Once I was tired and wanted to sleep after ‘Asr. Someone prevented me and said a Sahabi or one of the Salaf said to someone not to talk to a certain person as he sleeps after ‘Asr. Is there a basis for this as I have never heard of it, I know there is a Hadith saying sleeping after ‘Asr diminishes one’s mental health but the Muhaddithun classify it as very weak.
Is there any Hadith saying one should not sleep after ‘Asr?
Answer
Like you have stated, the Hadith regarding this is very unreliable.
However, several of our predecessors had strongly discouraged sleeping after ‘Asr salah.
(See Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah, Hadith: 27212-27213)
Ibnul Qayyim (rahimahullah) writes that the worst type of sleep is the one after ‘Asr.
He also quoted the warning of such sleep diminishing ones intellect as the statement of ‘one of the salaf (predecessors)’.
(Zadul Ma’ad, vol.4 pg.221)
The famous Tabi’i; Makhul (rahimahullah) would discourage sleeping after ‘Asr and he would say:
‘It is feared on such a person that he will frequently experience the evil whispers of Shaytan.’
(Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah, Hadith: 27213)
Note: It’s obvious that in extreme cases, the above wouldn’t apply. Like if a sick person sleeps after ‘Asr.
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best
Answered by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar
Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar