Words and meaning
Some Qurʾānic Words Related to Sleep
The Arabic language uses different words for different states of sleep. Some of these words appear in the Qurʾān with very precise meanings.
1. As-sinah — السِّنَةُ
Meaning: light drowsiness or the first stage of sleep.
Allāh سبحانه وتعالى says:
لَا تَأْخُذُهُۥ سِنَةٌۭ وَلَا نَوْمٌۭ
“Neither drowsiness nor sleep overtakes Him .”
Sūrat al-Baqarah 2:255
2. An-nuʿās — النُّعَاسُ
Meaning: sleepiness or the beginning of sleep.
Allāh سبحانه وتعالى says:
إِذْ يُغَشِّيكُمُ ٱلنُّعَاسَ أَمَنَةًۭ مِّنْهُ
“When He covered you with sleepiness as security from Him .”
Sūrat al-Anfāl 8:11
3. Al-hujūʿ — الهُجُوعُ
Meaning: sleeping at night.
Allāh سبحانه وتعالى says:
كَانُوا۟ قَلِيلًۭا مِّنَ ٱلَّيْلِ مَا يَهْجَعُونَ
“They used to sleep but little of the night .”
Sūrat adh-Dhāriyāt 51:17
4. Ar-ruqūd — الرُّقُودُ
Meaning: being asleep, or lying down asleep.
Allāh سبحانه وتعالى says:
وَتَحْسَبُهُمْ أَيْقَاظًۭا وَهُمْ رُقُودٌۭ
“And you would think them awake, while they were asleep .”
Sūrat al-Kahf 18:18
5. Al-qaylūlah — القَيْلُولَةُ
Meaning: a midday nap or rest, especially around the time of ẓuhr.
Allāh سبحانه وتعالى says:
فَجَآءَهَا بَأْسُنَا بَيَـٰتًا أَوْ هُمْ قَآئِلُونَ
“So Our punishment came upon them by night or while they were resting at midday.”
Sūrat al-Aʿrāf 7:4
Each word carries its own precise meaning and place, and used precisely in the Qurʾān
1. As-sinah — السِّنَةُ
Meaning: light drowsiness or the first stage of sleep.
Allāh سبحانه وتعالى says:
لَا تَأْخُذُهُۥ سِنَةٌۭ وَلَا نَوْمٌۭ
“Neither drowsiness nor sleep overtakes Him .”
Sūrat al-Baqarah 2:255
2. An-nuʿās — النُّعَاسُ
Meaning: sleepiness or the beginning of sleep.
Allāh سبحانه وتعالى says:
إِذْ يُغَشِّيكُمُ ٱلنُّعَاسَ أَمَنَةًۭ مِّنْهُ
“When He covered you with sleepiness as security from Him .”
Sūrat al-Anfāl 8:11
3. Al-hujūʿ — الهُجُوعُ
Meaning: sleeping at night.
Allāh سبحانه وتعالى says:
كَانُوا۟ قَلِيلًۭا مِّنَ ٱلَّيْلِ مَا يَهْجَعُونَ
“They used to sleep but little of the night .”
Sūrat adh-Dhāriyāt 51:17
4. Ar-ruqūd — الرُّقُودُ
Meaning: being asleep, or lying down asleep.
Allāh سبحانه وتعالى says:
وَتَحْسَبُهُمْ أَيْقَاظًۭا وَهُمْ رُقُودٌۭ
“And you would think them awake, while they were asleep .”
Sūrat al-Kahf 18:18
5. Al-qaylūlah — القَيْلُولَةُ
Meaning: a midday nap or rest, especially around the time of ẓuhr.
Allāh سبحانه وتعالى says:
فَجَآءَهَا بَأْسُنَا بَيَـٰتًا أَوْ هُمْ قَآئِلُونَ
“So Our punishment came upon them by night or while they were resting at midday.”
Sūrat al-Aʿrāf 7:4
Each word carries its own precise meaning and place, and used precisely in the Qurʾān