When suddenly awakened his actions may cause harm Fatwa No: 90123
- Fatwa Date:8-6-2005
I have a problem while I'm asleep, its not really sleep-walking but this is what happens. When I am in deep sleep if someone suddenly tries to wake me up I lose control and I actually wake up a few seconds later after I do an action. Like the other day my sister opened my room's door and shouted at me to wakeup an I throw my mobile phone at her, it was just near to hit her face, but I only realised it after I did it, and its a very serious problem. I have also warned my family member not to suddenly wake me up since I can't control myself. So what should I do about this, is their any religious treatment for this, is it a sin? Please let me know.
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.
First of all, we advise you to consult a doctor about your condition as it might be a physical or psychological problem.
If you act in the way you described in the question while being unconscious, then you are considered as sleeping and the Prophet said: "The pen is lifted (stopped from writing the deeds) from three kinds of people: the sleeping person until he wakes up, the mentally-handicapped or insane person till he becomes able to reason, and the child till he grows up (reaches the age of puberty)." [At-Tirmithi] But if you act in such a way out of anger while being conscious about it, then you will be accountable for your behaviour and whatever evil you may cause.
As regards a religious treatment for this, then we advise you to recite the legislated mention of Allaah when going to sleep, like reading verses: 255, 285 and 286 from chapter: 2, and chapters: 112, 113 and 114, and sleep while in a state of ablution. You should also recite the legislated mention of Allaah in the morning and in the evening. [We hope that if you do so, you will be cured as the Quran is a mercy and a cure to the believers].
Allaah Knows best.