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 (17)
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 when turning over at night
لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّٰهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، لَهُ ٱلْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ ٱلْحَمْدُ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ، سُبْحَٰنَ ٱللَّٰهِ وَٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّٰهِ وَلَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّٰهُ وَٱللَّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ، وَلَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِٱللَّٰهِ الْعَلِيِّ الْعَظِيمِ. رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي.
There is no god but Allah alone, with no partner. To Him belongs sovereignty and praise, and He is over all things competent. Glory be to Allah, and praise be to Allah, and there is no god but Allah, and Allah is the greatest. And there is no might nor power except with Allah, the Most High, the Most Great. My Lord, forgive me.
Sleep & Wake
Saying 'Bismillah, Allahumma Aqo'omu wa Ahya' Before Sleep
بِسْمِكَ اللَّهُمَّ أَقُومُ وَأَحْيَا
In Your name, O Allah, I die and live.
Sleep & Wake
Dua Before Sleep — Seeking Refuge in Allah's Complete Words
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَالِكٌ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَبِي صَعْصَعَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، أَنَّهُ أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّهُ بَلَغَهُ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " مَنْ قَالَ بِاسْمِ رَبِّ وَضَعْتُ جَنْبِي، اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي ذَنْبِي، وَأَخْرَسْ شَيْطَانِي، وَفُكَّ رِهَانِي، وَاجْعَلْنِي فِي النَّدِيِّ الأَعْلَى " . وَقَالَ أَبُو النَّضْرِ، حَدَّثَنَا سُلَيْمَانُ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ نَحْوَهُ . وَقَالَ " وَفُكَّ أَسْرِي " . وَقَالَ " اجْعَلْنِي مِنْ أَعْلَى " . وَقَالَ " وَأَخْرَسْ شِرْكِي " . وَقَالَ " وَاجْعَلْ لِي بِاسْمِكَ رَبِّ تَرَكْتُ جَنْبِي، وَبِكَ أَرْفَعُهُ، إِنْ أَمْسَكْتَ نَفْسِي، فَاغْفِرْ لَهَا، وَإِنْ أَرْسَلْتَهَا فَاحْفَظْهَا، بِمَا تَحْفَظُ بِهِ عِبَادَكَ الصَّالِحِينَ " .
In Your name, my Lord, I lie down. O Allah, forgive my sins, silence my devil, release me from my bondage, and make me among the highest assembly. In Your name, my Lord, I place my side, and by You I raise it. If You take my soul, forgive it, and if You send it back, protect it with what You protect Your righteous servants.
Evening Duas
Dua for Protection When Going to Sleep
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْلَمْتُ نَفْسِي إِلَيْكَ، وَفَوَّضْتُ أَمْرِي إِلَيْكَ، وَوَجَّهْتُ وَجْهِي إِلَيْكَ، وَأَلْجَأْتُ ظَهْرِي إِلَيْكَ، رَغْبَةً وَرَهْبَةً إِلَيْكَ، لاَ مَلْجَأَ وَلاَ مَنْجَا مِنْكَ إِلاَّ إِلَيْكَ، آمَنْتُ بِكِتَابِكَ الَّذِي أَنْزَلْتَ، وَبِنَبِيِّكَ الَّذِي أَرْسَلْتَ.
O Allah, I have submitted myself to You, entrusted my affairs to You, turned my face towards You, and clung to You for support, hoping in You and fearing You. There is no refuge or safety from You except with You. I believe in the Book You revealed and the Prophet You sent.
Evening Duas
Dua for Protection When Going to Sleep
بِاسْمِكَ رَبِّ وَضَعْتُ جَنْبِي، وَبِكَ أَرْفَعُهُ، إِنْ أَمْسَكْتَ نَفْسِي فَارْحَمْهَا، وَإِنْ أَرْسَلْتَهَا فَاحْفَظْهَا بِمَا تَحْفَظُ بِهِ عِبَادَكَ الصَّالِحِينَ
In Your name, my Lord, I lie down and in Your name I rise. If You should take my soul, then have mercy upon it. And if You should return my soul, then protect it with what You protect Your righteous servants.
Sleep & Wake
Dua for Seeking Refuge from a Bad Dream
عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ قَالَ: سَأَلَ أَبُو الْقَاسِمِ ﷺ يَوْمًا فَقَالَ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، إِنِّي أَرَى فِي الْمَنَامِ مَا يَكْرَهُ. قَالَ: «ذَلِكَ مِمَّا يُحَدِّثُ بِهِ الشَّيْطَانُ الْإِنْسَانَ فِي مَنَامِهِ، فَلَا تَقْصُصْهَا عَلَى أَحَدٍ، وَقُلْ: اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ عَمَلِ الشَّيْطَانِ وَزَخْرِهِ»
Abu Salamah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that he asked the Prophet ﷺ: 'O Messenger of Allah, I see bad dreams.' The Prophet ﷺ replied: 'That is from Satan; he frightens whomever he wishes. So, when any of you sees a bad dream which he dislikes, he should not tell it to anyone, but instead say: O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the evil of Satan and from the evil of the dream itself.'
Sleep & Wake
Dua for Protection Before Sleep
اللَّهُمَّ أَعُوذُ بِوَجْهِكَ الْكَرِيمِ، وَبِكَلِمَاتِكَ التَّامَّاتِ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا أَنْتَ آخِذٌ بِنَاصِيَتِهِ، أَنْ تَكِلَنِي إِلَى نَفْسِي، وَلاَ أَبْصِرُ، وَلاَ أَعْلَمُ، وَلاَ أَرْجُو، وَلاَ أَخَافُ، وَلاَ أَتَوَكَّلُ عَلَى شَيْءٍ سِوَى نَفْسِكَ، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ فِتْنَةِ الْقَوْمِ الظَّالِمِينَ، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ غَشِّ الدَّيْنِ وَغَشِّ الشِّرْكِ.
O Allah, I seek refuge with Your Noble Face and with Your perfect words from the evil of whatever You are holding the forelock of. I seek refuge with You, that I might not be left to myself, nor see, nor know, nor hope, nor fear, nor rely on anything other than You. And I seek refuge with You from the trial of the oppressive people, and I seek refuge with You from the deceit of debt and the deceit of Shirk.
Sleep & Wake
Dua for Anxiety Before Sleep
اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّ السَّمَاوَاتِ السَّبْعِ، وَرَبَّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيمِ، كُنْ لِي جَارًا مِنْ شَرِّ السَّمَاعِ وَالشَّرِّ الْقَدَرِ، وَمِنْ شَرِّ إِبْلِيسَ وَشَرَكِهِ، وَأَنْ يَكُونَ عَلَيَّ أَحَدٌ أَشَدُّ مِنْهُ، أَنْ يَفْرُطَ عَلَيَّ أَوْ أَنْ أَطْغَى، سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ، لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ.
O Allah, Lord of the seven heavens and Lord of the Mighty Throne, be my shield against the evil of the sky and the evil of fate, and against the evil of Iblis and his accomplices. Protect me from anyone stronger than him, lest he should wrong me or transgress against me. Glory be to You, O Allah, there is no god but You.
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).