What is the Islamic etiquette (adab) around sleep?

The Sunnah includes a number of recommended practices around sleep: performing wudu before lying down, sleeping on the right side, and reciting specific supplications such as 'Bismika Allahumma amutu wa ahya' (In Your name, O Allah, I die and I live), along with verses like Ayat al-Kursi for protection through the night. The Prophet ﷺ discouraged sleeping flat on the stomach, and encouraged going to bed with the intention of resting in order to wake refreshed for Fajr prayer and the day's obligations, framing sleep itself as worship-adjacent when approached with the right intention. The Quran separately describes sleep as something Allah made for rest, tying it to the broader rhythm of night and day given for human wellbeing. Interestingly, some of this guidance aligns with what sleep science now recommends — sleeping on the right side is associated by some studies with benefits for digestion and heart function, and a consistent, intentional bedtime routine is linked to better sleep quality overall, though anyone with a specific sleep disorder should still see a doctor.

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