually be asked and talked to. They will be witnesses of it. Then, collecting (count) beads with the fingers is more important than the string beads and stones.

Wallahu'alam (Allah knows best)