The Egyptian Dar Al-Ifta received a question about the ruling on waking someone up for prayer and whether it is obligatory for a person who is awake. In response, the authority explained that waking a sleeper for prayer is recommended but not required, because a sleeping person is not legally accountable during sleep. The obligation to pray begins once the person wakes up—if time allows, the prayer should be performed, and if the time has passed, it must be made up. This recommendation applies only if waking the person does not cause harm or distress.
Al-Ifta emphasized that prayer holds a high status in Islam, as stated in the Qur’an: “Indeed, prayer has been decreed upon the believers a decree of specified times” (An-Nisa: 103), highlighting the duty to maintain prayers at their prescribed times and help others fulfill this obligation.
Classical scholars differed in their views: the Hanafis and Hanbalis held that waking someone for prayer becomes obligatory when the time is short, while the Shafi’is considered it merely recommended, especially when no harm is feared. The Malikis took a middle stance, stating that waking is obligatory for obligatory prayers and recommended for voluntary ones.
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: “The pen has been lifted from three: from the sleeper until he awakens, from the child until he reaches puberty, and from the insane until he regains sanity.” This hadith makes it clear that accountability does not apply to the sleeper until he wakes up.
Therefore, Al-Ifta concluded that waking someone up for prayer is a commendable act of cooperation and kindness, but not a binding duty. Muslims are encouraged to do so gently and wisely, out of love and care, maintaining the spirit of compassion and mutual support taught by Islam.
