Question

Musa (‘alayhis salam) once wondered, does Allah Ta’ala sleep?

So Allah sent to him an Angel, who kept Musa (‘alayhis salam) awake for three days, and then gave Musa (‘alayhis salam) two bottles [to hold] in each hand. After that Musa (‘alayhis salam) slept and the two bottles fell from his hands and broke. He said: “Allah has given me an example, that if Allah slept then the heavens and the earth would not have been upheld.”

Is this narration okay to quote? Is it weak?

Answer

This narration is not suitable to quote.

Hafiz Ibn Kathir (rahimahullah) writes: ‘This is probably from the israely (historical) narrations. It is actually known that Nabi Musa (‘alayhis salam) would never have been unaware of Allah Ta’ala being free and independent of sleep.

(Tafsir Ibn Kathir, Surah Baqarah, Ayah: 255)

‘Allamah Ibnul Jawzi (rahimahullah) -even before Ibn Kathir – also issued a similar ruling. He further states that this question was indeed posed by the Banu Israel to Nabi Musa (‘alayhis salam), as they were ignorant of this fact regarding Allah Ta’ala, like has been authentically recorded in Kitabus Sunnah of Ibnul Imam Ahmad. i.e., Nabi Musa (‘alayhis salam) was aware that Allah Ta’ala does not sleep, and therefore didn’t ask Allah, contrary to what the narration in question suggests.

(Refer: Al-‘ilalul Mutanahiyah, Hadith: 23)

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best,

Answered by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar

Checked by: Mawlana Haroon Abasoomar