😴 Yes, you need to nap

19th Jumada-I 1447H

Assalamu'alaikum,

Last week, a friend texted me from Italy. He said, "Siesta culture is so interesting—impressive that whole countries like Italy and Spain still shut down for a few hours in the middle of the day in this era of capitalism."

I responded, "This used to be the case in all Muslim societies (and in pre-industrial revolution life across the world)."

This exchange reminded me of something I've come to realize recently: there are three keys to aligning your life with the Prophetic routine, even if you work a 9-5:

1. Align your day planning to the 5 daily prayers (I wrote about this in last week's newsletter)

2. Start planning your day after Maghrib (when the Islamic day starts), not midnight or Fajr

3. Take naps!

Yes, naps!

As human beings, we naturally feel sleepy during two periods of the day: at night and six to seven hours after we wake up.

Research from the National Sleep Foundation has shown that our circadian rhythms naturally dip in the early afternoon, regardless of what we ate for lunch or how much coffee we drank.

But here's what I've noticed working with Muslim professionals: naps aren't just beneficial, they're essential if you want to maintain a sustainable Prophetic routine.

I know some people who try to implement the Prophetic routine with tahajjud, Fajr, and the five daily prayers, but they skip naps. Then, after a few days, they struggle to maintain this routine.

Naps are the fuel that keeps our spiritual routine sustainable.

Think about it: if you wake up for Fajr and power through your day with caffeine and sugary snacks, by the time you get home, your energy is so drained that you can't spend quality time with your family. But if you take a short nap - just 15-20 minutes - you'll be amazed at how energized you are throughout the day and evening as well.

Allah ﷻ reminds us:

وَمِنْ ءَايَـٰتِهِۦ مَنَامُكُم بِٱلَّيْلِ وَٱلنَّهَارِ وَٱبْتِغَآؤُكُم مِّن فَضْلِهِۦٓ ۚ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَـٰتٍۢ لِّقَوْمٍۢ يَسْمَعُونَ 

“And one of His signs is your sleep by night and by day ˹for rest˺ as well as your seeking His bounty ˹in both˺. Surely in this are signs for people who listen.” (Quran 30:23)

Notice how He mentioned both night and day sleep as signs of His mercy and wisdom in creation.

Taking a nap isn't laziness, nor is it a luxury. It's a basic human function that's sadly being denied in the interest of feeding a never-satisfied economic machine.

When you deny yourself this natural need, you're essentially fighting against your fitrah (natural disposition) and the wisdom Allah ﷻ built into your body.

"But, I Work a 9-5! I Can't Just Nap at Work!"

I hear this all the time. And yes, some workplaces make it harder than others.

But here's what I've learned: if you can find 20 minutes for a coffee break, you can find 20 minutes for a nap. The question isn't whether you have time, it's whether you believe rest is as valuable as caffeine.

If we take naps seriously, you'll find a way. When I used to work in a corporate environment, I used to nap in my car. Other times, I’d nap in a mosque near my office. If there’s a will, there’s a way ;).

How to Nap Like a Pro

Over the years, I've experimented with different nap setups. Here's what actually works:

1. 20 minutes nap is all you need: This is the sweet spot for most busy professionals that balances between getting a good rest and not napping for too long. 

2. Get an eye mask and earplugs. The difference between a "meh" nap and a restorative one often comes down to blocking out light and sound. These 2 are essential for a great nap!

3. If you wake up groggy, make wudhu. Something about the cool water on your face brings you back to alertness faster than coffee. (Though coffee helps too!)

4. And whatever you do, don't nap longer than 40 minutes. You'll enter deep sleep cycles and wake up feeling worse. You'll also affect your nighttime sleep and throw off your entire routine. Save the long sleep for nighttime.

Let's bring back naps to our lives, especially in our professional environments.

If you're on LinkedIn, share your nap spot using the hashtag #NapsAreEssential. Let's encourage other professionals to embrace this Sunnah at work. Here's my nap spot! 

Happy napping!

Sincerely,

P.S. Want to dive deeper into living beyond the 9-5 and aligning with the Prophetic routine? I discussed this in detail with the CelebrateMercy team. Watch the full interview here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKhuh-IVk8I