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The Sleep in Bible and Quran

Before dealing with the topic of the Fly in Quran versus Bible versus sciences, it is essential to remember that the total words of the Bible are 788,280 while total words of the Quran are 77,473. It follows that, the Bible has the potential of more than 10 times the Quran to talk about the Sleep word-wise.

In addition, Sleep is mentioned 107 in bible and 9 times in Quran

The Sleep in sciences:

The sleep is a natural intermittent state of rest for the mind and body, in which the eyes close and consciousness is almost lost, so that there is a drop off in the body movement and the response to external stimuli. During sleep the brain experiences a characteristic cycle of brain-wave activity that comprises of intervals of dreaming.

Regular sleep is necessary for health and survival.

Man deprived of sleep for two or three weeks will suffer of both his physical and mental health.

However, many facets concerning the exact mechanism or cause of the process of Sleep are still difficult to understand.

The Sleep in the Bible:

God grants sleep to those he loves

Psalm 127:2

"In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat— for he grants sleep to those he loves."

Some Biblical proposals as regards the Sleep:

- Leviticus 14:47

"Anyone who sleeps or eats in the house must wash his clothes."

- Deuteronomy 24:13

"Return his cloak to him by sunset so that he may sleep in it."

- Psalm 68:13

"Even while you sleep among the campfires, the wings of my dove are sheathed with silver, its feathers with shining gold."

- Proverbs 3:24

"when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet."

- Proverbs 6:10 and Proverbs 24:33

"A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest"

Proverbs 19:15

"Laziness brings on deep sleep, and the shiftless man goes hungry."

- Proverbs 23:34

"(if you watch or look at strange women) You will be like one sleeping on the high seas, lying on top of the rigging."

- Ecclesiastes 5:12

"The sleep of a laborer is sweet, whether he eats little or much, but the abundance of a rich man permits him no sleep."

1 Thessalonians 5:7

"For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night."

Some decent prayers about Sleep:

- Psalm 3:5

"I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the LORD sustains me."

- Psalm 4:8

"I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety."

- Psalm 7:5

"..make me sleep in the dust. Selah"

- Psalm 13:3

"Look on me and answer, O LORD my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death;"

Do not Sleep, the Bible recommends us not to Sleep in 13 verses:

Psalm 132:4

"I will allow no sleep to my eyes, no slumber to my eyelids,"

Proverbs 6:4

"Allow no sleep to your eyes, no slumber to your eyelids."

Proverbs 6:9

"How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep?"

Proverbs 10:5

"He who gathers crops in summer is a wise son, but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son."

Proverbs 20:13

"Do not love sleep or you will grow poor; stay awake and you will have food to spare."

Ecclesiastes 8:16

"When I applied my mind to know wisdom and to observe man's labor on earth—his eyes not seeing sleep days or nights-"

Jonah 1:6

"How can you sleep?"

Isaiah 5:27

"Not one of them grows tired or stumbles, not one slumbers or sleeps; not a belt is loosened at the waist, not a sandal thong is broken."

Luke 22:46

"Why are you sleeping?" he asked them. "Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation."

Ephesians 5:14

"...for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: "Wake up, O sleeper,"

Mark 13:36

"If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping."

(This is a very good meaning)

2 Corinthians 6:5

"in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger;"

2 Corinthians 11:27

"I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep;"

The watchmen and the Sleep:

Proverbs 4:16

"For they cannot sleep till they do evil; they are robbed of slumber till they make someone fall."

Isaiah 56:10

"Israel's watchmen are blind, they all lack knowledge; they are all mute dogs, they cannot bark; they lie around and dream, they love to sleep."

2 Peter 2:3

"In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping."

In addition, herein some Biblical statements and their frequencies:

The expression of: "deep sleep" is mentioned in 11 verses

"he (Jesus) returned to his disciples and found them sleeping" is found in seven verse

"could not sleep" is mentioned in three verses

Statements that are mentioned in two verses:

- sleep forever and not awake

- Jesus was sleeping (Does God sleeps?)

- could not sleep is mentioned in three verses

Some expression that are mentioned in one verse:

- Lay down to sleep

- sleep fled from my eyes

- sleep in death

- sleep of death

- last sleep

- sweet sleep

- natural sleep

- Pleasant sleep

- sleep in the forests in safety

- sleep in the dust

- Peter was sleeping (however, Peter claims that he seldom sleeps)

- The story of "Samson, he was sleeping and Delilah took the seven braids of his head is given in five verses.

Does The Lord (The Father) Sleep?

Psalm 121:4

indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

Psalm 44:23

Awake, O Lord! Why do you sleep? Rouse yourself! Do not reject us forever.

Psalm 78:65

Then the Lord awoke as from sleep, as a man wakes from the stupor of wine.

The Sleep in Quran

The Sleep is a miracle and a sign made by Allah, The Almighty:

Surah 30:23

"And among His Signs is the sleep that ye take by night and by day, and the quest that ye (make for livelihood) out of His Bounty: verily in that are Signs for those who hearken."

Allah made Sleep for our rest

Surah 25:47

"And He it is Who makes the Night as a Robe for you, and Sleep as Repose, and makes the Day (as it were) a Resurrection."

Surah 78:9

And made your sleep for rest,

The Day Of Judgment will come while some humans are asleep.

Surah 7:97

"Did the people of the towns feel secure against the coming of Our wrath by night while they were asleep?"

Scientifically, half of the humans will be at night time and the other half will be at day time. Hence, One should take care.

The story of the greedy collectors

Surah 68:19

"Then there came on the (garden) a visitation from thy Lord, (which swept away) all around, while they were asleep."

This verse is talks about a productive story that describes some greedy collectors' men who did not give the proper donations to the poor and Allah punished them.

The first battle:

Surah 8:43

"Remember in thy dream Allah showed them to thee as few: if He had shown them to thee as many, ye would surely have been discouraged, and ye would surely have disputed in (your) decision: but Allah saved (you) for He knoweth well the (secrets) of (all) hearts."

This verse talks about the first battle between Muslims (300 persons) and unbelievers (1000 soldiers), and the Muslims won.

Abraham scarifies:

Surah 37:102

"Then, when (the son) reached (the age of) (serious) work with him, he said: "O my son! I see in vision that I offer thee in sacrifice: now see what is thy view!" (the son) said: "O my father! do as thou art commanded: thou will find me, if Allah so wills, one practising Patience and Constancy!"

This verse talks about the story of Abraham and his son. Abraham saw in his dream that he scarifies his son.

What is Sleep?

The Quranic definition of Sleep

Surah 39:42

"It is Allah that takes the "Nafs" (of men) at death; and those that die not (He takes) during their sleep: those on whom He has passed the decree of death, He keeps back (from returning to life), but the rest He sends (to their bodies) for a term appointed. Verily in this are Signs for those who reflect."

This is the definition put by Allah Who Made the Sleep.

During the process of Sleep, Allah takes our "Nafs" when we sleep; and return our "Nafs" back when we awake.

This means that Sleep is a form of incomplete death.

What is "Nafs"?

Man is composed of three parts, the body, the soul and the "Nafs"

All of us know the body. We have no idea about the soul but its simple definition is that it is the life and it is eternal.

The "Nafs" is the EGO. It is when you say: "I".

It follows that Allah takes our "Nafs" or ego away while we are sleeping and return our "Nafs" back when we awake.

Many researches have to be done to go through this Quranic definition of the Sleep. I propose many ideas to explore this Quranic statement but unfortunately I do not have the proper machines and equipments to carry on.

Allah never ever naps, slumbers or sleeps

Surah 2:255

Allah! There is no god but He, the Living, the Self-subsisting, Eternal. No slumber can seize Him nor sleep. His are all things in the heavens and on earth. Who is there can intercede in His presence except as He permitteth? He knoweth what (appeareth to His creatures as) Before or After or Behind them. Nor shall they compass aught of His knowledge except as He willeth. His Throne doth extend over the heavens and the earth, and He feeleth no fatigue in guarding and preserving them for He is the Most High, the Supreme (in glory).

It is absolutely essential for the Muslim to believe that Allah never Sleeps.

The faith emphasizes the fact that Allah never ever naps, slumbers or sleeps and if anyone claims that Allah ever naps, slumbers or sleeps then he should wait for the eternal hell in the afterlife because of this "unforgiving sin".

Now, I think that the smart unbiased reader knows very well the answer of this dogmatic question" Is the Quran quoted from the Bible?".

About the Author

Professor Dr. Ibrahim Khalil
Prof. of Clinical and Chemical Pathology,
Head of Clinical Microbiology and Infection Control Unit,
Ain-Shams University., Cairo, Egypt.
And,
President of the Egyptian Society of Inventors.
Member of the Egyptian union of Writers