The realm of sleep and dreams is a world vastly different from waking; it has remained a mystery for philosophers, poets and psychologists alike. One-third of our life is spent in sleep, and researchers continue to analyze its various components.

What is sleep? Technically, sleep is defined as a natural state of rest characterized by reduced body movements and decreased awareness of surroundings. Did you know that whales sleep by shutting down one half of their brain? Since they are conscious breathers, if their brains fully shut down they would sink? In the case of humans, however, deep sleep almost totally shuts off the conscious mind.

What are sleep cycles? A typical night's sleep is divided into five cycles, each cycle consisting of five stages, the last of which is REM (Rapid Eye Movement) or deep sleep when we delve into the subconscious. The first cycle, which ends after the completion of the first REM stage, usually lasts for 100 minutes, each subsequent cycle lasts longer, as its respective REM stage extends.

Dreams? "To sleep, perchance to dream" Shakespeare had it almost right. We dream at least six or seven times each night, though we may not remember any. Dreams during non-REM cycles are connected with the conscious mind, i.e. dreams of real events; whereas REM dreams are more disjointed, innovative even, as they are generated from the subconscious. Dreams can even foretell events to come.

 Rasulullah (SA) says:
An authentic dream is one of the elements of Nubuwwat.

The body clock needs to be strictly regulated for a healthy lifestyle.

 Rasulullah (SAW) warns:
Sleeping in the morning curtails one's livelihood.

 Rasulullah (SAW) counsels:
Take a short nap after lunch.

  Syedna Taher Saifuddin (RA) pointed out that for him a new day commenced after his evening nap.

Sleep Postures: Sleep postures can greatly affect the quality of sleep. Try sleeping in a standing position! Interestingly, sleep postures also reflect personality-whether one sleeps on his back, on his side, or in a fetal position speaks a lot about a person.

 Rasulullah (SAW) instructed Imam Husain (AS) to sleep on his back for it flattens the stomach.

Sleep Disorders: Insomnia is the bane of human life. Laying awake in bed for long hours can be a miserable experience. Aqa Maula (TUS) advices mumineen to leave their worries behind at bed time and often cites the example of Syedna Abdulqader Najmuddin (RA). On being asked how he could sleep peacefully when he had so much to worry about, he replied: when I go to sleep I leave behind the bundle of my worries in a niche. (The houses in Surat in old times had niches in their walls that were used like little cupboards or shelves).

 Awliyaullah (AS) have taught that this tasbeeh be repeated before going to bed to ensure a good night's sleep.
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Sleep and Death: Sleep and death are considered synonymous, especially in poetry. Awliyaullah (AS) have explained that the soul rises to the heavens every night, and sometimes, if death is written, the soul shall not return to the body. Therefore, wuzu must be done prior to sleeping, to ensure that the body is pure and clean when it breaks away from the soul.