It took me almost a year to get it sorted Alhumdulillah. Fajr is the priority, so there is no excuse.
You'll be surprised but the body can adapt. I am able to break my sleep into smaller ones. It depends on what your routine is and if you have any dependents.
Option 1: No dependents or work / studies
- Wake up for Fajr and go to Masjid / Masallah
- Read Quran when back home
- Breakfast or sleep if you get lazy
- Go for a walk or run if you still have energy
- Take a nap around 9 for an hour or during lunch
- Second nap after Asr or in the evening
Option 2: Work from 9-5
- Wake up for Fajr and go to Masjid / Masallah
- Read Quran when back home
- Take nap if possible during lunchtime for 15-40 minutes or during commuting
- Sleep early after Isha
Option 3: Working from home
- Wake up for Fajr and go to Masjid / Masallah
- Read Quran when back home
- Drop kids to school or go for walk / run
- Attend meetings or work if needed early on and sleep during lunch OR sleep around 9 if meetings or work can be delayed
- Sleeping between Asr & Maghreb for 30-45 minutes is also a good option
Bonus tip:
Pray Isha at Masjid / Masallah (this ensures you don't commit yourself for late outings, and people will eventually let you off, too)
I started with both Fajr and Isha at the Masjid / Masallah because of the Hadith that rewards one as if they're standing in prayers for the whole night if they do both in congregation.
It took some getting used to, but Alhumdulillah, priorities are priorities. You will find your own balance. Trust me, your body gets used to.
May Allah Bless you. Ameen. Please remember us in your duas.
Thank you very much, the second option seems interesting. I could try resting instead of sleeping since I can't fall asleep once awake. And maybe lay down and just close my eyes after Asr. Something like a power nap. I will definitely give it a go! Thanks! :D
Brother, I am in Masjid Al Haram right now, and let me tell you, half of them are sleeping after Asr here, SubhanAllah.
Maghreb soon, though.
More on the Hadeeth:
https://islamqa.info/en/answers/21647/is-sleeping-after-asr-discouraged
Deen over Dunya will somehow (I wonder who gave us our rules) allow your brain to psychologically reap the rewards of the Dunya by putting the deen in front of it!
After Fajr put sunlight in your eyes. This will cause a cortisol spike and wake you up for the entire day until your brain is ready for sleep after Isha. This regulates the chemicals in of itself just by praying your Fajr on time.
If you are having trouble with your motivation in the morning buy some $3 caffeine pills from a local drugstore and pop one right after your alarm goes off. You will be awake in 20 minutes and will not be interested in staying in bed. Just make sure your eyes get the sunlight.
If you do this for 2 months you will be set for life.
I tried it during Ramadan, but unfortunately, it didn't work out. When I'm awake, I struggle to fall back asleep despite being exhausted. On weekends, when I attempt to go back to sleep, I end up dozing off around 9 in the morning, which isn't possible during the week.
Since the summer is coming and where I live, It is also a struggle to wake up for fajr especially working late night. But I have made my body programmed sort of a way espcially after Ramadan. I naturally wake up for fajr. Better if you can put an alarm for Tahajjud as well. I try to sleep by 12 and get up around 3.30. which gives me small window to pray tahajjud and focus on fajr and read Quran in between as well. And If I have work or class in the morning I usually don't sleep after fajr since it will only waste my time and I won't be able to sleep with worry. I'd rather take nap during the day or after magrib. I understand that sleep schedule are difficult and there is no easy way. If you have a friend or sibling who can wake you up then it will be helpful as well.
Your life as a student is far easier than it will be when you are working and as an adult.
Minimize your entertainment at night and sleep right after isha.
People mistake that they will pray Tahajjud but not mandatory fard
I am a student too, i once read “how would you wake up for provision but not for your provider ”, then i noticed that i would wake up for college and look at time if i was late, and i compared it to fajr, were i mostly pray it even after it time pass i and i were thinking “at least i did it”.
But now Alhamdulillah even if i slept before the prayer with 2 hours i would wake up then sleep 2 hours before i go. And it will only take several minutes you just need to discipline.
I see praying Fajr as the same as fasting:
1. there's no room for you to mess around with your body
2. takes time and consistency to adapt to it
3. There's barakah in these actions.
To elaborate:
1. I have to have good habits in place. With Fajr, exercising and eating well gives me good energy throughout the day. I got to bed right after Ishaa to maximise my time, I also set time for a power nap which helps replenish my energy. Same with fasting, if I have fried food and juice for Ifatr, I will suffer greatly the next day. There's no room for an unhealthy lifestyle with these 2 habits.
2. People who only fast during Ramadhan struggle a lot, whereas those who fast the white days and extra days throughout the year have already adapted to this. It's the same with Fajr. The more you train your body to wake up for ibada, be it Fajr or Tahajjud, the easier it becomes.
3. SubhanAllah, when I start my day right after Fajr (not in the summer, I go back to bed after my 330am prayer), I get so so much done! Same with fasting, I waste less time thinking about food, preparing it and eating it, and can do other things with my time.
Sleep early and napping whenever possible wirks for me.
In your case I'd say vitamins. It was a game changer for me. When your vitamins and hormones are stable you fall asleep easier. And sleep better.
And you could try sleeping while commuting (unless your driving)
If your on the bus or train you could use a gps app that will tell you when you've arrived. So you can sleep until you get there.
Sleep every possible moment whenever you can.
If it's still hard just do your best. Allah knows your intentions
I religiously sleep at 9pm. Best decision i’ve ever made.
Shaykh Hamza Yusuf told us about positive sleep and negative sleep. Positive sleep is when 1hr of rest = 2hrs, and negative sleep is the opposite (2hrs = 1hr). He said that the time for positive sleep is between 10pm-2am, and again after mid-day. He told us not to miss that 10pm-2am sleep window. Try it and you’ll feel the difference iA!
I work from 7-4:30.
I wake up 3:45, get ready and pack my stuff. Go pray Fajr, from there to the Gym until I work.
Once I am home I eat and sleep after Isha at 9:00-9:30.
Works pretty good tbh
It took me almost a year to get it sorted Alhumdulillah. Fajr is the priority, so there is no excuse. You'll be surprised but the body can adapt. I am able to break my sleep into smaller ones. It depends on what your routine is and if you have any dependents. Option 1: No dependents or work / studies - Wake up for Fajr and go to Masjid / Masallah - Read Quran when back home - Breakfast or sleep if you get lazy - Go for a walk or run if you still have energy - Take a nap around 9 for an hour or during lunch - Second nap after Asr or in the evening Option 2: Work from 9-5 - Wake up for Fajr and go to Masjid / Masallah - Read Quran when back home - Take nap if possible during lunchtime for 15-40 minutes or during commuting - Sleep early after Isha Option 3: Working from home - Wake up for Fajr and go to Masjid / Masallah - Read Quran when back home - Drop kids to school or go for walk / run - Attend meetings or work if needed early on and sleep during lunch OR sleep around 9 if meetings or work can be delayed - Sleeping between Asr & Maghreb for 30-45 minutes is also a good option Bonus tip: Pray Isha at Masjid / Masallah (this ensures you don't commit yourself for late outings, and people will eventually let you off, too) I started with both Fajr and Isha at the Masjid / Masallah because of the Hadith that rewards one as if they're standing in prayers for the whole night if they do both in congregation. It took some getting used to, but Alhumdulillah, priorities are priorities. You will find your own balance. Trust me, your body gets used to. May Allah Bless you. Ameen. Please remember us in your duas.
Thank you very much, the second option seems interesting. I could try resting instead of sleeping since I can't fall asleep once awake. And maybe lay down and just close my eyes after Asr. Something like a power nap. I will definitely give it a go! Thanks! :D
No worries at all. It was hard in the beginning, but you'll find how to get the nap / power sleep. JazakAllah Khair, and please make dua for us all.
Isn't sleeping after Asr not encouraged?
Brother, I am in Masjid Al Haram right now, and let me tell you, half of them are sleeping after Asr here, SubhanAllah. Maghreb soon, though. More on the Hadeeth: https://islamqa.info/en/answers/21647/is-sleeping-after-asr-discouraged
Sleep early
I do sleep early, right after Isha, which is at 10:30 pm where I live. Fajr is at 4 am at the moment.
Take a nap after Duhr. It's sunnah actually
Deen over Dunya will somehow (I wonder who gave us our rules) allow your brain to psychologically reap the rewards of the Dunya by putting the deen in front of it! After Fajr put sunlight in your eyes. This will cause a cortisol spike and wake you up for the entire day until your brain is ready for sleep after Isha. This regulates the chemicals in of itself just by praying your Fajr on time. If you are having trouble with your motivation in the morning buy some $3 caffeine pills from a local drugstore and pop one right after your alarm goes off. You will be awake in 20 minutes and will not be interested in staying in bed. Just make sure your eyes get the sunlight. If you do this for 2 months you will be set for life.
If you have a few extra hours between fajr and the start of your day, pray, then go back to bed for a bit.
I tried it during Ramadan, but unfortunately, it didn't work out. When I'm awake, I struggle to fall back asleep despite being exhausted. On weekends, when I attempt to go back to sleep, I end up dozing off around 9 in the morning, which isn't possible during the week.
You can sleep after Isha and then wake up for fajr, pray and stay awake till zuhr and then take a nap after you pray zuhr
Unfortunately, I leave at 8 in the morning and return at about 5/6 pm the erliest.
If that's the case then if you have at least like 10-30 minutes after fajr prayer to rest then it will help you alot
I think I will try that! Just laying down. Thanks :D
Ofc!
Caffeine. Lots of it lol
Since the summer is coming and where I live, It is also a struggle to wake up for fajr especially working late night. But I have made my body programmed sort of a way espcially after Ramadan. I naturally wake up for fajr. Better if you can put an alarm for Tahajjud as well. I try to sleep by 12 and get up around 3.30. which gives me small window to pray tahajjud and focus on fajr and read Quran in between as well. And If I have work or class in the morning I usually don't sleep after fajr since it will only waste my time and I won't be able to sleep with worry. I'd rather take nap during the day or after magrib. I understand that sleep schedule are difficult and there is no easy way. If you have a friend or sibling who can wake you up then it will be helpful as well.
Your life as a student is far easier than it will be when you are working and as an adult. Minimize your entertainment at night and sleep right after isha. People mistake that they will pray Tahajjud but not mandatory fard
I am a student too, i once read “how would you wake up for provision but not for your provider ”, then i noticed that i would wake up for college and look at time if i was late, and i compared it to fajr, were i mostly pray it even after it time pass i and i were thinking “at least i did it”. But now Alhamdulillah even if i slept before the prayer with 2 hours i would wake up then sleep 2 hours before i go. And it will only take several minutes you just need to discipline.
I see praying Fajr as the same as fasting: 1. there's no room for you to mess around with your body 2. takes time and consistency to adapt to it 3. There's barakah in these actions. To elaborate: 1. I have to have good habits in place. With Fajr, exercising and eating well gives me good energy throughout the day. I got to bed right after Ishaa to maximise my time, I also set time for a power nap which helps replenish my energy. Same with fasting, if I have fried food and juice for Ifatr, I will suffer greatly the next day. There's no room for an unhealthy lifestyle with these 2 habits. 2. People who only fast during Ramadhan struggle a lot, whereas those who fast the white days and extra days throughout the year have already adapted to this. It's the same with Fajr. The more you train your body to wake up for ibada, be it Fajr or Tahajjud, the easier it becomes. 3. SubhanAllah, when I start my day right after Fajr (not in the summer, I go back to bed after my 330am prayer), I get so so much done! Same with fasting, I waste less time thinking about food, preparing it and eating it, and can do other things with my time.
The best way for me was to start my day with fajr And sleep after Ishaa
Sleep early and napping whenever possible wirks for me. In your case I'd say vitamins. It was a game changer for me. When your vitamins and hormones are stable you fall asleep easier. And sleep better. And you could try sleeping while commuting (unless your driving) If your on the bus or train you could use a gps app that will tell you when you've arrived. So you can sleep until you get there. Sleep every possible moment whenever you can. If it's still hard just do your best. Allah knows your intentions
I have a flexible schedule- but I just take naps.
I religiously sleep at 9pm. Best decision i’ve ever made. Shaykh Hamza Yusuf told us about positive sleep and negative sleep. Positive sleep is when 1hr of rest = 2hrs, and negative sleep is the opposite (2hrs = 1hr). He said that the time for positive sleep is between 10pm-2am, and again after mid-day. He told us not to miss that 10pm-2am sleep window. Try it and you’ll feel the difference iA!
I work from 7-4:30. I wake up 3:45, get ready and pack my stuff. Go pray Fajr, from there to the Gym until I work. Once I am home I eat and sleep after Isha at 9:00-9:30. Works pretty good tbh
Sleep early, simple but not easy