When the Prophet ﷺ intended to sleep while in a state of janabah

والصَّلَاةُ والسَّلاَمُ عَلَى سَيّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ أَشْرَفِ اْلمُرْسَلِيْنَ وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ الطَّيّبِيْنَ الطَّاهِرِيْن

Another practice from the Sunnah is shaking the bedding three times. ‘Abu Hurayrah, may Allah accept his deeds, reported that the Prophet ﷺ said:

“إِذَا جَاءَ أحَدُكُمْ فِرَاشَهُ فَلْيَنْفُضْهُ بِصَنِفَةِ ثَوْبِهِ -أي طَرَفِهِ- ثَلاثَ مَرَّاتٍ، وَلْيَقُلْ بِاسْمِكَ رَبِّ وَضَعْتُ جَنْبِي وَبِكَ أرْفَعُهُ، إِنْ أمْسَكْتَ نَفْسِي فَاغْفِرْ لَهَا، وَإِنْ أرْسَلْتَهَا فَاحْفَظْهَا بِمَا تَحْفَظُ بِهِ عِبَادَكَ الصَّالِحِينَ”

"When any one of you comes to his bed, let him shake it with the edge of his garment three times, and say: 'My Lord, You have granted me the ability to sleep and to wake up. If You take my soul during my sleep, grant me Your mercy and forgiveness, If You do not decree my death and I awaken from my sleep for my livelihood, then protect me as You protect Your righteous servants [by making me among the people of obedience and righteousness].'"

(Narrated by Al-Bukhariyy and Muslim)

One of the most crucial aspects of preserving the soul of a righteous believer is shielding it from sins and disobedience. This entails adopting both material and Islamically prescribed measures to protect oneself from the dangers of creation and other potential harms during sleep or moments of heedlessness, thereby entrusting oneself to the care of Allah, ta^ala.

In this hadith, the Prophet ﷺ teaches us an important etiquette before sleeping, which is part of the care the Shari^ah provides for the Muslim's body. When a Muslim wishes to sleep on his bed, he should shake it. The Prophet ﷺ explained the reason for this practice: one does not know what may have entered the bed after him, such as pests, or accumulated in it, such as dirt. This guidance was especially relevant in the past, as homes were often dark and lacked lamps to inspect the bedding. Furthermore, houses were not tightly sealed against pests and insects. Therefore, the Prophet ﷺ instructed shaking the bedding with the inner side of the garment to avoid harm from such creatures.

After cleaning the bedding, the Muslim is encouraged to recite the aforementioned supplication.

Sleeping Early After ^Isha'

Sleeping early after performing the ^Isha' prayer is recommended (mustahabb). Al-‘Aswad reported that he asked ^A’ishah, may Allah accept her deeds: “How was the night prayer of the Prophet ﷺ?” She replied:

"كَانَ يَنَامُ أَوَّلَهُ، وَيَقُومُ ءاخِرَهُ، فَيُصَلِّي ثُمَّ يَرْجِعُ إِلَى فِرَاشِهِ، فَإِذَا أَذَّنَ المؤَذِّنُ وَثَبَ؛ فَإِنْ كَانَ بِهِ حَاجَةٌ اغْتَسَلَ، وَإِلا تَوَضَّأَ وَخَرَجَ"

“He would sleep at the beginning of the night, then wake up during its latter part to pray. Afterwards, he would return to his bed. When the muezzin called the 'adhan, he would get up promptly. He would perform ghusl when necessary, otherwise, he would perform wudu' and leave for the mosque.”

(Narrated by Al-Bukhariyy and Muslim).

Performing wudu’ and washing the private parts in the state of janabah

It is narrated from ^A’ishah, may Allah accept her deeds, that she said:

"إذَا أرَادَ أنْ يَنَامَ وَهُوَ جُنُبٌ، غَسَلَ فَرْجَهُ، وَتَوَضَّأ لِلصَّلاةِ"

“When the Prophet ﷺ intended to sleep while in a state of janabah, he would wash his private parts and perform wudu’ as he would for prayer.”

(Narrated by Al-Bukhariyy).

The act of the Prophet ﷺ does not mean that this suffices as a substitute for the ghusl required for removing the state of janabah, nor does it lift the state of major ritual impurity (hadath 'akbar). Rather, this action was performed by the Prophet ﷺ to lessen the effects of janabah. After waking, it remains obligatory for him to perform ghusl before engaging in prayer.

The meaning of “تَوَضَّأ لِلصَّلاةِ” is that he performed a proper wudu’ as legislated for prayer, not that the intention was to pray with it. This is because prayer is not permissible without performing the complete ghusl.