باب في صفة نوم رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم في السمر
39  
The Sleeping Of Rasoolullah
Ash-Shama'il Al-Muhammadiyah 259
Abu Qatada said:
“When the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) alighted for rest at night, he would recline on his right side, and when he alighted for rest shortly before the morning, he would raise his forearm and place his head on the palm of his hand.”
حَدَّثَنَا الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ الْجُرَيْرِيُّ، قَالَ‏:‏ حَدَّثَنَا سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، قَالَ‏:‏ حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ حُمَيْدٍ، عَنْ بَكْرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللهِ الْمُزَنِيِّ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ رَبَاحٍ، عَنْ أَبِي قَتَادَةَ‏:‏ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم، كَانَ إِذَا عَرَّسَ بِلَيْلٍ اضْطَجَعَ عَلَى شِقِّهِ الأَيْمَنِ، وَإِذَا عَرَّسَ قُبَيْلَ الصُّبْحِ نَصَبَ ذِرَاعَهُ، وَوَضَعَ رَأْسَهُ عَلَى كَفِّهِ‏.‏
Grade: Sahih (Zubair Alizai)  صحيح   (Zubair Alizai) حكم   :
Reference : Ash-Shama'il Al-Muhammadiyah 259
In-book reference : Book 39, Hadith 6
Explanation
comments
The reason being that if there was more time he lay flat and slept. His noble habit was to sleep on the right side. But if time was short, he lifted his arm and slept on it for a little while. In such circumstances he did not lie flat and sleep, as this might result in a deep slumber, and the time for the salaah would pass.
Hadith Text
Reference