HadeethEnc · 1.25.0
Allah Almighty does not sleep, and it is not befitting of Him to sleep
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01
Hadeeth text
Abu Mūsa (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) stood among us and said five statements: "Allah Almighty does not sleep, and it is not befitting of Him to sleep. He lowers the Scales and raises them. The deeds done during the night are taken up to Him before the deeds done during the day, and the deeds done during the day before the deeds done during the night. His veil is light— and in another version: fire—and if He were to remove it, the glory of His Face would burn everything of His creation as far as His sight extends."
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Explanation
The Prophet (ﷺ) stood as a preacher among his Companions and delivered five complete statements, which were: First: Allah Almighty does not sleep. Second: It is impossible for Him to sleep, due to the perfection of His Self-Subsistence and Everlasting Life. Third: Allah Almighty lowers and raises the Scales according to the deeds of His servants that ascend to Him, and according to the provisions that descend from Him to the earth. Thus, the sustenance—which is the allotted share of every creature—He decreases it for some, constricting it, and increases it for others, expanding it as He wills. Fourth: The deeds of the servants are raised to Him—the deeds done at night are lifted before the coming of the following day, and the deeds done during the day are lifted before the coming of the following night. Thus, the guardian angels ascend with the record of the night's deeds after its end at the beginning of the day, and they ascend with the record of the day's deeds after its end at the beginning of the night. Fifth: His Veil—exalted be He—is what prevents His being seen; it is light or fire. If He were to uncover it, the glory of His Face would burn everything of His creation as far as His Sight reaches. Indeed, the glory of His Face is His Light, Majesty, and Splendor. The meaning is: if He were to remove and lift the barrier that prevents seeing Him—that is, the Veil—and were to manifest Himself to His creation, the glory of His Face would burn everything His Sight reaches, which includes all creatures, as His Sight encompasses all created beings.
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Benefits
Highlighting the fact that sleeping is impossible for Allah Almighty because it is an imperfection, and He is far exalted above all deficiencies.
Allah Almighty honors whom He wills and humiliates whom He wills, and He guides whom He wills and leads astray whom He wills among His servants.
Deeds are raised to Allah every day and every night, which encourages the servants to feel watchfulness of Allah Almighty both in their day and their night.
The Hadīth indicates Allah's justice and His perfect management of His creations' affairs—and without a doubt, this is among the attributes of His absolute perfection, Glorified and Exalted be He.
Affirmation that Allah Almighty has a veil—a barrier of light between Him and His creation—and were it not for this veil, they would be burned.
Al-Ājurri said: People of the truth describe Allah Almighty with what He has described Himself and with what His Messenger (ﷺ) described Him, and with what the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) described Him, and this is the methodology of the scholars who have complied and did not innovate in religion. End of quote. So, Ahl-us-Sunnah establish for Allah what He has established for Himself of the names and attributes without Tahrīf (distortion), Ta‘tīl (negation), Takyīf (asking how), or Tamthīl (likening). They negate from Allah what He has negated from Himself and keep silent regarding what has neither been negated nor established. Allah Almighty says: {There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing.}
The light that is His attribute—Exalted be He—is different from the light with which He veiled Himself. The veil of light is a created light, whereas the light of Allah is a light befitting Him and His essence; there is nothing like unto Him. What the Prophet (ﷺ) saw was only the veil that exists between Allah and His servants.
Allah Almighty honors whom He wills and humiliates whom He wills, and He guides whom He wills and leads astray whom He wills among His servants.
Deeds are raised to Allah every day and every night, which encourages the servants to feel watchfulness of Allah Almighty both in their day and their night.
The Hadīth indicates Allah's justice and His perfect management of His creations' affairs—and without a doubt, this is among the attributes of His absolute perfection, Glorified and Exalted be He.
Affirmation that Allah Almighty has a veil—a barrier of light between Him and His creation—and were it not for this veil, they would be burned.
Al-Ājurri said: People of the truth describe Allah Almighty with what He has described Himself and with what His Messenger (ﷺ) described Him, and with what the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) described Him, and this is the methodology of the scholars who have complied and did not innovate in religion. End of quote. So, Ahl-us-Sunnah establish for Allah what He has established for Himself of the names and attributes without Tahrīf (distortion), Ta‘tīl (negation), Takyīf (asking how), or Tamthīl (likening). They negate from Allah what He has negated from Himself and keep silent regarding what has neither been negated nor established. Allah Almighty says: {There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing.}
The light that is His attribute—Exalted be He—is different from the light with which He veiled Himself. The veil of light is a created light, whereas the light of Allah is a light befitting Him and His essence; there is nothing like unto Him. What the Prophet (ﷺ) saw was only the veil that exists between Allah and His servants.
Attribution
[Narrated by Muslim]
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