Question:
Assalamualaikum. I sometimes feel sleepy while listening to the Friday sermon. What can I do to prevent this?
Answer:
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his wives, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
Listening to the Friday sermon is a commandment. Even if the jurists differ on its ruling between obligatory and Sunnah, it is still a commandment and a prioritised act for those who come for Friday prayer.
Basically, there are two general things which will make someone’s Friday prayer considered as lagha (useless/unbeneficial). We detailed it as follows:
First: Words
Any utterances or talk that happen during Friday sermon will make the doer becomes lagha. This is in accordance with a hadith narrated by Abu Hurairah RA where the Prophet PBUH said:
إِذَا قُلْتَ لِصَاحِبِكَ يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ أَنْصِتْ. وَالإِمَامُ يَخْطُبُ فَقَدْ لَغَوْتَ
"When the Imam is delivering the Khutba, and you ask your companion to keep quiet and listen, then no doubt you have done an evil act."
Sahih al-Bukhari (934)
The above hadith is a dalil that any utterances even in the form of amar ma’ruf (commanding good) and nahi mungkar (preventing bad) is prohibited during the sermon which also makes the doer becomes lagha. And the definition of lagha according to the scholars is as follows:
- Will not be rewarded with any reward.
- The fadhilat of Jum’ah is abrogated.
- His Jum’ah prayer becomes a normal Zuhr prayer.
Also, according to the above hadith, dalalah al-muwafaqah (harmonious indication) leads to the prohibition of speaking during the sermon. Even the saying of “silence!” which is a form of nahi mungkar is considered as lagha. Hence, utterances or words other than that are considered as a greater lagha.
Second: Physical actions
Any movement and actions which distract the attention and focus from the sermon will also causes someone’s Friday prayer to be considered as lagha. This is based on a dalil as narrated by Abu Hurairah RA where the Prophet PBUH said:
مَنْ تَوَضَّأَ فَأَحْسَنَ الْوُضُوءَ ثُمَّ أَتَى الْجُمُعَةَ فَاسْتَمَعَ وَأَنْصَتَ غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ الْجُمُعَةِ وَزِيَادَةُ ثَلاَثَةِ أَيَّامٍ وَمَنْ مَسَّ الْحَصَى فَقَدْ لَغَا
He who performed ablution well, then came to Friday prayer, listened (to the sermon), kept silence all (his sins) between that time and the next Friday would be forgiven with three days extra, and he who touched pebbles caused an interruption.
Sahih Muslim (857)
According to the above hadith, it can be understood that the action of playing around with small stones during the sermon is prohibited as well as causing the doer becomes lagha. The application is expanded to other actions which also makes focus and attention be lost from listening to the sermon. This is like playing with handphones, sleeping, eating and drinking without valid reason and etc.
Actions That Help Focus in Listening to the Sermon
However, there are some exceptions for actions that help to focus on listening to the sermon. Especially actions that may remove one’s sleepiness during that time. The reference of this matter is a narration of Ibnu Umar R.Anhuma where the Prophet PBUH said:
إِذَا نَعَسَ أَحَدُكُمْ وَهُوَ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ فَلْيَتَحَوَّلْ مِنْ مَجْلِسِهِ ذَلِكَ إِلَى غَيْرِهِ
When any of you dozes in the mosque (on Friday), he should change his place.
Sunan Abi Dawud (1119)
This hadith indicates that not every physical action are prohibited during the sermon. In fact, the actions of changing seats from one place to another are permitted, it is even a sunnah, for the purpose of avoiding sleepiness as well as to stay focus in listening to the sermon. Hereby are the wisdom of changing seats:
- The actions may remove the sleepiness
- There is shaytan where he sits that makes him sleepy
These two wisdoms are mentioned by al-Sayyid Muhammad Siddiq Hasan in his book al-Diin al-Khaalis (4/145-146)
So, this form of actions and movement are not prohibited and not considered as lagha. In fact, it is commanded, even a sunnah.
Conclusion
To close, we summarise that when one feels sleepy during the sermon, it is sunnah for him to change his sitting places in the masjid. However, since our situation today in Malaysia where the saf is already filled during the sermon, then it is unnecessary for those who are sleepy to change places which then will cause disturbance towards others. Still, he may do other actions that may remove his sleepiness like pinching his neck, body and etc.
May this enlightenment give clear and accurate understanding for us in practicing religion. Ameen.