USED TO SLEEP but little at night...

[jkhan]

51:17 "They used to sleep (hā jīm ʿayn (ه ج ع) but little of the night,"
51:18 "And in the hours before dawn they would ask forgiveness,"

Above verses are very simple to understand...  But does the verse 51:17 in fact say they sleep at night but little...

51:18 is far clear for me... Yes before Fajr asking for forgiveness is much obvious by word itself...
But at night they used to sleep but little is quite against nature.. Night is for rest and sleep and day is for vision and seeking guidance...

In fact I am not someone who stand awake when night is fallen...  I love to sleep when I feel sleepy... But getting up well early before Fajr is much doable and much within nature...

Does this word translated as sleep in fact mean sleep... It only occurs once in entire Quran... Any comments if you have already knows most welcome or if you research and let me know that more appreciated...

I know the verse which says stand one third of night or half etc.. 73:20...

Yes... I know there are many people who have lot of time during day... For example me... I spend lot of time during day for my all studies... In case those in janna were only who slept at night but little then honestly I won't go even near to Janna... It's not about me anyway...  Just.. Let's get the possible meaning...

But... Anyway...  Anyones thorough research is welcome...

[good logic]

Peace jkhan.

It is good to see you going through the whole Qoran and using your intellect ,pondering its verses.

This is commendable and the way GOD wants us to do it . Yes each individual is a special receiver  of GOD s message to search/analyse it.

Coming back to your query, I can only give my take as follows:
GOD has made the day and night alternating and changing in length as well throughout the seasons/year.
GOD said:
25:62
He is the One who designed the night and the day to alternate: a sufficient proof for those who wish to take heed, or to be appreciative.
وَهُوَ الَّذى جَعَلَ الَّيلَ وَالنَّهارَ خِلفَةً لِمَن أَرادَ أَن يَذَّكَّرَ أَو أَرادَ شُكورًا

Before we deal with 51:17-18, I have pondered the above verse and I have found so much detail in there:
1- Day or night can go from 5/6hours of length to 18/19 hours . In extreme cases-north pole/south pole - day/night can stay weeks/months longer.
2- GOD has designed this and gave us instructions ,deen that requires discipline  to deal with the flexibility of day and night.
3-For a believer ,business /work is conducted- in most cases-in the day. Night is for  rest/sleep meditation ,reflection ,ideal for its stillness and quietness

In context, one need to ask this: How long is a little of the night? How much sleep does an adult require as a minimum?
In my opinion GOD is asking us to spilt the night  appropriate to its length ,and still take the minimum you need for sleeping.. Of course GOD is not saying do not sleep or sleep for so long. So I take a "little" to mean sleep some/minimum time, the rest is for meditation/reflection/remembering GOD during the ideal conditions of the nights
More in longer nights,less in short nights as sleep is also a necessity.:

He is the One who designed the night to be a cover, and for you to sleep and rest. And He made the day a resurrection.
وَهُوَ الَّذى جَعَلَ لَكُمُ الَّيلَ لِباسًا وَالنَّومَ سُباتًا وَجَعَلَ النَّهارَ نُشورًا

GOD also said to" remember GOD frequently all the time" it does not mean do not work ,sleep or use your time for leisure and to spend with friends,but "our god is whatever is in our mind 24/7".
So I understand by "little" , a minimum of hours- 4 to 6- of sleep. This is also a necessity that GOD designed for us.
And of course, these days there are many who work nights and sleep by day. A reverse for them of day and night is also fine.
The more we know GOD, the more we remember GOD and the more we study,ponder and follow His instructions with a balance that allows us to live our worldly life as well.
Best of luck to you brother.
GOD bless you.
Peace.

[jkhan]

Peace jkhan.

It is good to see you going through the whole Qoran and using your intellect ,pondering its verses.

This is commendable and the way GOD wants us to do it . Yes each individual is a special receiver  of GOD s message to search/analyse it.

Coming back to your query, I can only give my take as follows:
GOD has made the day and night alternating and changing in length as well throughout the seasons/year.
GOD said:
25:62
He is the One who designed the night and the day to alternate: a sufficient proof for those who wish to take heed, or to be appreciative.
وَهُوَ الَّذى جَعَلَ الَّيلَ وَالنَّهارَ خِلفَةً لِمَن أَرادَ أَن يَذَّكَّرَ أَو أَرادَ شُكورًا

Before we deal with 51:17-18, I have pondered the above verse and I have found so much detail in there:
1- Day or night can go from 5/6hours of length to 18/19 hours . In extreme cases-north pole/south pole - day/night can stay weeks/months longer.
2- GOD has designed this and gave us instructions ,deen that requires discipline  to deal with the flexibility of day and night.
3-For a believer ,business /work is conducted- in most cases-in the day. Night is for  rest/sleep meditation ,reflection ,ideal for its stillness and quietness

In context, one need to ask this: How long is a little of the night? How much sleep does an adult require as a minimum?
In my opinion GOD is asking us to spilt the night  appropriate to its length ,and still take the minimum you need for sleeping.. Of course GOD is not saying do not sleep or sleep for so long. So I take a "little" to mean sleep some/minimum time, the rest is for meditation/reflection/remembering GOD during the ideal conditions of the nights
More in longer nights,less in short nights as sleep is also a necessity.:

He is the One who designed the night to be a cover, and for you to sleep and rest. And He made the day a resurrection.
وَهُوَ الَّذى جَعَلَ لَكُمُ الَّيلَ لِباسًا وَالنَّومَ سُباتًا وَجَعَلَ النَّهارَ نُشورًا

GOD also said to" remember GOD frequently all the time" it does not mean do not work ,sleep or use your time for leisure and to spend with friends,but "our god is whatever is in our mind 24/7".
So I understand by "little" , a minimum of hours- 4 to 6- of sleep. This is also a necessity that GOD designed for us.
And of course, these days there are many who work nights and sleep by day. A reverse for them of day and night is also fine.
The more we know GOD, the more we remember GOD and the more we study,ponder and follow His instructions with a balance that allows us to live our worldly life as well.
Best of luck to you brother.
GOD bless you.
Peace.

Peace GL

..thank you for all kind words...

Yes.. You explained the practical part of it... But what about the real meaning of the verse.. Is it little sleep or something else..?  I got a private message he thinks little eating... 😊... In that case I a. Anyway eating little only at night...
Yes.. Eating little can make your night good... Perhaps can give a good night sleep and allow you to wake up early well before Fajr... Well... I Tha k for that view as well...
Is there any possible meaning for this particular verse or is it 100% about physical sleep with rest is little whereever one lives.. So most of his night time is spent  noy for worldly matters...

Does this particular word is used for sleep in Arabic?  This verse as of now,  I have no clue...
Middle East and these regions normally night and day almost identical or perhaps winter night is less... Normally one has other duties as well at night... Suppose if night falls at 6 if one starts to sleep at 10 ..as a believer hebwouod have at least spend one or two hours Upto 10 for remembering and reflecting etc God.. If he sleep 10 and wake up 3 in the morning and if day starts at 6 ...then another 2 to 3 hours he spends in reflecting and for all good stuffs that connects a person to God.. So roughly during literal night time 5-6 hours he spends.. So if night is 12 hours..he has at least spent half of night for that... That's practical point.. But apart from that day time..
So in that way also a person is spending almost half of night... Why sleep little?  Even remember or not remember God most sleep very late and they sleep very little at night for various reasons... Sleep is not an issue for dedication... But is it about sleep or something  else.. That's what I need to clarify...

Thank you lovely brother..

[good logic]

Peace jkhan.
So I agree with this translation:

Rarely did they sleep the whole night.
كانوا قَليلًا مِنَ الَّيلِ ما يَهجَعونَ
At dawn, they prayed for forgiveness.
وَبِالأَسحارِ هُم يَستَغفِرونَ

Their night is always including  tajahud, remembrance of GOD,as well as imploring for forgiveness. prayer and study of GOD s words at dawn when healthy and able..

It is not about about little sleep or long sleep but about the division of the night into stages. Remember ,the human is sometimes exhausted or ill and can fall asleep for hours or misses to wake up at dawn when very ill or other emergencies. so rarely would apply perfectly and fits the Arabic word "Kalilan" because there will be exceptions in life.
GOD bless you.
Peace.