14 Dua Before Sleeping in English, Arabic Text and Benefits
It’s crucial to remember Allah and ask for His help before going to sleep. This keeps you safe throughout the night and makes you feel close to Him, which is a wonderful feeling.
If you don’t do this, you might regret it on Judgment Day. So, take a moment to think about Allah and ask for His protection before falling asleep.
Dua Before Sleeping in English
There are many good prayers (du’as) that you can say before sleeping, as taught by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Some of these include:
Reciting Qur’anic Portions
1. Ayat Ul-kursi
اللَّهُ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ لاَ تَأْخُذُهُ سِنَةٌ وَلاَ نَوْمٌ لَهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الأَرْضِ مَنْ ذَا الَّذِي يَشْفَعُ عِنْدَهُ إِلاَّ بِإِذْنِهِ يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ وَلاَ يُحِيطُونَ بِشَيْءٍ مِنْ عِلْمِهِ إِلاَّ بِمَا شَاءَ وَسِعَ كُرْسِيُّهُ السَّمَاواتِ وَالأَرْضَ وَلاَ يَئُودُهُ حِفْظُهُمَا وَهُوَ الْعَلِيُّ الْعَظِيمُ
Translation
Allah – there is no deity except Him, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of [all] existence. Neither drowsiness overtakes Him nor sleep. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. Who is it that can intercede with Him except by His permission? He knows what is [presently] before them and what will be after them, and they encompass not a thing of His knowledge except for what He wills. His Kursi extends over the heavens and the earth, and their preservation tires Him not. And He is the Most High, the Most Great.
Benefits
It is recommended to recite Ayat ul-Kursi when going to bed. This further demonstrates the excellence of this ayah.
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) put me in charge of guarding the collected zakah of Ramadan.
Someone came and started to rummage in the food. I took hold of him and said, I will surely take you to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).…
He [the one who came and rummaged in the food] said, When you go to your bed, recite Ayat al-Kursiy and you will be protected by Allah, and no devil will come near you until morning.
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “He told you the truth even though he is a liar. That was a devil.”
Narrated by al-Bukhari (2311).
2. Reciting Surah Al-kafiroon
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
1. قُلْ يَا أَيُّهَا الْكَافِرُونَ
2. لَا أَعْبُدُ مَا تَعْبُدُونَ
3. وَلَا أَنْتُمْ عَابِدُونَ مَا أَعْبُدُ
4. وَلَا أَنَا عَابِدٌ مَا عَبَدْتُمْ
5. وَلَا أَنْتُمْ عَابِدُونَ مَا أَعْبُدُ
6. لَكُمْ دِينُكُمْ وَلِيَ دِينِ
Translation
- Say : O ye that reject Faith!
- I worship not that which ye worship,
- Nor will ye worship that which I worship.
- And I will not worship that which ye have been wont to worship,
- Nor will ye worship that which I worship.
- To you be your Way, and to me mine.
Benefits
Before falling asleep, it is recommended to recite Surat ul-Kafirun: [Al-Kafirun 109:1-6]
Nawfal Bin Muawiyah and Silah Bin Harithah (رضي الله عنه) reported that the Prophet (ﷺ) said:
“When you go to bed at night, recite ‘‘Qul ya ayyuhal kafirun’ [Al-Kafirun 109:1-6] and go to sleep while saying the last part of it. This is indeed a freedom from shirk.”
Narrated by Abu Dawud (5055)
3. Reciting The Muawwithat
Surah Al Iklas
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
1. قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ
2. اللَّهُ الصَّمَدُ
3. لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ
4. وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ
- Say: He is Allah, the One and Only;
- Allah, the Eternal, Absolute;
- He begetteth not, nor is He begotten;
- And there is none like unto Him.
Surah Al Falaq
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
1. قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ الْفَلَقِ
2. مِنْ شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ
3. وَمِنْ شَرِّ غَاسِقٍ إِذَا وَقَبَ
4. وَمِنْ شَرِّ النَّفَّاثَاتِ فِي الْعُقَدِ
5. وَمِنْ شَرِّ حَاسِدٍ إِذَا حَسَدَ
- Say: I seek refuge with the Lord of the Dawn
- From the mischief of created things;
- From the mischief of Darkness as it overspreads;
- From the mischief of those who practise secret arts;
- And from the mischief of the envious one as he practises envy.
Surah An Nas
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
1. قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ النَّاسِ
2. مَلِكِ النَّاسِ
3. إِلَٰهِ النَّاسِ
4. مِنْ شَرِّ الْوَسْوَاسِ الْخَنَّاسِ
5. الَّذِي يُوَسْوِسُ فِي صُدُورِ النَّاسِ
6. مِنَ الْجِنَّةِ وَالنَّاسِ
- Say: I seek refuge with the Lord and Cherisher of Mankind,
- The King (or Ruler) of Mankind,
- The god (or judge) of Mankind,-
- From the mischief of the Whisperer (of Evil), who withdraws (after his whisper),-
- (The same) who whispers into the hearts of Mankind,-
- Among Jinns and among men.
Benefits
Upon going to bed, it is recommended to recite the three Muawwithat (surahs 112, 113, 114).
It is best to repeat these surahs three times, each time bringing the hands together, reciting them while breathing into the hands, and then rubbing the hands all over the body.
The Prophet (ﷺ) was keen to do this consistently, even during his final illness as ‘A’ishah RA reported:
“When Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) went to bed, he would bring the palms of both hands together, and breathe into them while reciting “Qul huw-allahu ahad’, “Qulauthu bi rabb-il-falaq”, and “Qul authu bi rabb-in-Nas”.
He would then rub with them whatever he could reach of his body, starting with his head, face, and the front part of his body. He would do this three times. When he was too ill, he asked me to do this for him.”
[Recorded by al-Bukhari (5017,5748), Abu Dawud, and others]
4. Reciting Surah Al-isra, As-sajdah, Az Zumar, And Al-mulk
The Prophet (ﷺ) also recited some longer surahs before going to sleep: Surat ul-lsra (17), Surat us-Sajdah (32), Surat uz-Zumar (39), and Surat ul-Mulk (67).
Therefore, it is recommended to recite as much of these as time permits.
Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) would not sleep before he recited Bani Israil [al-Isra] and az-Zumar. Narrated by Abu Dawud (5055)
Jabir (رضي الله عنه) reported: “The Prophet (ﷺ) did not use to sleep before he recited Surat us-Sajdah (32) and Surat ul-Mulk (67).” [Recorded by an-Nasai, at-Tirmidhi, and others]
Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (رضي الله عنه) said: “Whoever reads Tabarak alladhi bi yadihi’l-mulk [i.e., Surat al-Mulk ] every night, Allah will protect him from the torment of the grave.
At the time of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) we used to call it al-mani’ah (that which protects). In the Book of Allah it is a surah which, whoever recites it every night has done very well.”[Recorded by al-Nasai and others.
Verified to be authentic by al-Albani (Sahih ut-Targhib wat-Tarhib no. 1475]
5. Reciting the last two verses of surah Baqarah
It was narrated from Abu Mas’ood al-Ansaari RA that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Whoever recites the last two verses of Surat al-Baqarah at night, they will suffice him.” [Recorded by al-Bukhari (5009) and Muslim (2714)]
6. Dua To Read Before Sleep
Before going to sleep, it is recommended to say Subhan Allah, al-hamdulillah, Allahu akbar.
Benefits
It was narrated from ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib that Fatimah (may Allah be pleased with her) went to the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) and asked him for a servant.
He said: “Shall I not tell you of something that is better for you than that? When you go to sleep, glorify Allah (by saying Subhan Allah) thirty-three times, praise Allah (by saying Al-hamdu Lillah) thirty-three times, and magnify Him (by saying Allahu akbar) thirty-four times.”
And I have never abandoned [that practice] since then. It was said: Not even on the night of Siffin? He said: Not even on the night of Siffin.
Narrated by al-Bukhari (5362) and Muslim (2727).
7. Dua Before Sleeping in Arabic
اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّ السَّمَاوَاتِ السَّبْعِ وَرَبَّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيمِ، رَبَّنَا وَرَبَّ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ، فَالِقَ الْحَبِّ وَالنَّوَى، وَمُنْزِلَ التَّوْرَاةِ، وَالْإِنجِيلِ، وَالْفُرْقَانِ، أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ أّنْتَ آخِذٌ بِنَاصِيَتهِ. اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ الأَوَّلُ فَلَيْسَ قَبْلَكَ شَيْءٌ، وَأَنْتَ الآخِرُ فَلَيْسَ بَعْدَكَ شَيْءٌ، وَأَنْتَ الظَّاهِرُ فَلَيْسَ فَوْقَكَ شَيْءٌ، وَأَنْتَ الْبَاطِنُ فَلَيْسَ دُونَكَ شَيْءٌ، اِقْضِ عَنَّا الدَّيْنَ وَأَغْنِنَا مِنَ الْفَقْرِ
Transliteration
Allahumma Rabbas-samaawaatis-sab’i wa Rabbal-‘Arshil-‘Adheem, Rabbanaa wa Rabba kulli shay ‘in, faaliqal-habbi wannawaa, wa munzilat-Tawraati wal-‘Injeeli, wal-Furqaani, ‘a’udhu bika min sharri kulli shay ‘in ‘Anta ‘aakhithun binaasiyatihi. Allaahumma ‘Antal-‘Awwalu falaysa qablaka shay’un, wa ‘Antal-‘Aakhiru falaysa ba’daka shay’un, wa ‘Antadh-Dhaahiru falaysa fawqaka shay’un, wa ‘Antal-Baatinu falaysa doonaka shay’un, iqdhi ‘annad-dayna wa ‘aghninaa minal-faqri.
Meaning in English
O Allah! Lord of the Seven heavens and Lord of the Magnificent Throne. Our Lord and the Lord of everything. Splitter of the grain and the date-stone, Revealer of the Torah and the Injeel and the Furqan (the Qur’an), I seek refuge in You from the evil of everything that You shall seize by the forelock. O Allah You are the First and nothing has come before you, and You are the Last, and nothing may come after You. You are the Most High, nothing is above You and You are the Most Near and nothing is nearer than You. Remove our debts from us and enrich us against poverty.
Abu Hurayrah RA reported that the Prophet (ﷺ) instructed that when a person goes to bed, he should lie on his right side and say this dua. [Recorded by Muslim (2713)]
8. Dua
اللَّهُمَّ عَالِمَ الْغَيْبِ وَالشَّهَادَةِ فَاطِرَ السَّمَاواتِ والْأَرْضَ، رَبَّ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَمَلِيكَهُ، أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ، أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ نَفْسِي، وَمِنْ شَرِّ الشَّيْطَانِ وَشِرْكِهِ، وَأَنْ أَقْتَرِفَ عَلَى نَفْسِي سُوءاً، أَوْ أَجُرَّهُ إِلَى مُسْلِمٍ
Transliteration
Allahumma ‘Aalimal-ghaybi wash-shahaadati faatiras-samaawaati wal’ardhi, Rabba kulli shay ‘in wa maleekahu, ‘ash-hadu ‘an laa ‘ilaaha ‘illaa ‘Anta, ‘a’udhu bika min sharri nafsee, wa min sharrish-shaytaani wa shirkihi, wa ‘an ‘aqtarifa ‘alaa nafsee soo ‘an, ‘aw ‘ajurrahu ‘ilaa Muslimin.
Meaning
O Allah, Knower of the unseen and the evident, Maker of the heavens and the earth, Lord of everything and its Master, I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but You. I seek refuge in You from the evil of my soul and from the evil of Satan and his helpers. (I seek refuge in You) from bringing evil upon my soul and from harming any Muslim.
Abu Bakr as-Siddiq, Abu Hurayrah, and other companions RA, all reported that the Prophet (ﷺ) taught them to say this dua when going to bed. [Recorded by Abu Dawud 317]
9. Dua
الْحَمْدُ للّهِ الَّذِي أَطْعَمَنَا وَسَقَانَا، وَكَفَانَا، وَآوَانَا، فَكَمْ مِمَّنْ لَا كَافِيَ لَهُ وَلَا مُؤْويَ
Transliteration
Alhamdu lillaahil-lathee ‘at’amanaa wa saqaanaa, wa kafaanaa, wa ‘aawaanaa, fakam mimman laa kaafiya lahu wa laa mu’wiya.
Meaning
Praise is to Allah Who has provided us with food and with drink, sufficed us and gave us an abode for how many are there with no provision and no home.
And Anas reported that when the Prophet (ﷺ) went to bed, he would say this dua. [Recorded by Muslim (2715)]
10. Dua
Abu Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه) reported that the Prophet (ﷺ) said:
When one of you goes to his bed, let him dust it with the edge of his izar (lower garment), because he would not know what came into it since he had left it. Let him then lie on his right side and say:
بِاسْمِكَ رَبِّي وَضَعْتُ جَنْبِي، وَبِكَ أَرْفَعُهُ، فَإِنْ أَمْسَكْتَ نَفْسِي فَارْحَمْهَا، وَإِنْ أَرْسَلْتَهَا فَاحْفَظْهَا، بِمَا تَحْفَظُ بِهِ عِبَادَكَ الصَّالِحِينَ
Transliteration
Bismika Rabbee wa-dh‘atu janbee , wa bika ‘arfa’uhu, fa’in ‘amsakta nafsee farhamhaa, wa ‘in ‘arsaltahaa fahfadhhaa, bimaa tahfadhu bihi ‘ibaadakas-saaliheen.
Meaning
With Your Name my Lord, I lay myself down and with Your Name I rise. And if my soul You take, have mercy on it, and if You send it back then protect it as You protect Your righteous slaves.
[Recorded by al-Bukhari (6320, 7393), Muslim (2714), and others]
11. Dua
Similar to this, ‘Abdullah Bin ‘Umar (رضي الله عنه) reported that the Prophet (ﷺ) recommended saying before going to sleep:
اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ خَلَقْتَ نَفْسِي وَأَنْتَ تَوَفَّاهَا، لَكَ مَمَاتُهَا وَمَحْيَاهَا، إِنْ أَحْيَيْتَهَا فَاحْفَظْهَا، وَإِنْ أَمَتَّهَا فََاغْفِرْ لَهَا، اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ الْعَافِيَةَ
Transliteration
Allahumma ‘innaka khalaqta nafsee wa ‘Anta tawaffaahaa, laka mamaatuhaa wa mahyaahaa, ‘in ‘ahyaytahaa fahfadhhaa, wa ‘in ‘amattahaa faghfir lahaa. Allaahumma ‘innee ‘as’alukal-‘aafiyata.
Meaning
O Allah, You have created my soul and You take it back. Unto You is its death and its life. If You give it life then protect it, and if You cause it to die then forgive it. O Allah, I ask You for strength.
[Recorded by Muslim (2712)]
12. Dua
Huthayfah and al-Bara RA reported that when the Prophet (ﷺ) went to sleep, he would put his hand under his right cheek and say:
بِاسْمِكَ اللَّهُمَّ أَمُوتُ وَأَحْيَا
Transliteration
Bismika Allaahumma ‘amootu wa ‘ahyaa.
Meaning
In Your Name, O Allah, I die and I live.
[Recorded by al-Bukhari (6312, 6314, 6324), Muslim (2710), and others]
13. Dua
Al-Bara Bin ‘Azib, Hudhayfah Bin al-Yaman, and Hafsah Bint ‘Umar RA reported that when the Prophet (ﷺ) went to bed, he would put his hand under his right cheek and say:
اللَّهُمَّ قِنِي عَذَابَكَ يَوْمَ تَبْعَثُ عِبَادَكَ
Transliteration
Allaahumma qinee ‘athaabaka yawma tab’athu ‘ibaadaka.
Meaning
O Allah, save me from Your punishment on the Day that You resurrect Your slaves.
[Recorded by Narrated by Abu Dawud (5045)]
14. Dua
Just before falling asleep, it is recommended to express full resignation to Allah (ﷻ) and full reliance on Him. Al-Bara’ Bin ‘Azib (رضي الله عنه) reported that the Prophet (ﷺ) told him:
“When you go to bed, perform a wudhu like that for the prayer, then lie on your right side and say:
اللَّهُمَّ أَسْلَمْتُ نَفْسِي إِلَيْكَ، وَفَوَّضْتُ أَمْرِي إِلَيْكَ، وَوَجَّهْتُ وَجْهِي إِلَيْكَ، وَأَلْجَأْتُ ظَهْرِي إِلَيْكَ، رَغْبَةً وَرَهْبَةً إِلَيْكَ، لَا مَلْجَأَ وَلاَ مَنْجَا مِنْكَ إِلَّا إِلَيْكَ، آمَنْتُ بِكِتَابِكَ الَّذِي أَنْزَلْتَ وَبِنَبِيِّكَ الَّذِي أَرْسَلْتَ
Transliteration
Allahumma ‘aslamtu nafsee ‘ilayka, wa fawwadhtu ‘amree ‘ilayka, wa wajjahtu wajhee ‘ilayka, wa ‘alja’tu dhahree ‘ilayka, raghbatan wa rahbatan ‘ilayka, laa maalja’ wa laa manja minka ‘illaa ‘ilayka, ‘aamantu bikitaabikal-lathee ‘anzalta wa bi-nabiyyikal-lathee ‘arsalta.
Meaning
O Allah, I submit myself to You, entrust my affairs to You, turn my face to You, and lay myself down depending upon You, hoping in You and fearing You. There is no refuge, and no escape, except to You. I believe in Your Book (the Qur’an) that You revealed, and the Prophet whom You sent.
Good Sleep Habits in Islam
Here are some good habits to follow when sleeping, as taught in Islam:
- Say special prayers (duas) before sleep, like Ayat al-Kursi and Surah Al-Falaq.
- Make sure you’re clean (do ablution) before bed.
- Sleep on your right side, as the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) advised.
- Say “Bismillah” (In the name of Allah) before lying down.
- Ask Allah to protect you while you sleep.
- Remove anything harmful or dirty from your bed.
- Go to sleep early and don’t stay up late without a good reason.
- Avoid long conversations before bed.
- Plan to wake up for morning prayer and other good deeds.
Following these habits can help you sleep.
Additional Benefits
Imam an-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
“You should understand that the hadiths and reports concerning this matter are many; what we have mentioned is sufficient for the one who is enabled to act upon them.
We refrain from quoting more for fear of tiring the student. Moreover, it is better for a person to do all that is mentioned concerning that, but if that is not possible, he should stick to what he is able to do of the most important thereof.”(Al-Adhkar, p.95)
Abu Hurayrah RA reported that the Prophet (ﷺ) said:
“Whenever a person goes to sleep without remembering Allah, that will be a source of regret for him on Resurrection Day. And whenever a person sits in a sitting in which he does not remember Allah, that will be a source of regret for him on Resurrection Day.”
[Recorded by Abu Dawud and an-Nasai. Verified to be authentic by al-Albani (Sahih ut-Targhib wat-Tarhib no. 611 and as-Sahihah no. 78)]
Knowing the power of dhikr before going to sleep, Shaytan tries hard to make us sleep without saying it. ‘Abdullah Bin ‘Amr (رضي الله عنه) reported that the Prophet (ﷺ) said:
“Shaytan comes to a person when he is ready to sleep, and makes him fall asleep before he finishes saying them (the adhkar).”
[Recorded by Abu Dawud, at-Tirmidhi, and others. Verified to be authentic by al-Albani (Sahih ut-Targhib wat-Tarhib no. 606)]
‘Abdullah Bin Mas’ud (رضي الله عنه) said: “Falling asleep while saying dhikr is from Shaytan. If one of you wishes to verify this, let him lie in bed. If he then wishes to fall asleep, let him start extolling Allah (ﷻ).”
[Recorded by al-Bukhari (in al-Adabul-Mufrad 1208) and verified to be authentic by al-Albani]
