Musa Asks Allah – Do You Sleep?

“DOES ALLAH SLEEP?”

Ibn Kathir mention this story in the tafsir of Ayat-ul-Kursi. He said some Jews came to Prophet Musa (a.s) and they asked him,

“DOES ALLAH SLEEP?”

So Prophet Musa (a.s )was unable to answer them at the moment, so what happened was, two Angels came to Prophet Musa (a.s) after he had a long day of Dawah, and they gave him two bottles (glass or clay bottles).

They said to Prophet Musa (a.s), tonight, you have to stand all night and hold these bottles like that…

You should not let go off them

So Prophet Musa (a.s) takes the bottles and holds them.

The first part of the night goes by and he started getting tired, his eye lids are getting heavy and he’s getting weak. He’s exhausted, he wants to sleep…

Second part of the night comes and they’re getting heavier. Prophet Musa (a.s) falls asleep, and he eventually falls down, and the glass (clay) bottles come crashing down…

So the Angels comes back to Prophet Musa (a.s) and say,

“O Musa (a.s)! If Allah was to sleep for a second, the heavens would come crashing to the earth like these glass (clay) bottles smashes into the floor…

This is the Greatness of Allah, The One Who never sleeps…

Allah! La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He), the Ever Living, the One Who sustains and protects all that exists. Neither slumber, nor sleep overtake Him.

To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on earth. Who is he that can intercede with Him except with His Permission?

He knows what happens to them (His creatures) in this world, and what will happen to them in the Hereafter. And they will never compass anything of His Knowledge except that which He wills.

His Kursi extends over the heavens and the earth, and He feels no fatigue in guarding and preserving them. And He is the Most High, the Most Great.

[This Verse 2:255 is called Ayat-ul-Kursi.]

[Quran: Al-BaQara 255]