Dua for Protection Before Sleeping
Source: Sunan Abi Dawud 5056
عَنْأَبِيهُرَيْرَةَـرضىاللهعنهـأَنَّالنَّبِيَّصلىاللهعليهوسلمقَالَ"إِذَاأَوَىأَحَدُكُمْإِلَىفِرَاشِهِكُلَّلَيْلَةٍ،أَخَذَبِقَبْضَتِهِشَعْرَرَأْسِهِ،ثُمَّجَمَعَأَطْرَافَهُ،ثُمَّقَالَ"اللَّهُمَّاحْفَظْنِيمِنْبَيْنِيَدَىَّوَمِنْخَلْفِي،وَعَنْشِمَالِي،وَعَنْيَمِينِي،وَمِنْفَوْقِي،وَأَعُوذُبِعَظَمَتِكَأَنْأُغْتَالَمِنْتَحْتِي".قَالَوَكَانَلِعُمَرَبْنِالْخَطَّابِـرضىاللهعنهـغُلاَمٌيَخْدُمُهُ،فَلَمْيَنَمْحَتَّىيَسْمَعَهَذِهِالْكَلِمَاتِ،فَلَمَّاكَانَذَاتَلَيْلَةٍ،طَلَبَفَلَمْيَسْمَعْهُ،فَقَالَمَاصَنَعْتَقَالَمَاسَمِعْتُهَارُبَّمَاقُلْتُهَا،قَالَمَابِهَذِهِأُعِيذُكَ.
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Transliteration
ʿAn Abī Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) ann an-Nabiyya ﷺ qāla: 'Idhā awā aḥadukum ilā firāshihi kulla laylatin, akhadha bi-qabḍatihi shaʿra raʾsihi, thumma jamaʿa aṭrāfahu, thumma qāla: 'Allāhumma-ḥfaẓnī min bayni yadayya wa min khalfī, wa ʿan shimālī, wa ʿan yamīnī, wa min fawqī, wa aʿūdhu bi-ʿaẓamatika an ughtāla min taḥtī.' Qāla: Wa kāna li-ʿUmara bni al-Khaṭṭāb (may Allah be pleased with him) ghulāmun yakhdimuhu, fa-lam yanami ḥattā yasmaʿa hādhihi al-kalimāt, fa-lammā kāna dhāta laylatin, ṭalaba fa-lam yasmaʿhu, fa-qāla: Mā ṣanaʿta? Qāla: Mā samiʿtuhā rubbamā qultuhā. Qāla: Mā bi-hādhihi uʿīdhu-ka.
Translation
When any one of you goes to bed, he should take hold of the hem of his garment and say: 'O Allah, protect me from before me and from behind me, from my left and from my right, and from above me, and I seek refuge in Your Magnificence from being taken away from beneath me.' The Prophet ﷺ taught this dua for protection during sleep.
Context
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught this comprehensive supplication to be recited before sleeping. It encompasses seeking Allah's protection from all directions, acknowledging His supreme power and refuge.
Benefit
Reciting this dua invokes Allah's divine protection throughout the night, safeguarding the believer from physical harm and unseen dangers while they are most vulnerable.
When to Recite
Upon retiring to bed for the night.