Why Do We Say ‘Prayer Is Better than Sleep’?

13-11-2000 | IslamWeb

Question:

Why do we say ‘Prayer Is better than sleep’? in Fajr prayer?

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

The Muslim jurists called the saying in Fajr prayer at-Tathweeb, that is as- Salaatu Khayrun min an-nawm (Prayer is better than sleep). The Muath-thin (caller to prayer) pronounces it twice after completing 'Hayyi ‘ala al-Salaha' and 'Hayyi ‘ala al-Falaah'.

This saying is Sunnah since the Prophet ordered the Muath-thin of Makkah Abu Mahzoorah: “If it is the morning Adhan say 'as-Salatu Khayrun min an-nawm, as-Salatu Khayrun min an-nawm.' The Fajar's Athaan is distinguished by al-Tathweeb since a sleeping person feels laziness due to sleep. So the Muath-thin raises people's attention by the saying “prayer is better than sleep.” Some people are used to reply to the Muath-thin when he says: “Prayer is better than sleep”, by saying “you are right, may Allah reward you.” Though these words are correct, there is no Hadeeth proving them.

Some jurists like responding by those words. But one should know that the words and acts of worship are based on sound evidence, so it is better to leave such words since they lack a sound basis for them.

Allah knows best.