Is sustenance shared (distributed) in the morning?

- It is stated in some hadith narrations that Allah distributes the sustenance between dawn and sunrise and that sleeping during this time prevents sustenance; however, many people, both Muslims and unbelievers, neither get up in the morning nor stay awake during these hours, but they have no shortage of sustenance. I would like to ask you to explain whether those narrations are fabricated or weak.
- The narrations in questions and the sources I was able to find: According to what Bayhaqi narrates Fatima, the daughter of the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said: “One day in the morning (before sunrise) I was lying down; the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) came to me and touched me with his blessed foot. Then, he said, “My daughter! Get up and be present at the distribution of your Lord’s sustenance and do not be among the heedless. For Allah distributes the sustenance of mankind in the time between dawn and sunrise.”
- According to another narration of Bayhaqi, Ali ibn Abi Talib (ra) said: “The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) entered the room of Fatima (ra) one day after the morning prayer. Fatima was asleep. The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) woke her up and said...” He narrated the like of the above-mentioned hadith.
- According to a narration from Aisha (ra) the Prophet (pbuh) said, “Be early in the morning in seeking sustenance because the early morning is a time of blessing and success.”
- According to a narration from Uthman (ra) the Prophet (pbuh) said, “Morning sleep is a hindrance to sustenance.” (Bayhaqi, Shu’abul-Iman, 4/180-181) (Mundhiri, at-Targhib wat-Tarhib, II, 529-531, Mubarakfuri, Tuhfatul-Ahwazi, IV, 403-404; Ibn Arraq, Tanzihush- Shari’ah, 2/196)

Dear Brother / Sister,

- Bayhaqi himself pointed out that the hadith narration attributed to Fatima (ra) was weak, (see Shu’abul-Iman, 6/404)

- The hadith narration attributed to Ali (ra) is also weak because the narrator included in both narrations, Abdulmalik b. Harun, was accused of being a “mischievous man” and a liar by hadith authorities such as Yahya b. Main, Bukhari and Ibn Hibban. (see Nasiruddin al-Albani, Silsilatul-Ahadithid-Daifa, h.no: 5170)

- The narration of the hadith saying, “Morning sleep is a hindrance to sustenance” (Bayhaqi, Shu’abul-Iman, 6/401) is also weak. One of the narrators, Ishaq b. Abdullah b. Abi Farwa is “matrukul-hadith”. (see Ibn Hajar, at-Taqrib, no: 368)

- Acting upon the opinions of various scholars, Ajluni states that this hadith is weak or fabricated. (see Kashful-Khafa, 2/22-23)

- Albani also reports that this narrator is considered “matruk” (his hadiths are not written down) by hadith authorities such as Ali al-Madani, Abu Hatim, and Nasai. Albani also points out the different narrations of this hadith and states that they are all weak. (see Silsilatul-Ahadithid-Daifa, h. no: 3019)

- Ibn Adiyy and Tabarani (al-Awsat, 7/193) narrated the hadith of Aisha (ra) stating, “When you seek sustenance and provision, be early in the morning because early morning is a blessing and success.” (see Ajluni, 1/320)

- Tabarani states that this hadith was narrated only by Ismail b. Qays (a weak narrator), indicating that the narration is weak. (ibid)

- Ibn Adiyy also states that this narration was narrated only by Isma’il b. Qays and that all his narrations are “munkar” (unacceptable) (see Ibn Adiyy, al-Kamil Fid-Duafa, 1/490-491)

However, according to the principle, “Weak hadiths that do not contain a shari’ah decree and that encourage good deeds can be acted upon”, scholars have included weak hadiths on the subject of the virtuous deeds, and there is no harm in acting upon such weak hadiths.

Accordingly, it is sunnah and rewarding to be awake and engage in good deeds at times when it is makruh to sleep. However, one who sleeps during those times is not regarded to have committed a sin but he is deprived of those thawabs and blessings.

Questions on Islam