Seeking Refuge in Allah's Words Before Sleep
Source: Sunan an-Nasa'i 798
عنعبداللهبنمسعودرضياللهعنهقال:قالرسولاللهصلىاللهعليهوسلم:"اتقوااللهحقتقاتهولاتموتنإلاوأنتممسلمون"(آلعمران:102)قال:"إذاأخذأحدكممضجعهمنالليلفليقل:سبحانكاللهموبحمدك،أشهدأنلاإلهإلاأنت،أستغفركوأتوبإليك،فإنقالهنفيليلهثمماتفيه،ماتعلىالفطرة،وإناستيقظاستيقظوقدأصابخيراً".رواهالنسائيفي"عملاليوموالليلة"(798)وغيره.
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Transliteration
ʿan ʿAbdillāh ibn Masʿūd (may Allāh be pleased with him) said: Allāh's Messenger (peace be upon him) said: 'O you who have believed, fear Allāh as He should be feared and do not die except as Muslims [in submission to Him].' (Quran 3:102) He said: 'When any one of you goes to his bed in the night, let him say: Subḥānaka Allāhumma wa bi-ḥamdika, ash-hadu an lā ilāha illā anta, astaghfiruka wa atūbu ilayka. If he says this when he goes to bed at night and dies that night, he will enter Paradise, or he will wake up in the morning having obtained good.'
Translation
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught us a supplication to recite before sleeping. He said: 'When any one of you goes to his bed at night, let him say: Glory be to You, O Allah, and praise be to You. I bear witness that there is no god but You. I seek Your forgiveness and turn to You in repentance.' Reciting this ensures that if one dies that night, they die upon the natural state (fitrah), or they will wake up having gained immense good.
Context
Abdullah ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ instructed Muslims to fear Allah as He should be feared and to die only as Muslims. He then taught this specific supplication for bedtime, explaining its profound benefits.
Benefit
This dua offers protection and a good outcome, whether one's sleep is their last or they awaken. It affirms Tawhid and seeks forgiveness, ensuring death upon the fitrah if it comes that night.
When to Recite
Upon retiring to bed at night, before sleep.