Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Satan puts three knots at the back of the head of any of you if he is asleep. On every knot he reads and exhales the following words, 'The night is long, so stay asleep.' When one wakes up and remembers Allah, one knot is undone; and when one performs ablution, the second knot is undone, and when one prays the third knot is undone and one gets up energetic with a good heart in the morning; otherwise one gets up lazy and with a mischievous heart."
Prayer at Night (Tahajjud)
Sahih al-Bukhari 1142
Hadith Text
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Satan puts three knots at the back of the head of any of you if he is asleep. On every knot he reads and exhales the following words, 'The night is long, so stay asleep.' When one wakes up and remembers Allah, one knot is undone; and when one performs ablution, the second knot is undone, and when one prays the third knot is undone and one gets up energetic with a good heart in the morning; otherwise one gets up lazy and with a mischievous heart."
Commentary on the Spiritual Struggle
This noble hadith reveals the subtle spiritual warfare between the believer and Satan. The three knots represent escalating levels of spiritual obstruction: the first being lethargy of heart, the second reluctance of body, and the third complete submission to slumber. Satan's whisper "the night is long" is a deception to make one neglect the most precious time for divine communion.
The Three Stages of Liberation
The first liberation comes through dhikr (remembrance of Allah), which awakens the spiritual consciousness. The second through wudu (ablution), which purifies the physical vessel. The third through salat (prayer), which completes the connection with the Divine. Each action counteracts Satan's influence systematically.
Scholarly Insights
Imam Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani explains in Fath al-Bari that the knots are metaphorical representations of Satan's ability to influence the spiritual state. The "good heart" mentioned refers to a heart inclined toward obedience, while the "mischievous heart" denotes one inclined toward sin and negligence. The timing of Tahajjud prayer is particularly significant as it occurs when divine mercy descends most abundantly.
Practical Application
Scholars emphasize that this hadith encourages believers to develop a systematic approach to night prayer: immediate remembrance upon waking, prompt purification through ablution, and timely performance of prayer. This sequence transforms spiritual struggle into divine opportunity, turning potential laziness into energized devotion.