Things to Avoid While Sleeping in Islam
Sleep is considered an integral part of life. The Sunnah encourages Muslims to respect good manners while in the state of rest/sleep, especially where the covering of one's intimate parts is concerned. Sleep position, dressing, cleanliness of oneself and protection of genitals can be understood through the Sunnah regarding this topic.
One mentioned sleeping position under prohibition in Hadith is lying on the back in a way that the legs are crossed. The argument against it is not its prohibition from the beginning, rather that in it (as stated in Hadith) the clothes may move and the private parts be uncovered.
Thus, measures should be taken to ensure that while asleep or resting, no one's private parts are uncovered by their garment.
Jabir bin Abdullah (RA) stated that the Messenger of Allah (SAW) forbade several acts in relations to clothes and body modesty. The act being discussed is about lying on the back; by itself there is nothing with a sleeping on one's back position. What is being forbidden is lying on one's back such that legs are so crossed that the body's garment will move and the private parts revealed.
This narrated report is found in the chapter "Clothing and Adornment" under Sahih Muslim book 37.
The important lesson given in this particular hadith, according to scholars, is about covering the private parts properly at all times..
From the above Hadith, we understand that the general sleeping posture lying on the back with the legscrossed are considered prohibited not because the lying posture itsself is forbidden, but due to the particular context within that Hadith where the garment would slip resulting in loss of covering of intimate parts.
Another Hadith will make this point clearer: Abdullah bin Zaid bin Asim (RA) stated "I saw the Messenger of Allah (SWT) sleeping on his back in the mosque with one leg crossed over the other". This report is also in the same chapter.
This clearly implies that sleeping on ones back with their leg crosssed on the other, should be permitted as long as one's clothing does not move. If it does, it will be discouraged.
Important questions to bear in mind when sleeping:
Before going to sleep, a Muslim is supposed to ensure the clothes they wear offer adequate body coverage and remain in their place. If someone is in the habit of sleeping on their back and if there's really nothing that stops their garment from moving, that habit does not get classified with this prohibited posture as the one in the first HADITH as Abdullah bin Zaid (RA) has narrated clearly and unequivocally that the Holy Prophet (SAW) has done that also. It should not always be presumed this is the same prohibited pose..
The two hadith together teach how Muslims can sleep.
So they can sleep in that pose while being conscious to ensure their garment does not slip at that pose. A muslim should bear this in mind and sleep comfortable.
The significance of body modesty is something that is essential. Islam encourages its followers to be disciplined. This includes guarding private body parts from others.
The rule laid out is about covering these parts.
They should not appear to anybody, but then 'to appear' is related to their deliberate uncovering.
There's no issue with the position itself, it is not inherently forbidden in Islam; however, maintaining full covering is. Thus, take a couple minutes to fix your garment and sleep soundly without the fear of revealing anything private.
Final Word on sleeping:
This point can be simplified further: A Muslims can always sleep on their back and there is not reason why they can't on a stable pillow when on sleep that does not cause a slip to uncover genitals.
This is only for Islamic knowledge informations not for hurting others