Chapter 24.0

The eyes of the Prophet (ﷺ) used to sleep, but his heart used not to sleep

باب كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم تَنَامُ عَيْنُهُ وَلاَ يَنَامُ قَلْبُهُ

رَوَاهُ سَعِيدُ بْنُ مِينَاءَ عَنْ جَابِرٍ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ.

2 hadiths

Chain of narration · Isnād

Each narrator name opens their biography and classical source evidence.

5 transmitters

Narrated by 'Abdullah bin Muslima al-Qa'nabifromImam MaalikfromSa'id bin Abi Sa'id (Kaysan)fromAbu Salama bin 'Abdur Rahmanfrom'Aisha bint Abi Bakr

Hadith text · Matn

‏ تَنَامُ عَيْنِي وَلاَ يَنَامُ قَلْبِي ‏

‏‏.‏

English translation

Narrated Abu Salama bin `Abdur-Rahman:

That he asked `Aisha "How was the prayer of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) in the month of Ramadan?" She replied, "He used not to pray more than eleven rak`at whether in Ramadan or in any other month. He used to offer four rak`at, let alone their beauty and length, and then four rak`at, let alone their beauty and length. Afterwards he would offer three rak`at. I said, 'O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) ! Do you go to bed before offering the witr prayer?' He said, 'My eyes sleep, but my heart does not sleep."'

Original Arabic chain wording

حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مَسْلَمَةَ، عَنْ مَالِكٍ، عَنْ سَعِيدٍ الْمَقْبُرِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، أَنَّهُ سَأَلَ عَائِشَةَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ كَيْفَ كَانَتْ صَلاَةُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي رَمَضَانَ قَالَتْ مَا كَانَ يَزِيدُ فِي رَمَضَانَ وَلاَ غَيْرِهِ عَلَى إِحْدَى عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً، يُصَلِّي أَرْبَعَ رَكَعَاتٍ فَلاَ تَسْأَلْ عَنْ حُسْنِهِنَّ وَطُولِهِنَّ، ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي أَرْبَعًا فَلاَ تَسْأَلْ عَنْ حُسْنِهِنَّ وَطُولِهِنَّ، ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي ثَلاَثًا فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ تَنَامُ قَبْلَ أَنْ تُوتِرَ قَالَ ‏

Sahih al-Bukhari, 3570sahih

Chain of narration · Isnād

Each narrator name opens their biography and classical source evidence.

5 transmitters

Narrated by Isma'il bin 'Abdullah bin 'AbdullahfromAbu Bakr bin Abi UvaisfromSulaiman bin Bilal al-TaymifromSharayk bin 'Abdullah bin Abi NamrfromAnas bin Malik

Hadith text · Matn

حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أَخِي، عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ، عَنْ شَرِيكِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَبِي نَمِرٍ، سَمِعْتُ أَنَسَ بْنَ مَالِكٍ، يُحَدِّثُنَا عَنْ لَيْلَةِ، أُسْرِيَ بِالنَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم مِنْ مَسْجِدِ الْكَعْبَةِ جَاءَ ثَلاَثَةُ نَفَرٍ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُوحَى إِلَيْهِ، وَهُوَ نَائِمٌ فِي مَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ، فَقَالَ أَوَّلُهُمْ أَيُّهُمْ هُوَ فَقَالَ أَوْسَطُهُمْ هُوَ خَيْرُهُمْ وَقَالَ آخِرُهُمْ خُذُوا خَيْرَهُمْ‏.‏ فَكَانَتْ تِلْكَ، فَلَمْ يَرَهُمْ حَتَّى جَاءُوا لَيْلَةً أُخْرَى، فِيمَا يَرَى قَلْبُهُ، وَالنَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم نَائِمَةٌ عَيْنَاهُ وَلاَ يَنَامُ قَلْبُهُ وَكَذَلِكَ الأَنْبِيَاءُ تَنَامُ أَعْيُنُهُمْ وَلاَ تَنَامُ قُلُوبُهُمْ، فَتَوَلاَّهُ جِبْرِيلُ ثُمَّ عَرَجَ بِهِ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ‏.‏

English translation

Narrated Sharik bin `Abdullah bin Abi Namr:

I heard Anas bin Malik telling us about the night when the Prophet (ﷺ) was made to travel from the Ka`ba Mosque. Three persons (i.e. angels) came to the Prophet (ﷺ) before he was divinely inspired was an Aspostle), while he was sleeping in Al Masjid-ul-Haram. The first (of the three angels) said, "Which of them is he?" The second said, "He is the best of them." That was all that happened then, and he did not see them till they came at another night and he perceived their presence with his heart, for the eyes of the Prophet (ﷺ) were closed when he was asleep, but his heart was not asleep (not unconscious). This is characteristic of all the prophets: Their eyes sleep but their hearts do not sleep. Then Gabriel took charge of the Prophet (ﷺ) and ascended along with him to the Heaven.