Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Asalamoalaikum

I am a follower of your articles and many of your Q&A has given new direction in my life. Please keep up the good work. I humbly ask you 2 simple questions which I could not find in your archive.

Is there any specific position that one should sleep?

Can one sleep on his left and right side or one should sleep only on his back?

Is there any specific direction that one should take care while sleeping? Should our feet point to Magrib or away from Magrib?

Salaam.

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Position of sleep and legs to Qibla

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your Question: Is there any specific position that one should sleep?

Can one sleep on his left and right side or one should sleep only on his back?

Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 4718 Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

When Allah's Messenger (saws) saw a man lying on his stomach he said, "This is a method of lying down which Allah does not like."

Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 4731 Narrated by Abu Dharr

The Prophet (saws) came upon him when he was lying on his stomach, jerked him with his foot and said, "Jundub, only those who go to Hell (the Shayateen) lie like this!"

The Messenger of Allah (saws) specifically prohibited the believers to sleep on their stomachs; thus it is absolutely permissible for the believers to sleep on their backs, or on their right or left sides depending on what one finds most comfortable for himself.

The normal practice and Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws) was that he would sleep on his right side with his right cheek resting on the right palm of his hand.

Your Question: Is there any specific direction that one should take care while sleeping? Should our feet point to Magrib or away from Magrib?

One may sleep in any direction one wishes, even if one’s feet if facing towards the Qibla; as there is absolutely no restriction prescribed against it in the Quran or the Sunnah.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan