Allah Most High: “Allah takes the souls at the time of their death, and those that do not die during their sleep. He then keeps those for whom He has decreed death and releases the others until an appointed term.” 1 For this reason, at the conclusion of this hadith, he would say upon waking, “Praise be to Allah who gave us life after causing us to die,” referring to the sleep in which the person had been. A sleeping person resembles the dead: his movement ceases and his discernment disappears. Therefore, legal accountability is suspended for him until he awakens from his sleep.

Sleep is one of Allah’s magnificent signs, demonstrating the perfection and greatness of the Creator—Glorified is He—and that He alone deserves worship. He is the Ever-Living who never dies, and neither drowsiness nor sleep overtakes Him. Allah—Majestic and Exalted is He—said: “And among His signs are your sleep by night and day and your seeking of His bounty. Surely in that are signs for people who listen.” 2 It is also a manifestation of Allah Most High’s mercy toward His servants, for He has appointed a time in which they may rest and recuperate. As He—Glorified is He—said: “And out of His mercy, He made the night and day for you so that you may rest therein and seek His bounty, and perhaps you will be grateful.” 3

Among the great benefits of sleep is that it reminds a person of death, which is the end of every human being and the ultimate fate of every living creature except the Ever-Living who never dies. Awakening from sleep demonstrates Allah’s power—Glorified is He—to resurrect bodies after their death and restore them to life after their demise. Hence, upon waking, he would say, “Praise be to Allah who gave us life after causing us to die, and to Him is the resurrection.” Resurrection means being raised on the Day of Resurrection and being restored to life after death. Thus, by restoring wakefulness after