Al Jathum, also known as Kabus, is a phenomenon described as an incubus or evil spirit that descends upon a person while they are asleep, causing a feeling of being suffocated or unable to move. This experience is not merely a myth or fable, but rather a recognized occurrence that can have both physical and supernatural explanations.

Definitions and Descriptions:

Ibn al-Manzur described al-Jatham or al-Jathum as the kabus that descends upon a person at night. It is referred to as the precursor to conditions like epilepsy, with sufferers experiencing a heavy weight pressing on them, constricting their breathing and rendering them immobile.

Causes of Al-Jathum:

Physical Causes: These may include overeating, the side effects of certain medications, or vapors rising to the brain when first falling asleep. Physical causes might be addressed by treatments such as cupping and dietary adjustments.

Supernatural Causes: It is also the reason that al-Jathum can also be caused by the actions of jinn. Treatments for this cause include recitations from the Quran and prescribed Islamic Zikar.

I suggest reading 313 times before sleep.

Audhu billahi min ash-shaytan ir-rajim.
أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ

Reciting this dua before going to sleep helps you protect yourself from sleep paralysis. For general protection recite Ayatul Kursi before sleep.

Conclusion:

Al-Jathum, or sleep paralysis, is acknowledged as a real condition that can stem from both physical and supernatural reasons. It can be treated through medical means for physical causes and through spiritual practices for causes by a jinn.