Duas Before Sleep
The Sunnah practice for restful, protected sleep, drawn from authentic hadith.
Background
The Prophet ﷺ taught a complete bedtime routine — dust off the bed, lie on the right side, recite the three Quls and blow into the palms, recite Ayat al-Kursi, and say a short dua. The supplications below are the core of that practice from Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim.
Authentic Duas (9)
Sleep & Wake
Before Sleeping — Ayat al-Kursi
اللَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ، لَا تَأْخُذُهُ سِنَةٌ وَلَا نَوْمٌ، لَّهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ…
Allah — there is no deity except Him, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of existence. Neither drowsiness overtakes Him nor sleep. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth… (Recite all of verse 2:255.)
Sleep & Wake
Before Sleeping — The Three Quls
قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ … قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ الْفَلَقِ … قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ النَّاسِ
Recite Surah al-Ikhlas, Surah al-Falaq, and Surah an-Nas three times each, then blow into your palms and wipe over your body, starting with the head and face and the front of the body.
Sleep & Wake
Dua for Protection Before Sleeping
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " إِذَا أَوَى أَحَدُكُمْ إِلَى فِرَاشِهِ كُلَّ لَيْلَةٍ، أَخَذَ بِقَبْضَتِهِ شَعْرَ رَأْسِهِ، ثُمَّ جَمَعَ أَطْرَافَهُ، ثُمَّ قَالَ " اللَّهُمَّ احْفَظْنِي مِنْ بَيْنِ يَدَىَّ وَمِنْ خَلْفِي، وَعَنْ شِمَالِي، وَعَنْ يَمِينِي، وَمِنْ فَوْقِي، وَأَعُوذُ بِعَظَمَتِكَ أَنْ أُغْتَالَ مِنْ تَحْتِي " . قَالَ وَكَانَ لِعُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ غُلاَمٌ يَخْدُمُهُ، فَلَمْ يَنَمْ حَتَّى يَسْمَعَ هَذِهِ الْكَلِمَاتِ، فَلَمَّا كَانَ ذَاتَ لَيْلَةٍ، طَلَبَ فَلَمْ يَسْمَعْهُ، فَقَالَ مَا صَنَعْتَ قَالَ مَا سَمِعْتُهَا رُبَّمَا قُلْتُهَا، قَالَ مَا بِهَذِهِ أُعِيذُكَ .
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.
Sleep & Wake
Dua for Restlessness in Sleep — Allahumma Gharat an-Nujumu
اللَّهُمَّ غَارَتِ النُّجُومُ وَهَدَأَتِ الْعُيُونُ وَأَنْتَ حَيٌّ قَيُّومٌ لاَ تَأْخُذُكَ سِنَةٌ وَلاَ نَوْمٌ يَا حَيُّ يَا قَيُّومُ أَهْدِئْ لَيْلِي وَأَنِمْ عَيْنِي
O Allah, the stars have set, and the eyes have grown calm, and You are the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of all existence. Neither slumber nor sleep overtakes You. O Ever-Living, O Sustainer, quieten my night and make my eyes sleep.
Situations
Dua for a Bad Dream — Praying if Desired
((ويَقُومُ يُصَلِّي إِنْ أَرَادَ ذَلِكَ)).
If you have a bad dream, you can get up and pray.
Situations
Bad Dream — Spitting Left
((يَنْفُثُ عَنْ يَسَارِهِ)) (ثلاثاً).
Spit on your left three times. This is done by blowing air with a little spittle.
Daily Life
Dua for Stirring at Night — La ilaha illallah Al-Wahid Al-Qahhar
((لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ الْوَاحِدُ الْقَهّارُ، رَبُّ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا الْعَزيزُ الْغَفَّارُ)).
None has the right to be worshipped except Allah, The One, The Subduer. Lord of the heavens, the earth, and all that is between them, The Exalted in Might, The Oft-Forgiving.
Sleep & Wake
Reciting Surah As-Sajdah and Al-Mulk Before Sleep
((يَقْرَأُ ﴿الم﴾ تَنْزِيلَ السَّجْدَة ِ، وَتَبَارَكَ الَّذي بِيَدِهِ الْمُلْكُ)).
One should recite Surah As-Sajdah (Chapter 32) and Surah Al-Mulk (Chapter 67).
Sleep & Wake
Remembrance Before Sleep — Glorifying Allah
((سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ (ثلاثاً وثلاثين) وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ (ثلاثاً وثلاثين) وَاللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ (أربعاً وثلاثينَ))).
How perfect Allah is. All praise is for Allah. Allah is the greatest. This is recited thirty-three times each for the first two phrases and thirty-four times for the last.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the dua before sleep?
'Bismika Allahumma amutu wa ahya' — 'In Your name, O Allah, I die and I live' (Sahih al-Bukhari 6324).
What should I recite before sleeping?
Recite Surah al-Ikhlas, al-Falaq, and an-Nas three times each, blowing into the palms and wiping over the body; then recite Ayat al-Kursi (2:255), which guarantees protection until morning (Sahih al-Bukhari 5017, 2311).