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Question: Allah the Almighty
declares that He has made the day for work and the night for rest. In your
writings, you state that reducing sleep is necessary to awaken the
subconscious. Baba Tajuddin (R.A) engaged in nocturnal muraqbah, and it is said
that staying awake at night can awaken the subconscious. If a person adopts
this practice, will they become ill? Furthermore, people state that worship
during the night brings one closer to Allah the Almighty. How much sleep should
one take, when should one sleep, and when should one rise? Will reducing sleep
to awaken the subconscious lead to illness?
Answer: The relationship
between sleep and sustenance is one of habit. For example, if a person becomes
accustomed to consuming a specific quantity, such as 16 loaves of bread, they
will continue to do so, leading to corresponding changes in their physical state.
In my own experience, I observed my Murshid (R.A), who, despite consuming only
two small pieces of bread—one in the morning and one in the evening—remained
active, performing all his duties without complaint. This illustrates that both
sleep and food are governed by the law of moderation: they can be reduced or
increased according to necessity and individual constitution.
Similarly, sleep is not a fixed quantity but can
be adjusted to suit individual needs. I have encountered individuals who sleep
for up to 16 hours without negative consequences, while others require only
three hours of sleep to function optimally. In the early days of my career, I
worked up to 19 hours a day, handling all correspondence myself. Despite the
intense workload, I never felt fatigued, for the passion and purpose that
fueled my work provided ample energy. My Murshid, Qalandar Baba Auliya (R.A), once
said, “To cultivate a bond with Allah, one must first develop love and
compassion for His creation.” This fervor alleviates the need for excessive
rest.
The Qur'an also highlights the importance of
regulating sleep. Allah the Almighty addresses His beloved Prophet (P.B.U.H.)
in the following verse:
“O you who are wrapped in garments, rise to pray during the night, except for a
little.” (Qur’an, Surah Al-Muzzammil)
This divine command emphasizes the discipline
required in managing sleep. Excessive sleep, like overindulgence in food, leads
to detrimental effects on the body. However, when sleep is regulated and
balanced, it fosters both physical health and spiritual development. A modest
reduction in sleep—such as one hour—may cause temporary discomfort, but with
gradual adjustment, the body can acclimatize. The Sufi tradition advises
limiting sleep to no more than five hours for optimal health and spiritual
awareness.
Abrupt changes in sleep patterns may lead to
negative consequences, but when implemented gradually, they can yield positive
results. Five hours of sleep is generally sufficient to maintain both physical
vitality and mental clarity. It is also observed that those who sleep less tend
to experience a heightened appetite, as the body requires more energy to
sustain itself in a state of heightened activity. However, excess in either
sleep or sustenance will result in illness. The key is balance: when both sleep
and nourishment are approached with moderation, under the guidance of a
spiritual teacher, they enhance both physical well-being and spiritual growth.
Just as balance is required in other areas of
life, reducing sleep in a measured manner can awaken the subconscious and
promote spiritual consciousness. If an individual requires five hours of sleep,
there is no need to exceed this, for the additional time can be better utilized
in productive activities, study, or spiritual pursuits. Any deviation from
moderation, whether in sleep or food, can lead to illness, but when practiced
with restraint and under proper guidance, both promote health and spiritual fulfillment.
Khwaja Shamsuddin Azeemi
Dedication
"The heart is the abode of God. Within this sacred
place, I have glimpsed the Azeemi Galaxy. I now entrust this divine document,
containing the knowledge of God, to the radiant stars of the Magnificent
Galaxies, so they may illuminate their hearts with this divine light."
