Question:
Is there a hadith which narrates that sleeping for a person who fasts is a form of worship?
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.
According to the above question, there is a famous hadith which would always come up every time the month of Ramadhan comes around.
- From Abdullah bin Awfa RA, it is claimed that the Prophet PBUH said:
نَوْمُ الصَّائِمِ عِبَادَةٌ، وَصَمْتُهُ تَسْبِيحٌ، وَدُعَاؤُهُ مُسْتَجَابٌ، وَعَمَلُهُ مُضَاعَفٌ
“Sleep for those who fast is worship, his silence is tasbih, his supplication is granted and his deeds are multiplied.”
Narrated by al-Baihaqi in Syu’ab al-Iman (3654)
The Status of the Hadith
Imam al-Baihaqi stated that there are two weak narrators in the sanad of this hadith which are Ma’ruf bin Hassan and Sulaiman bin ‘Amr al-Nakha’ie but Sulaiman is weaker than Ma’ruf. (See Syu’ab al-Iman, 5/422). Furthermore, Sulaiman al-Nakha’ie is a liar. (See al-Mughni ‘An Haml al-Asfar, 1/182). Imam al-Suyuthi also evaluated this hadith as weak (dhaif). (See al-Jami’ al-Saghir, 2:363)
Considering the above opinions of scholars, we are inclined to state that the hadith is dhaif (weak) for there is more than one narrator who is deemed as weak by scholars.
However, sleep can be a form of worship when a person set the intention in his heart that he wants to sleep to strengthen himself so that he can perform worship to Allah SWT such as by reciting al-Quran, dhikr, learning and others. Thus, sleep of a person can be a form of worship according to his intentions. Generally, the sleep of a person who is fasting is a form of worship for he is sleeping while he is fasting.
As for in relation to supplication, the supplication of a person who is fasting will be granted as stated in another hadith:
- From Abu Hurairah RA, the Prophet PBUH said:
ثَلَاثُ دَعَوَاتٍ مُسْتَجَابَاتٌ: دَعْوَةُ الصَّائِمِ، وَدَعْوَةُ الْمُسَافِرِ، وَدَعْوَةُ الْمَظْلُومِ
"Three supplications are answered; the supplication of those who are fasting, the supplication of a traveller and the supplication the oppressed."
Narrated by al-Baihaqi in Syu’ab al-Iman (3323). [Imam al-Suyuthi evaluated the hadith as hasan]
In another narration from Abu Hurairah RA, the Prophet PBUH said:
ثَلَاثَةٌ لَا تُرَدُّ دَعْوَتُهُمْ: الصَّائِمُ حَتَّى يُفْطِرَ، وَالإِمَامُ العَادِلُ، وَدَعْوَةُ المَظْلُومِ
“There are three whose supplications are not turned back: A just ruler, and a fasting person until he breaks his fast. And, the supplication of one who has been wronged,”
Sunan al-Tirmizi (3598) [Imam al-Tirmizi evaluated the hadith as hasan sahih]
According to two of the above hadiths, scholars ruled it sunnah for a person who is fasting to increase his supplications from the beginning of day (starts to fast) until the end of it.
Furthermore, it is true that Allah SWT will multiply the rewards of deeds for those who fast. This is in accordance with a sahih hadith of the Prophet PBUH:
- From Abu Hurairah RA, the Prophet PBUH said:
كُلُّ عَمَلِ ابْنِ آدَمَ يُضَاعَفُ، الْحَسَنَةُ عَشْرُ أَمْثَالِهَا إِلَى سَبْعمِائَة ضِعْفٍ
"Every deed of the son of Adam will be multiplied for him, between ten and seven hundred times for each merit.”
Sahih Muslim (1151)
Thus, although the hadith is dhaif, there are other hadiths which support the meaning of the hadith. This proves that a person who fasts will receive great advantages from Allah SWT.
Conclusion
To conclude, fasting is a special worship which has great advantages promised by Allah SWT for those who perform it. Furthermore, the month of Ramadhan is the month that those who love worship always wait for. Thus, let us make the month of Ramadhan as the month we amass as many good deeds and worships that we can as our supply when meeting with Allah SWT. Lastly, may Allah SWT make us from among His slaves whose sins are forgiven and deeds are accepted. Amin.
Wallahua’lam.