First, Prophetic Medicine gives us a remedy that consists of taking a small teaspoon of black seed—about 15 seeds—in a glass of warm milk with a tablespoon of honey, before sleeping. In addition, the Arabs made great use of a sedative plant called valerian. Among its benefits is the treatment of sleep disorders and disorders of the autonomic nervous system. Indeed, it was used because it shortened the time it took to fall asleep and improved the quality of sleep. This plant calms the nerves, and it could be described as a "natural valium" since it has the same effects as the latter. It can also be used in the treatment of hyperactivity.
It comes in the form of capsules, liquid, or tablets. One could say that this plant is the "star" of herbal tranquilizers.
The Sunnah of bedtime: a sleep protocol
- Go to bed early: the Prophet ﷺ disliked sleeping before 'isha or staying up after it (al-Bukhari 568). He slept at the beginning of the night and rose for night prayer.
- Ablution: "When you go to bed, perform ablution as you would for prayer" (al-Bukhari 247).
- The right side, right hand under the cheek (al-Bukhari 6314), after shaking out the bed.
- The Surahs in the hands: al-Ikhlas, al-Falaq, an-Nas, blown into the hands and passed over the body, three times (al-Bukhari 5017); Ayat al-Kursi, which means that "a guardian from Allah protects you and no devil will come near you until morning" (al-Bukhari 2311).
- The bedtime supplication: "In Your name, O Allah, I die and I live" (al-Bukhari 6324), and "O Allah, in Your name I lay down my side and by You I raise it..." (al-Bukhari 6320).
- Against insomnia, the supplication the Prophet ﷺ taught to Khalid ibn al-Walid, who could not find sleep: "O Allah, Lord of the seven heavens and what they cover, Lord of the earth and what it carries, Lord of the devils and what they lead astray, be for me a protector against the evil of all Your creatures..." (at-Tirmidhi, chain disputed but accepted by the scholars for this supplication). And for one who wakes up frightened: "I seek refuge in the perfect words of Allah from His anger, His punishment, the evil of His servants, and the whispers of the devils" (Abu Dawud).
- Dhikr: 33 subhan Allah, 33 al-hamdu lillah, 34 Allahu akbar, which the Prophet ﷺ gave to Fatima and Ali at bedtime (al-Bukhari 6318). Repetitive and calm, this is also what cuts off rumination.
This protocol has everything sleep medicine recommends: a regular time, a ritual that signals to the body that night is beginning, a position, repeated words that replace racing thoughts. It costs nothing and can be practiced every evening.
The professor's remedies, and others, against the research
| Remedy | How | What the research found |
|---|---|---|
| Warm milk, honey, black seed | A glass of warm milk, a tablespoon of honey, a small teaspoon of black seeds (about fifteen), at bedtime, according to the professor's recipe | Milk with honey improved sleep quality in coronary care unit patients in a randomized trial (Clin Nutr ESPEN, 2018); black seed did better than placebo on sleep disturbances in menopausal women, in a double-blind trial that also compared it to zolpidem (J Family Reprod Health, 2020) |
| Valerian | 300 to 600 mg of root extract, 30 minutes to an hour before bedtime, in capsules or tincture, for two to four weeks | Meta-analysis of placebo-controlled trials: it improves perceived sleep quality (Sleep Med, 2010); a more recent review attributes the mixed results to the variable quality of the extracts (J Evid Based Integr Med, 2020). A gentle effect, no dependence, unlike the "valium" the professor compares it to |
| Evening talbina | A warm cup with honey | A warm, sweet food rich in tryptophan: it is the Arabs' "warm milk"; see talbina |
| Linden, lemon balm, passionflower, chamomile | Herbal tea one hour before bedtime | Traditional calming plants, well tolerated; thinner evidence than valerian, effect mostly on evening anxiety |
| Olive oil or black seed oil massage | Temples, nape of the neck, soles of the feet | The gesture is calming; it is the ritual that matters |
What matters more than the plants
- Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (fixed bed and wake times, bed reserved for sleep, no naps, restricting time in bed, managing thoughts) is the first-line treatment for chronic insomnia: a meta-analysis shows it shortens time to fall asleep and reduces awakenings, with a lasting effect and without the risks of sleeping pills (Ann Intern Med, 2015).
In practice, before any capsule: get up at the same time every day, including Fridays and after a bad night; no screens in the hour beforehand (blue light delays melatonin); no coffee after dhuhr, no heavy meal in the evening (the rule of thirds); a cool, dark bedroom; and if you have not fallen asleep after twenty minutes, get up, do dhikr or read, and go back to bed when sleep comes. The Sunnah of bedtime does the rest.
Contraindications and precautions
Valerian should not be taken with sleeping pills, anxiolytics, or alcohol, nor before driving; it should be avoided during pregnancy and in children. No honey before age one. Black seed taken by mouth should be avoided during pregnancy (see our guide). Insomnia lasting more than three months, several nights a week, with daytime fatigue, is no longer a passing disturbance: it needs to be addressed, as it fuels depression, hypertension, and diabetes. Snoring with breathing pauses, restless legs in the evening, and drowsiness while driving should be reported to a doctor: these are not insomnia but sleep disorders. And sedative plants should not be combined with an antidepressant without medical advice.
Frequently asked questions
What is the remedy for insomnia in Islam?
The Sunnah of bedtime: ablution, going to bed early, the right side, Ayat al-Kursi and the last three Surahs, the bedtime supplication, and against insomnia the supplication taught to Khalid ibn al-Walid. The professor adds warm milk with honey and black seed.
Is valerian effective?
Meta-analyses show an improvement in perceived sleep, with uneven results depending on the extracts. It is gentle and non-addictive; it is not a sleeping pill, and it is taken for two to four weeks, not long term.
Does warm milk with honey really help you sleep?
A randomized trial in hospitalized patients showed better sleep quality with the milk-honey mixture. Warm, sweet, rich in tryptophan, and taken as part of an evening ritual, it helps; it is not magic.
What should you do when your thoughts keep racing at bedtime?
The dhikr given to Fatima (33-33-34), slow and repeated, replaces rumination; if sleep does not come within twenty minutes, get up, read or pray, and go back to bed when it returns. Staying in bed and struggling only fuels insomnia.
When should you see a doctor about insomnia?
Beyond three months, several nights a week, with daytime fatigue or mood affected; or in case of snoring with pauses, restless legs, or daytime drowsiness. Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia is the reference treatment, ahead of sleeping pills.
