Question:
What is the ruling of sleeping after the time of prayer has started? For example, if someone sleeps at 2.30pm after the time for zuhr prayer has started but he hasn’t prayed zuhr yet?
Answer:
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his wives, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
Sleeping is natural for a normal human. Sufficient sleep is necessary for humans to sustain his daily lives and performing their daily activities such as eating and drinking. It falls under the rulings of; permissible, obligatory, sunnah, prohibited and makruh (undesirable) according to the time and situation. Refer: Mausu’ah al-Fiqhiyyah al-Kuwaitiyah (42/17).
Regarding the ruling for sleeping after the time for obligatory prayer has started, we would like to cite the opinion of Imam Ibn Hajar al-Haitami Rahimahullah:
وَإِنْ نَامَ بَعْدَ دُخُولِ الْوَقْتِ، فَإِنْ غَلَبَ عَلَى ظَنِّهِ الِاسْتِيقَاظُ قَبْلَ خُرُوجِ الْوَقْتِ فَلَا إثْمَ عَلَيْهِ أَيْضًا وَإِنْ خَرَجَ الْوَقْتُ لَكِنَّهُ يُكْرَهُ لَهُ ذَلِكَ إلَّا إنْ غَلَبَهُ النَّوْمُ بِحَيْثُ لَا يَسْتَطِيعُ دَفْعَهُ، وَإِنْ لَمْ يَغْلِبْ عَلَى ظَنِّهِ الِاسْتِيقَاظُ أَثِمَ وَيَجِبُ عَلَى مَنْ عَلِمَ بِحَالِهِ إيقَاظُهُ حِينَئِذٍ
“If someone sleeps after the time for prayer has started with a conviction that he is able to wake up to pray before the time for prayer ends, then it is not sinful for him even if he wakes up after the time of prayer has ended (on the conviction that he will wake up before the time for prayer ends), however, it is makruh (undesirable) unless he is extremely sleepy and exhausted and he could not hold off from sleeping. If he is uncertain that he will be able to pray (if he sleeps after the time for prayer started), then it is sinful for him to sleep and it is obligatory for anyone who knows about his situation to wake him up.” Refer: Tuhfat al-Muhtaj (2/407).
We also include a similar statement from Imam Zainuddin Ahmad al-Malibari Rahimahullah regarding the issue of sleeping after the time for prayer has started:
يكره النوم بعد دخول وقت الصلاة وقبل فعلها حيث ظن الاستيقاظ قبل ضيقه لعادة أو لإيقاظ غيره له وإلا حرم النوم الذي لم يغلب في الوقت
“Makruh (discouraged/undesirable) to sleep after the time for prayer has started before performing the prayer if he would usually wake up before the time of prayer ends or he is woken up by someone else. If not, then it is prohibited for him to sleep (if sleeping will make him miss his prayer).” Refer: Fath al-Mu’in bi Syarh Qurrat al-‘Ain bi Muhimmat al-Din (1/89).
Syeikh Muhammad Nawawi al-Jawi Rahimahullah also discusses the issue of sleeping after the time for prayer has started. We include some of the discussion here:
“As for sleeping after the time for prayer has started, if he is certain that sleeping will make him miss his prayer, then it is prohibited for him to sleep and he actually has committed two sins; sin for sleeping and sin for missing prayer. If he wakes up before the time for prayer ends, which is different from his assumption, then he is not sinful for he did not miss his prayer but he is still sinful for sleeping while thinking that he would miss his prayer, and his sin will only be forgiven if he repent through istighfar.
If he is certain that he would wake up before the time for prayer ends, then it is not sinful for him to sleep, even if he sleeps and missed his prayer (with a conviction that he will wake up before the time for prayer ends). However, it is makruh except if he is extremely sleepy and he could not hold off from sleeping.” Refer: Kasyifah as-Saja Syarh Safinah an-Naja (pg. 191)
The basis of this ruling is in accordance with a hadith from the Prophet PBUH:
ليس في النَّومِ تفريطٌ إنَّما التَّفريطُ على مَن لم يُصَلِّ الصَّلاةَ حتَّى يجيءَ وقتُ صلاةٍ أخرى
“Sleeping is not pointless, indeed, it will only become counterproductive when he missed his prayer until the time for the next prayer has started.”
Narrated by Ibn Hibban (1460), Syeikh Syuaib al-Arnout state the hadith is authentic according to the conditions set by Imam Muslim
Conclusion
It is makruh to sleep after the time for prayer has started if he is certain that he is able to wake up before the time of prayer ends. If he is uncertain that he could, then it is prohibited for him to sleep before he performs his prayer.
If a person decides to take a nap in certain situations such as exhaustion or sleepy, then it is permissible for him to take a nap but he must make an effort in order for him to be able to wake up, such as set an alarm on his phone or asking his family members to wake him up after a certain time.
However, we would like to emphasize that it is best to perform one’s prayer first before doing other things, which also includes sleeping.
سُئلَ رسولُ اللهِ صلَّى اللهُ عليه وسلَّمَ: أيُّ الأعمالِ أفضَلُ؟ قال: الصلاةُ في أوَّلِ وَقتِها
“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was asked: Which of the actions is best? He replied: Observing prayer early in its period.”
Sunan Abu Daud (426), Syeikh al-Arnout state that the sanad (chain of narrators) is weak.
May Allah SWT give us goodness and correct understanding in His religion and consequently give us strength to practise it. Amin.