spiritofsunnah1. Sleep Early:
Try to sleep as early as possible after Isha Salah.
Nabi ﷺ disliked talking (non deeni talks) after Isha Salah. (Bukhari, 568)
2. Sleep With Wudhu:
Perform ablution before you sleep as advised by Nabi ﷺ (Bukhari, 247).
It is narrated that angels remain in the company of the one who sleeps with ablution and say: “O Allah, forgive your servant for he has slept with ablution”. (Ibn Hibban, 1064; Tabrani, 13620)
3. Sleep On Your Right Side:
Lie on your right side and place your right hand under your right cheek as advised by Nabi ﷺ. (Bukhari, 6314)
4. Recite Qur’an Shareef:
It was the habit of Nabi ﷺ to recite the Qur’an Shareef before resting for the night.
Nabi ﷺ is reported to have recited for example:
- Surah Sajdah and Surah Mulk (Tirmidhi, 2892)
- Surah al-Ikhlas, Surah al-Falaq and Surah an-Nas (Bukhari, 5960)
- Aayatul Kursi (Bukhari, 5010)
- Final two verses of Surah Baqarah (Bukhari, 4723).
There is a narration mentioned by ‘Allamah Ibn Mardawayh that suggests that if a person recites the final five verses of Surah Kahf before sleeping, Allah will awaken him at any time of the night he wishes.
‘Allamah Aloosi Baghdadi (8: 190) mentions he has acted on this many times and it has proved useful. If you are struggling to wake up for Fajr, recite these verses and have faith in Allah.
5. Recite The Masnoon Du’aas:
Recite the Masnoon supplications and make these your final words.
Ask Allah to give you Tawfiq and enable you to wake up.
Some of the Masnoon supplications include:
- سبحان اللہ (33 times) الحمد لله (33 times) اللہ اکبر (34 times) (Bukhari, 4943)
- اللَّهُمَّ بِاسْمِكَ أَمُوتُ وَأَحْيَا (Bukhari, 6314)
- اللَّهمَّ قِني عَذَابكَ يوْمَ تَبْعثُ عِبادَك (Tirmidhi, 3398)
6. Make A Firm Intention:
Have a firm and resolute intention to wake up for Fajr Salah.
7. Alarm Clock & Friend:
Use an alarm clock and if necessary on more than one device.
Place the alarm clock far away from your bed.
Link up with a neighbour or a friend to wake up each other.
Almighty Allah says, “Cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and aggression”. (Qur’an, 5:2)
8. Nap During The Day:
Take a short nap (siesta) in the afternoon as this is an established Sunnah (Bukhari, 905).
Try to establish a daily routine and fix your sleeping and waking up times.
9. Daily Reminders:
Remind yourself of the virtues of Fajr Salah and the consequences of not performing Fajr Salah.
Establish Ta’leem of reading the virtues and warnings of neglecting salaat with congregation in the Musjid.
One can read:
- Fazaail e A’maal by Hazrat Sheikhul Hadith Ml Muhammad Zakariyyah Kandehlawi رحمه الله
- Muntakhab Ahadith by Hazrat Ml Muhammad Yusuf Sahib Kandehlawi رحمه الله
Nabi ﷺ said: “Whoever performs Fajr Salah and ‘Asr Salah will enter Paradise.” (Bukhari, 574)
“The most burdensome prayers for the hypocrites are Isha and Fajr. If they knew what they contain, they would attend even if they had to crawl.” (Bukhari, 657)
10. Wake Up!
When your eyes open, make sure you wake up.
Rub your eyes with your palms.
Place a miswaak in your mouth.
Read the Masnoon Duas below and get out of bed.
Wash your hands and then proceed to relieve yourself and perform wudhu thereafter.
Do not allow Shaytaan to whisper in your mind that another five minutes will do no harm.
Fight the whispers, otherwise, before you realise, the sun will rise and the Fajr time would have finished.
May Allah Ta’ala grant us all the taufeeq to wake up for Fajr Salaah timeously with ease for the rest of our lives. Aameen.