Refresh Your Power Nap Game this Ramadan!

As-salamu’alaykum,

Last Ramadan, I shared my hospitalist gig Qailullah (Power nap!) story. 

I still have the gift of a customized T-shirt with “SLEEPY” in bold letters printed on it as a memoir of days of struggle and growth, Alhamdulillah.

Today, I wanted to renew the spotlight on this idea of naps since it came up in a conversation with some friends in the context of Ramadan earlier today.

Prophetic Wisdom

The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) encouraged midday rest, as we see reflected in the narration:

Anas Ibn Malik reported that the Prophet (SAW) said: “If anyone of you feels drowsy during his Salah, let him go and take a nap.” (Sunan an-Nasa'i 443)

But why take a nap?

Qailullah is not just about falling asleep. It is about slowing down, shifting into a lower energy state, and allowing your body and mind to recalibrate. Even if you don’t fall into deep sleep, the mere act of pausing, closing your eyes, and resting can significantly improve your alertness, emotional regulation, and cognitive function.

As healthcare professionals, we know all too well the relentless pace of our work. Long shifts, on-call nights, and the constant need to be alert make fatigue an ever-present challenge. 

A challenge that we often resort to caffeine to navigate but in Ramadan there’s an obvious barrier - you can’t drink, although some of my friends in the High Performance Ramadan Productive Muslim community have found a hack around this that's helpful—bullet-proof coffee at suhoor time😊

This doesn’t beat the Qailullah though while it may serve you during the work hours it wears off eventually and the lack of rest tends to catch up with most folks contributing to the famous mid-Ramadan slump.

But How Can I Nap as a Healthcare Professional on Duty?

Let’s get playful with it as one of my mentors always reminds me—recognize that it is not a luxury—it’s a necessity for maintaining clarity, making sound clinical decisions, and staying emotionally present for our patients and colleagues.

The wisdom behind Qailullah is profound, both spiritually and physiologically. 

Modern science confirms that short rest periods can: 

• Improve alertness and memory formation 

• Enhance decision-making and reaction time—critical for bedside care 

• Regulate emotions and reduce stress—helping prevent burnout

• Support overall well-being by counteracting the natural midday energy dip

Our bodies are designed to experience two main periods of sleepiness: one at night and another early to mid-afternoon (typically 1–3 PM for most people). This dip in alertness is biological, not laziness—it’s #naptime by divine design😁!

For those fasting and working long or irregular shifts in healthcare, leveraging this practice is even more crucial. Qailullah can be a game-changer in maintaining your sharpness at the bedside, reducing errors in patient care, and sustaining empathy in difficult conversations.

The Barakah of Rest in Healthcare

This Ramadan, embrace Qailullah as a means of optimizing your energy for both your professional responsibilities and your acts of Ibadah as Prophet Muhammad PBUH reminded us in the hadith above. 

By recharging during the day, you set yourself up for a more focused evening, making it easier to stand in Taraweeh and wake up for Qiyam.

As healthcare professionals, we know that our ability to care of others is only as strong as our ability to care for ourselves. Fatigue can cloud our judgment, reduce patience, and even increase the risk of clinical errors. Prioritizing rest isn’t just self-care—it’s patient care.

So, take a judgment-free nap. Trust the Sunnah. Lean into the Barakah of resting with intention and be rewarded even in your naptime!

Please share your thoughts in the comments or on the community thread and let’s keep supporting each other this blessed month.

May Allah, the Most High, enable us to cultivate sunnah habits that infuse barakah into our days this Ramadan and beyond. Amin.

Sincerely,

Sulyman

P.S. If you’re seeking a space to cultivate resilience, deepen self-mastery, and thrive in your career and life—grounded in faith—join us in the SakeenahMD Community. Together, we are committed to faith-driven excellence in healthcare and beyond.

Let’s navigate this journey together. 💙