Cure of Insomnia In The light of The Quran
Difficulty sleeping, also known as insomnia, is referred to as “sahar” in Arabic and “agrypnia” in ancient English medicine. When someone has this problem, they typically seek help from a doctor to cure of insomnia who follows specific principles to treat them. In some cases, the doctor may prescribe sleeping pills to help the patient sleep, but this doesn’t address the underlying issue. The patient ends up relying on sleeping pills regularly, turning it into a long-term problem that can negatively impact both mental and physical health.
Let’s explore the roots of this condition using the wisdom of the Quran and Hadith. Insomnia, it suggests, might not be a physical ailment but more of a mental and imaginary challenge. To support this idea, consider when a person who usually struggles financially suddenly comes into a large amount of money, perhaps through winning a lottery. This unexpected flood of joy and excitement can disrupt their sleep. Similarly, when someone is going through a tough time, big or small, it can also lead to restless nights. The point is that unsettling thoughts are often planted by negative influences, such as the devil from among jinn and mankind, as mentioned in the Quran;
I seek refuge with the Lord of mankind; the King of mankind, the True God of mankind, from the mischief of the whispering, elusive prompter who returns again and again, who whispers in the hearts of people; whether he be from the jinn or humans.
Holy Quran 114:2-6
Because the devil is considered an enemy in religion, during difficult times, he tends to attack people and make them forget about remembering God. This can lead to people feeling unwell. The sneaky devil keeps putting troubling thoughts in their hearts and minds, doing this persistently without getting tired.
A wise believer focuses on doing good things all the time, dedicating themselves to both obligatory and extra acts of kindness. They make sure not to forget about God even for a moment. This way, the devil becomes silent and discouraged, and the angel gets a chance to play its role fully. It’s like creating a balance – the more you help the angel, the more benefits you get, just as giving in to the devil brings losses. As God commands, the angel brings hope, confidence, success, and guidance into the heart and mind of a faithful servant.
Not everyone experiencing wakefulness is dealing with agrypnia. The need for sleep naturally decreases with age and also with regular remembrance of God (dhikr-u ibadat). A devout believer, deeply engaged in remembering God, may require very little sleep. The Quran mentions such believers who sleep very little (32:16; 51:17). Sleep serves its purpose in a short amount of time. Humans, as the children of Adam, are honored by God and have excellence over other creatures (17:70). As believers progress in their spiritual journey, they discover more about their amazing capabilities and unravel the secrets related to sleep.
If you go to bed early but can’t sleep as you’d like, or if you wake up earlier than usual, it’s not necessarily a problem like agrypnia or sleeplessness. The key is how you perceive it. If you see it as a challenge, become sad, and neglect remembering God, then it can turn into a mental and emotional issue. The real test is whether you’ll turn this situation into a self-made problem or use it as an opportunity for Divine remembrance and reflection.
Consider deeply verses (3:190-191) where the reflection of intelligent people serves as the gateway to unlocking the hidden secrets of the universe. The instrument for this reflection is Divine remembrance, expressed in three states: sitting, laying on their sides, and contemplating. In these verses, we’ll focus on the wise individuals who remember God while lying on their sides. There are many reasons for this specific order of remembrance, but here, we’ll discuss those who engage in Divine remembrance in the position of lying down.
It is Allah Who takes away the souls of people at the hour of their death, and takes away at the time of sleep the souls of those that have not died. Then He retains the souls of those against whom He had decreed death and returns the souls of others till an appointed time
Holy Quran 39:42
Why do we need to sleep, and what good does it do? Besides the physical advantages, the Quran mentions that a key reason for sleep is the exchange of certain soul particles (39:42), and this can happen even in short periods of sleep.
Hazrat Izrail serves not just as the angel of death but also holds the responsibility for overseeing sleep. Hazrat Israfil, in addition to overseeing the horn (sur) (36:52), is also responsible for waking people up, both in the present and the future. The greatest happiness for a person lies in being devout and remembering God frequently. This way, angels can help them sleep and wake up at the right times, bringing hope for both their religious and worldly matters. It’s important to remember that without knowledge and good deeds, we won’t have the friendship and support of angels.
The Quran doesn’t expect people to do things beyond their natural abilities (2:286). In verse 73:20, we learn about the great companions of the Prophet who prayed with him. They varied their sleep and devotion times based on seasons, sometimes spending two-thirds of the night in worship, other times half, and sometimes one-third. This depended more on the season and less on their personal situations. The point is that, according to the Quran, there’s only a limited time for sleep in the overall plan.
Even though sleep is a state where a person’s senses stop working, there are various levels of it. The highest form is the sleep of the prophets, where the body and senses rest, but the beautiful connection with the remembrance of God remains uninterrupted. The Quran speaks highly of this special sleep.
And we made your sleep a thing of repose
Holy Quran 78:9