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We spend about a third of our lives sleeping, yet it also impacts every hour of our lives. 

Sleep is the foundational habit influencing our physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. 

Sleep affects almost every function of our bodies and minds, including learning, memory retention, emotional regulation, cardiovascular health, immune system replenishment, and hormonal balance.

Sleep is not just about healing our bodies; it fundamentally strengthens our minds and bodies, enabling us to navigate the world more effectively.

Deep sleep is the phase where experiences and interactions from the day are consolidated into long-term memories and integrated into our personality.

Deep sleep and the associated delta waves also contribute to maintaining biological youth.

The Prophet (SAW) encouraged going to bed early after Isha, especially if there are no constructive activities to attend to.

Here are some more essential tips to help us become more intentional and achieve beneficial sleep:

1. Maintain a Consistent Sleep Schedule: Praying Isha and Fajr aligns sleep times with the day and night cycle, promoting regularity and better sleep. This is the most critical aspect of achieving beneficial sleep.

2. Optimize Sleep Environment: Keep the bedroom cool, around 65°F (18°C), to facilitate falling asleep. Making Wudu and keeping a clean bed clears our minds and relaxes us.

3. Embrace Evening Darkness: Dimming lights in the evening helps release melatonin, an essential hormone that regulates sleep patterns and promotes sleepiness.

4. Avoid Bed for Wakefulness: If you can’t sleep after 25 minutes, engage in a different activity to break the association of the bed with wakefulness. The bed should be reserved for sleep, not work or technology-related activities.

5. Practice Moderation with Evening Meals: Eat dinner early, allowing 2-3 hours for digestion before bed to avoid disrupting sleep. Eating right before bed diverts blood flow from repair to digestion, hindering restful sleep.

6. Get Sunlight During the Day: Exposure to natural light during the day helps trigger the brain to start the production of melatonin, which regulates sleep-wake cycles.

7. Unwind Before Bed: Engage in relaxing activities, disconnect from gadgets, and aim to sleep early after Isha. Use the time for contemplation, reading Quran, or Dhikr to help our bodies relax and reach a state of peace before bed.

Sleep is not only beneficial for our minds and bodies but also nourishes the Ruh (soul/spirit).

When engrossed in worldly matters, the soul craves sleep to return to its spiritual realm.

Sleep is a minor form of death, allowing the soul to return to its rightful place and receive the spiritual nourishment it needs.

Taking care of our bodies nutritionally, physically, and through rest is a responsibility, as our bodies are a trust from Allah.

Treating sleep with this intention turns it into a form of devotion, bringing us closer to the Divine.