Search In Fatwa

Sleeping Without Covering the Body

Question

On very hot nights I sleep without covering my body with a sheet and I've heard that I mustn't sleep without covering the body because of Jinn according to a Hadith. Please help me to understand the good way of Islam.

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

What you heard about being obliged to cover one's body with a sheet when sleeping is not correct. There is nothing in the Sharee’ah that stipulates this. However, a Muslim is required to recite what the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) used to recite before sleeping. In fact, this will protect him against all Jinn.

The Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) said: “Whoever recites Aayatul-Kursy [i.e. verse 255, Chapter 2] in a night, Satan will not approach (come close to) him till the next morning.” [Al-Bukhari]

Besides, Ibn Mas’ood  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  him narrated that Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) said: “Whoever recites the last two verses of Soorah Al-Baqarah [i.e. verses 285-286] in a night, they will suffice him.” [Al-Bukhari]

For more benefit about what to recite before sleeping, you may refer to the book Hisn Al-Muslim (fortification of a Muslim).

Allah knows best.

Related Fatwa