The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'When any one of you goes to sleep, the Shaitan ties three knots on his head, saying each time: "(Sleep) a long night." If he wakes up and remembers Allah (SWT), one knot is undone. If he performs wudu', another knot is undone. If he prays, all the knots are undone and he starts his day in a good mood and feeling energetic. Otherwise he starts his day in a bad mood and feeling lethargic.'"
Hadith Text & Reference
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'When any one of you goes to sleep, the Shaitan ties three knots on his head, saying each time: "(Sleep) a long night." If he wakes up and remembers Allah (SWT), one knot is undone. If he performs wudu', another knot is undone. If he prays, all the knots are undone and he starts his day in a good mood and feeling energetic. Otherwise he starts his day in a bad mood and feeling lethargic.'"
Source: Sunan an-Nasa'i 1607 | Book: The Book of Qiyam Al-Lail (The Night Prayer) and Voluntary Prayers During the Day
Commentary on the Spiritual Struggle
This profound hadith reveals the continuous spiritual battle between the believer and Shaytan. The three knots represent increasing levels of spiritual lethargy and attachment to worldly comfort that Satan seeks to bind upon the sleeping believer. Each knot tightens the soul's inclination toward laziness and away from divine remembrance.
The specific mention of "on his head" indicates these knots affect the faculties of intellect, consciousness, and spiritual awareness. Shaytan's whisper "a long night" aims to prolong spiritual negligence and distance the heart from its Creator.
The Three Stages of Liberation
First Knot - Remembrance of Allah: The initial act of dhikr upon waking breaks the foundation of spiritual slumber. This represents the awakening of the heart and reconnection with divine consciousness after the "minor death" of sleep.
Second Knot - Ablution (Wudu): The physical purification prepares the body for worship while symbolizing the cleansing of spiritual impurities accumulated during sleep. Wudu transforms the state of ritual impurity to purity, making one eligible for prayer.
Third Knot - Prayer: The complete act of worship, particularly the night prayer (Tahajjud) or Fajr prayer, severs the final bond of spiritual lethargy. This comprehensive act of obedience demonstrates complete submission to Allah.
Scholarly Insights
Classical scholars note that the sequential undoing of knots illustrates the gradual process of spiritual awakening. One cannot jump directly to prayer without first awakening the heart through remembrance and purifying the body through wudu.
The contrasting outcomes - energetic versus lethargic - demonstrate the tangible effects of spiritual states on physical and psychological well-being. A morning begun with worship energizes both soul and body, while negligence leaves one spiritually and physically depleted.
This hadith emphasizes the superiority of night prayers and the importance of beginning each day with acts of worship, establishing a pattern of divine consciousness that permeates one's entire day.