Saturday, 18 April 2026 (1 Dhuʻl-Qiʻdah 1447 AH)
Question: We often hear a hadith attributed to the Prophet (May Allah bless him and his family and grant them peace) that says: “Whoever awakens a sleeper, it is as if he killed him,” or: “Whoever startles a sleeper, it is as if he killed him.” Is this hadith authentic or not?
Answer—and Allah is the One who grants success: Harming a believer is a major sin, as evidenced by His saying, Exalted is He: “And those who harm believing men and believing women for [something] other than what they have earned have certainly borne upon themselves a slander and manifest sin.” [al-Aḥzāb:58] Whether that specific hadith is authentic or not, it is not permissible to harm or frighten a believer—whether he is asleep or awake—except for awakening the sleeper for the prayer, for the Lawgiver has permitted awakening him for it; indeed, it is recommended to awaken him for the prayer, even if he feels some annoyance at being awakened, as has preceded in the answer to the previous question.
Source : Min Thimār al-ʿIlm wa al-Ḥikmah vol.1