Did The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) Nap?

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is a role model for all Muslims, and the way he lived his life has been recorded for us to follow through his Sunnah and authenticated Hadith.

However one widely unknown question was his attitude towards napping. So, did the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) take naps?

The benefits of napping 💤

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) once said, "Take a nap, for the devil does not take naps." [Sahih Aljamie. Alalbani 1647]

This authenticated hadith guides us to do the opposite of Satan. It also serves as a reminder that the Prophet (pbuh) encouraged napping to aid with both physical and mental health, and to promote rest and recovery alongside activity.

In Arabic, there is a word qayloolah which means siesta. It has been narrated that one should have a siesta before mid-day (Zhuhr prayer).

Is there scientific benefit to napping? 👩🏽‍🔬

Yes, there is! Napping has been shown to have many benefits, including reducing stress levels, improving cognitive function, and boosting overall productivity. It can also help improve mood and reduce the risk of depression.

Research in 2009 showed that naps can improve performance with regards to your reaction time, recognising symbols and logical reasoning. More research showed that people who napped for between 30 and 90 minutes had better word recall than those who didn't.

Napping in today's fast-paced world 🌎

The hadith mentioning napping by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) also serves to remind us about the importance of a good self-care routine. In today's busy world, where there is often shame in taking breaks, we often neglect our physical and mental wellbeing in pursuit of success and productivity. But it's essential to prioritise self-care and make time for rest. This means we can be more effective in our daily lives and helps us reduce the feeling of burnout.