Sleeping and waking

Ayat al-Kursi

اللَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ ۚ لَا تَأْخُذُهُ سِنَةٌ وَلَا نَوْمٌ ۚ لَهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ ۗ مَن ذَا الَّذِي يَشْفَعُ عِندَهُ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِ ۚ يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ ۖ وَلَا يُحِيطُونَ بِشَيْءٍ مِّنْ عِلْمِهِ إِلَّا بِمَا شَاءَ ۚ وَسِعَ كُرْسِيُّهُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ ۖ وَلَا يَئُودُهُ حِفْظُهُمَا ۚ وَهُوَ الْعَلِيُّ الْعَظِيمُ

Allah — there is no god but Him, the Ever-Living, the Self-Sustaining. Neither drowsiness nor sleep overtakes Him. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. Who is there that can intercede with Him except by His permission? He knows what is before them and what is behind them, and they encompass nothing of His knowledge except what He wills. His Throne extends over the heavens and the earth, and their preservation does not weary Him. And He is the Most High, the Most Great.

Before sleeping.

Qur'an 2:255; Sahih al-Bukhari

Said once.

The last two verses of Surat al-Baqarah

آمَنَ الرَّسُولُ بِمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْهِ مِن رَّبِّهِ وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ ۚ كُلٌّ آمَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَمَلَائِكَتِهِ وَكُتُبِهِ وَرُسُلِهِ لَا نُفَرِّقُ بَيْنَ أَحَدٍ مِّن رُّسُلِهِ ۚ وَقَالُوا سَمِعْنَا وَأَطَعْنَا ۖ غُفْرَانَكَ رَبَّنَا وَإِلَيْكَ الْمَصِيرُ ﴿٢٨٥﴾ لَا يُكَلِّفُ اللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا ۚ لَهَا مَا كَسَبَتْ وَعَلَيْهَا مَا اكْتَسَبَتْ ۗ رَبَّنَا لَا تُؤَاخِذْنَا إِن نَّسِينَا أَوْ أَخْطَأْنَا ۚ رَبَّنَا وَلَا تَحْمِلْ عَلَيْنَا إِصْرًا كَمَا حَمَلْتَهُ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِنَا ۚ رَبَّنَا وَلَا تُحَمِّلْنَا مَا لَا طَاقَةَ لَنَا بِهِ ۖ وَاعْفُ عَنَّا وَاغْفِرْ لَنَا وَارْحَمْنَا ۚ أَنتَ مَوْلَانَا فَانصُرْنَا عَلَى الْقَوْمِ الْكَافِرِينَ ﴿٢٨٦﴾

The Messenger believes in what was sent down to him from his Lord, and so do the believers. All believe in Allah, His angels, His books and His messengers: “We make no distinction between any of His messengers.” And they say: “We hear and we obey. Your forgiveness, our Lord, and to You is the final return.” Allah does not burden a soul beyond its capacity. It will have what it has earned and will bear what it has earned. “Our Lord, do not hold us accountable if we forget or make a mistake. Our Lord, do not place on us a burden like the one You placed on those before us. Our Lord, do not burden us with more than we can bear. Pardon us, forgive us, and have mercy on us. You are our Protector, so help us against the disbelieving people.”

At night.

Qur'an 2:285-286; Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim

Said once.

قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ، قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ الْفَلَقِ، قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ النَّاسِ

Say: He is Allah, the One. Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of the daybreak. Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind. (Surahs 112, 113 and 114, recited together.)

Before sleeping.

Qur'an 112, 113, 114; Sahih al-Bukhari · Sahih al-Bukhari; narrated by ʿAʾıshah. Recited into the cupped hands, which are then passed over the body

Said 3 times.

بِاسْمِكَ رَبِّي وَضَعْتُ جَنْبِي، وَبِكَ أَرْفَعُهُ، فَإِنْ أَمْسَكْتَ نَفْسِي فَارْحَمْهَا، وَإِنْ أَرْسَلْتَهَا فَاحْفَظْهَا بِمَا تَحْفَظُ بِهِ عِبَادَكَ الصَّالِحِينَ

In Your name, my Lord, I lay down my side, and by You I raise it. If You take my soul, have mercy on it; and if You release it, protect it as You protect Your righteous servants.

Lying down to sleep.

Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim · Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

Said once.

اللَّهُمَّ خَلَقْتَ نَفْسِي وَأَنْتَ تَوَفَّاهَا، لَكَ مَمَاتُهَا وَمَحْيَاهَا، إِنْ أَحْيَيْتَهَا فَاحْفَظْهَا، وَإِنْ أَمَتَّهَا فَاغْفِرْ لَهَا، اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ الْعَافِيَةَ

O Allah, You created my soul and You will take it. To You belong its death and its life. If You give it life, protect it; and if You cause it to die, forgive it. O Allah, I ask You for well-being.

Before sleeping.

Sahih Muslim · Narrated by ʿAbdullah ibn ʿUmar

Said once.

اللَّهُمَّ قِنِي عَذَابَكَ يَوْمَ تَبْعَثُ عِبَادَكَ

O Allah, protect me from Your punishment on the Day You raise Your servants.

Placing the right hand under the cheek before sleeping.

Sunan Abi Dawud; Jamiʿ al-Tirmidhi · Narrated by Ḥafṣah and others

Said 3 times.

بِاسْمِكَ اللَّهُمَّ أَمُوتُ وَأَحْيَا

In Your name, O Allah, I die and I live.

Lying down to sleep.

Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Daʿawāt · Sahih al-Bukhari; narrated by Hudhayfah ibn al-Yamān

Said once.

سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ

Glory be to Allah.

Before sleeping.

Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim · Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim; the advice to Fāṭimah and ʿAlī

Said 33 times.

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ

All praise is for Allah.

Before sleeping.

Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim · Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim; the advice to Fāṭimah and ʿAlī

Said 33 times.

اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ

Allah is the Greatest.

Before sleeping.

Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim · Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim; the advice to Fāṭimah and ʿAlī

Said 34 times.

اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّ السَّمَاوَاتِ السَّبْعِ وَرَبَّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيمِ، رَبَّنَا وَرَبَّ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ، فَالِقَ الْحَبِّ وَالنَّوَىٰ، وَمُنْزِلَ التَّوْرَاةِ وَالْإِنْجِيلِ وَالْفُرْقَانِ، أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ أَنْتَ آخِذٌ بِنَاصِيَتِهِ، اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ الْأَوَّلُ فَلَيْسَ قَبْلَكَ شَيْءٌ، وَأَنْتَ الْآخِرُ فَلَيْسَ بَعْدَكَ شَيْءٌ، وَأَنْتَ الظَّاهِرُ فَلَيْسَ فَوْقَكَ شَيْءٌ، وَأَنْتَ الْبَاطِنُ فَلَيْسَ دُونَكَ شَيْءٌ، اقْضِ عَنَّا الدَّيْنَ وَأَغْنِنَا مِنَ الْفَقْرِ

O Allah, Lord of the seven heavens and Lord of the Mighty Throne, our Lord and Lord of everything, Splitter of the grain and the date-stone, Revealer of the Torah, the Gospel and the Criterion, I seek refuge in You from the evil of everything You hold by its forelock. O Allah, You are the First and nothing is before You; You are the Last and nothing is after You; You are the Manifest and nothing is above You; You are the Hidden and nothing is beneath You. Settle our debts for us and enrich us from poverty.

Before sleeping.

Sahih Muslim · Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

Said once.

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي أَطْعَمَنَا وَسَقَانَا وَكَفَانَا وَآوَانَا، فَكَمْ مِمَّنْ لَا كَافِيَ لَهُ وَلَا مُؤْوِيَ

All praise is for Allah who fed us, gave us drink, sufficed us and sheltered us; for how many have no one to suffice them or shelter them.

Before sleeping.

Sahih Muslim · Narrated by Anas ibn Mālik

Said once.

اللَّهُمَّ عَالِمَ الْغَيْبِ وَالشَّهَادَةِ، فَاطِرَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ، رَبَّ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَمَلِيكَهُ، أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ، أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ نَفْسِي وَمِنْ شَرِّ الشَّيْطَانِ وَشِرْكِهِ، وَأَنْ أَقْتَرِفَ عَلَىٰ نَفْسِي سُوءًا أَوْ أَجُرَّهُ إِلَىٰ مُسْلِمٍ

O Allah, Knower of the unseen and the seen, Creator of the heavens and the earth, Lord and Sovereign of everything, I bear witness that there is no god but You. I seek refuge in You from the evil of my own self, from the evil of Satan and his polytheism, and from doing wrong to myself or bringing it upon another Muslim.

When lying down to sleep.

Sunan Abi Dawud; Jamiʿ al-Tirmidhi · Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

Said once.

اللَّهُمَّ أَسْلَمْتُ نَفْسِي إِلَيْكَ، وَفَوَّضْتُ أَمْرِي إِلَيْكَ، وَأَلْجَأْتُ ظَهْرِي إِلَيْكَ، رَغْبَةً وَرَهْبَةً إِلَيْكَ، لَا مَلْجَأَ وَلَا مَنْجَا مِنْكَ إِلَّا إِلَيْكَ، آمَنْتُ بِكِتَابِكَ الَّذِي أَنْزَلْتَ، وَبِنَبِيِّكَ الَّذِي أَرْسَلْتَ

O Allah, I have submitted myself to You, entrusted my affair to You, and turned my back to You, in hope of You and in fear of You. There is no refuge and no escape from You except to You. I believe in Your Book which You revealed and in Your Prophet whom You sent.

The last words before sleeping.

Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim · Narrated by al-Barāʾ ibn ʿĀzib

Said once.

لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ الْوَاحِدُ الْقَهَّارُ، رَبُّ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا الْعَزِيزُ الْغَفَّارُ

There is no god but Allah, the One, the Overpowering, Lord of the heavens and the earth and all between them, the Almighty, the Forgiving.

When turning over in the night.

al-Ḥākim; al-Nasāʾi, ʿAmal al-Yawm wa’l-Laylah · Narrated by ʿAʾıshah

Said once.

أَعُوذُ بِكَلِمَاتِ اللَّهِ التَّامَّةِ مِنْ غَضَبِهِ وَعِقَابِهِ، وَشَرِّ عِبَادِهِ، وَمِنْ هَمَزَاتِ الشَّيَاطِينِ وَأَنْ يَحْضُرُونِ

I seek refuge in the perfect words of Allah from His anger and His punishment, from the evil of His servants, and from the whisperings of the devils and from their presence.

On waking in fear or feeling uneasy at night.

Sunan Abi Dawud; Jamiʿ al-Tirmidhi · Narrated by ʿAmr ibn Shuʿayb from his father

Said once.

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي أَحْيَانَا بَعْدَ مَا أَمَاتَنَا وَإِلَيْهِ النُّشُورُ

All praise is for Allah who gave us life after He had caused us to die, and to Him is the resurrection.

On waking.

Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim · Sahih al-Bukhari; narrated by Hudhayfah ibn al-Yamān

Said once.

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي عَافَانِي فِي جَسَدِي، وَرَدَّ عَلَيَّ رُوحِي، وَأَذِنَ لِي بِذِكْرِهِ

All praise is for Allah who gave me well-being in my body, returned my soul to me and permitted me to remember Him.

On waking.

Jamiʿ al-Tirmidhi · Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

Said once.

لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ، سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ، وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ، وَلَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ، وَاللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، وَلَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ الْعَلِيِّ الْعَظِيمِ. ثُمَّ يَقُولُ: اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي

There is no god but Allah alone, with no partner. His is the dominion and His is the praise, and He has power over all things. Glory be to Allah, all praise is for Allah, there is no god but Allah, Allah is the Greatest, and there is no might and no power except with Allah, the Most High, the Most Great. Then he says: O Allah, forgive me.

When waking in the night.

Sahih al-Bukhari; wording of Sunan Ibn Mājah · Narrated by ʿUbādah ibn al-Ṣāmit

Said once.