Dua for Going to Sleep

One of the most common and easiest ways to get a good night’s sleep is to recite dua before bed. When we say dua, it means “supplication” in Arabic. It gives you spiritual satisfaction and safe and peaceful sleep from all unseen and harmful creations. There are multiple authentic narrations about dua for going to sleep.

These are some Authentic supplications that should be read before sleeping:

1. Blowing into cupped arms:

It was narrated from ‘Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) that when the Prophet ﷺ went to his bed every night, he would put his cupped hands together, then blow into them, then recite into them Qul Huwa Allahu ahad, Qul a’udhu bi Rabb il-Falaq and Qul a’udhu bi Rabb il-Nas [i.e., the last three surahs of the Quran), then he would wipe his hands over as much of his body as he could, starting with his head and face, and the front part of his body. He would do that three times. (Al-Bukhari)

2. Recitation of Ayat al-Kursiy

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said:

The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) put me in charge of guarding the collected zakah of Ramadan. Someone came and started to rummage in the food. I took hold of him and said, I will surely take you to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ .… He [the one who came and rummaged in the food] said, When you go to your bed, recite Ayat al-Kursiy and you will be protected by Allah, and no devil will come near you until morning. The Prophet ﷺ said, “He told you the truth even though he is a liar. That was a devil. (Al-Bukhari)

3. Recitation of the last two verses for Surah al-Baqarah

Abu Mas‘ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Prophet ﷺ said:

“Whoever recites the last two verses of Surah al-Baqarah every night, they will suffice him.” (Al-Bukhari)

4. Specific Dua

Hudhayfah ibn al-Yaman (may Allah be pleased with him) said: When the Prophet ﷺ wanted to sleep , he would say,

بِاسْمِكَ اللَّهُمَّ أَمُوتُ وَأَحْيَا

“Bismika Allahumma amutu wa ahya

(In your name, O Allah, I die and I live)”, and when he woke up he would say “Al-hamdu Lillah alladhi ahyana ba’da ma amatana wa ilayhi al-nushur (Praise be to Allah who has brought us back to life after causing us to die, and to Him is the resurrection). (Al-Bukhari)

Get enrolled in dua course

Dua for Going to Sleep hadith

Hudhaifah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:

Whenever the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) intended to go to sleep, he would place his right hand under his (right) cheek and supplicate: “Allahumma qini ‘adhabaka yauma tab’athu ‘ibadaka (O Allah! Guard me against Your punishment on the Day when You will resurrect Your slaves).”

[At-Tirmidhi].

In a narration in Abu Dawud, Hafsah (May Allah be pleased with her) said: Before going to sleep the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) would recite this Du’a three times.

Al-Bara’ bin ‘Azib (May Allah be pleased with them) reported:

Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) directed me thus: “Whenever you go to bed, perform Wudu’ as you do for Salat then (before sleeping) recite: ‘O Allah! I have submitted myself to You, I have turned myself to You, committed my affairs to You and sought Your refuge for protection out of desire for You and fear of You (expecting Your reward and fearing Your punishment). There is no refuge and no place of safety from You but with You. I believe in the Book You have revealed and in the Prophet (ﷺ) You have sent.”‘ Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) added: “If anyone recites these words and dies during the night, he will die on the true Deen, and if he remains alive till the morning, he will obtain good. And make this supplication your last words (before sleeping).”

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Ibn ‘Abbas said:

I spent a night with my maternal aunt Maimuna when the Prophet was with her. After talking to his family for a time he had a sleep, then when the last third of the night came, or a little later, he sat up, looked at the sky, and recited, “In the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of night and day there are indeed signs for people of understanding,”(Al-Qur’an; 3:190) to the end of the sura. Then getting up and going to the bucket, he loosened its cord and poured some water into a bowl, then performed a good ablution between the two extremes, not going to great length, and when he had done it fully he stood up and prayed. I got up, and when I had performed ablution I stood at his left side, whereupon he took me by the ear and made me go round to his right side. His prayer was altogether thirteen rak’as. Then he lay down and slept, and he snored as was his custom. When Bilal made the call to prayer for him he prayed without performing ablution, and his supplication included these words, “O God, place light in my heart, light in my eyesight, light in my hearing, light on my right hand, light on my left hand, light above me, light below me, light in front of me, light behind me, and grant me light.” Some added, “and light in my tongue,” and mentioned, “my joints, my flesh, my blood, my hair, my skin.” (Bukhari and Muslim.) In a version by both of them he said, “Place light in my soul, and give me abundant light.” In another by Muslim he said, “O God, give me light.”