Sleeping is essential to sustaining a healthy life and keeping our bodies functioning. It is a part of our lives, like eating food and drinking water. On average, a person spends 7-9 hours sleeping a day, which is 9490 days and 227760 hours in a lifetime.
Our lifestyles and daily routines have changed over time. With the availability of social media apps like YouTube and TikTok, our screen time has increased dramatically. We use our mobile phones before sleeping to watch videos, listen to podcasts, and engage on social media.
With these facilities to waste our time, we have completely forgotten what our Holy Prophet (PBUH) did when he went to sleep, what dua for sleeping he recited, and how he slept. This blog will focus on the duas for sleeping, how to sleep as per Sunnah, and the benefits of doing it.
Duas for Sleeping
اللهم قني عذابك يوم تبعث عبادك
Dua for sleeping English transliteration: Allahumma qini ‘adhabaka yauma tab’athu ‘ibadaka.
English translation: O Allah! Guard me against Your punishment on the Day when You will resurrect Your slaves.
Hadith: Hudhaifah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Whenever the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) intended to go to sleep, he would place his right hand under his (right) cheek and supplicate: “Allahumma qini ‘adhabaka yauma tab’athu ‘ibadaka. —Riyad as-Salihin 1464
Explanation: The Holy Prophet (PBUH) used to recite this supplication before going to sleep. We, as Muslims, should recite this dua and reap its benefits.
Dua for Sleep, when going to bed
بِاسْمِكَ رَبِّ وَضَعْتُ جَنْبِي، وَبِكَ أَرْفَعُهُ، إِنْ أَمْسَكْتَ نَفْسِي فَارْحَمْهَا، وَإِنْ أَرْسَلْتَهَا فَاحْفَظْهَا بِمَا تَحْفَظُ بِهِ عِبَادَكَ الصَّالِحِينَ
English transliteration: Bismika Rabbi Wada`tu Janbi wa bika arfa’uhu, In amsakta nafsi farhamha wa in arsaltaha fahfazha bima tahfazu bihi ibadakas-salihin.
English translation: In Your name, O Lord, I lay down my side, and by Your command, I raise it. If You take my soul, have mercy on it, and if You return it to me, protect it as You protect Your righteous servants.
Hadith: Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet (PBUH) said, “When anyone of you go to bed, he should shake out his bed with the inside of his waist sheet, for he does not know what has come on to it after him, and then he should say: ‘Bismika Rabbi Wada`tu Janbi wa bika arfa’uhu, In amsakta nafsi farhamha wa in arsaltaha fahfazha bima tahfazu bihi ibadakas-salihin.” —Sahih al-Bukhari 6320
Dua for Sleeping at Night
اللَّهمَّ إِنَّكَ خَلَقْتَ نَفْسِي وَأَنْتَ تَوَفَّاهَا لَكَ مَمَاتُهَا وَمَحْيَاهَا، إِنْ أَحْيَيْتَهَا فَاحْفَظْهَا، وَإِنْ أَمَتَّهَا فَاغْفِرْ لَهَا. اللَّهمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ العَافِيَةَ
English transliteration: Allāhumma innaka khalaqta nafsī wa anta tawaffāhā, laka mamātuhā wa maḥyāhā, in aḥyaytahā faḥfaẓhā, wa in amattahā faghfir lahā. Allāhumma innī as’aluka ‘l-`āfiyah. —Hisn al-Muslim 103
English translation: O Allah, You have created my soul and You take it back. Unto You is its death and its life. If You give it life, then protect it, and if You cause it to die, then forgive it. O Allah, I ask You for strength.
Explanation: This dua is mentioned in Sahih Muslim and Musnad Ahmad. In this supplication, a Muslim is asking Allah to forgive him or her if they die during sleep, and if Allah grants them life, he should protect their soul from evil.
Dua for Sleeping in Islam
بِاسْـمِكَ أَمُوتُ وَأَحْيَا
English transliteration: Bismik-Allahumma ahya wa amut.
English translation: With Your Name, O Allah, I expire and return to life
Hadith: Hudhaifah and Abu Dharr (May Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) used to supplicate when he went to bed at night: “Bismik-Allahumma ahya wa amut.” —Riyad as-Salihin 1458
اَلْحَمْدُ للهِ الَّذِي أَطْعَمَنَا وَسَقَانَا، وَكَفَانَا، وَآوَانَا، فَكَمْ مِمَّنْ لا كَافِيَ لَه ُُ وَلا مُؤْوِي
English transliteration: Alhamdu lillahil-lathee atAAamana wasaqana, wakafana, wa-awana, fakam mimman la kafiya lahu wala mu/wee. —Hisn al-Muslim 108
English translation: All praise is for Allah, Who fed us and gave us drink, and Who is sufficient for us and has sheltered us, for how many have none to suffice them or shelter them.
Hadith: Anas said that when God’s messenger went to his bed, he said, “Praise be to God who has fed us, given us drink, satisfied us, and given us refuge. Many there are who have no one to provide sufficiency for them, or give them refuge.” Muslim transmitted it. —Mishkat al-Masabih 2386
How to sleep as per Sunnah?
The Holy Prophet (PBUH) was sent to this world to spread Islam and show the best practices of spending as per the will of Allah. We should seek guidance from Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in every aspect of life.
Here are the details on how a Muslim should sleep as per Sunnah.
Sleeping on the right side
The Holy Prophet (PBUH) sleeps on his right side with his right hand under his cheek. This is the best position for good digestion because the stomach and heart are located on the left side. Sleeping on the right side does not physically stress the heart and stomach.
Qailulah
When a person wakes up in the morning and works until lunchtime, they often feel tired. A 30-45 minute rest is usually needed before restarting work. This mid-day nap is called Qailulah and was practiced by the Holy Prophet (PBUH).
Qailulah helps restore lost energy, leaving a person feeling more refreshed. If you wake up for Fajr, it is recommended to try a mid-day nap for at least 30 minutes to regain your energy.
Cleaning bed
A Muslim should brush his bed before sleeping on it. This was a common practice of the Holy Prophet (PBUH), and we should follow it.
Sleeping on Stomach and Face
The Holy Prophet (PBUH) preferred sleeping on his right side. Once he found a Sahabi sleeping on his stomach, he nudged him with his foot and advised him not to sleep on his stomach. —Sunan Ibn Majah 3723
Prayer at Night
The Holy Prophet (PBUH) prayed the night prayer (Tahajjud) and made it in his daily routine. He only skipped it when he was sick and couldn’t wake up due to the illness.
Narrated Jundab: The Prophet (PBUH) became sick and did not get up (for Tahajjud prayer) for a night or two. —Sahih al-Bukhari 1124
Benefits of following Sunnah for Sleeping
Here are the benefits of sleeping early at night and following the Sunnah:
- Improved Health: Adequate rest helps with physical recovery and boosts the immune system.
- Increased Productivity: Waking up early after sufficient sleep increases focus and efficiency throughout the day.
- Better Spiritual Practice: Sleeping early aligns with the Sunnah, promoting timely waking for Fajr prayer and other morning worship.
- Enhanced Mood: Early and consistent sleep improves mood and reduces stress.
- Balanced Lifestyle: Following the Sunnah of sleeping early creates a healthy routine, leading to better time management.
- Mental Clarity: Early sleep supports better cognitive function and decision-making.
- Increased Barakah: Following the Sunnah can invite blessings and spiritual growth into one’s life.
Wrap Up
There are several other dua for sleeping in the Hadith books, but we have only mentioned the popular ones. Inshallah, you will have a good night’s sleep if you have recited any of the abovementioned sleeping duas.
We have also created a blog on the best dua for waking up and will update this blog with more sleep supplications. You can also guide us by emailing your suggestions.
FAQs
What is the best dua for sleeping?
We have mentioned the best dua you can use before sleeping. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) recited all of the above-mentioned duas before sleeping, and we should replicate him.
However, according to some scholars, the best dua for sleeping is Ayat Al Kursi.
ٱللَّهُ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ٱلْحَىُّ ٱلْقَيُّومُ ۚ لَا تَأْخُذُهُۥ سِنَةٌۭ وَلَا نَوْمٌۭ ۚ لَّهُۥ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۗ مَن ذَا ٱلَّذِى يَشْفَعُ عِندَهُۥٓ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِۦ ۚ يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ ۖ وَلَا يُحِيطُونَ بِشَىْءٍۢ مِّنْ عِلْمِهِۦٓ إِلَّا بِمَا شَآءَ ۚ وَسِعَ كُرْسِيُّهُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ ۖ وَلَا يَـُٔودُهُۥ حِفْظُهُمَا ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَلِىُّ ٱلْعَظِيمُ
English transliteration: Allahu la ilaha illa huwa al-hayyul-qayyoom. La ta’khuthuhu sinatun wa la nawmun. Lahu ma fissamawati wa ma fil-ardh. Man thallathee yashfa’u ‘indahu illa bi-ithnihi. Ya’lamu ma bayna aydeehim wa ma khalfahum, wa la yuheetoona bishay-in min ‘ilmihi illa bima sha’. Wasi’a kursiyyuhu assamawati wal-ardh, wa la yaooduhu hifthuhuma, wa huwa al-‘aliyyu al-‘atheem.
I cant sleep at night, which surah should I recite?
Reciting Surah Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq, and An-Naas: The Prophet (PBUH) would offer prayers and seek Allah’s protection before going to sleep. By following his example and reciting these short surahs, we can ensure a more peaceful sleep and remind ourselves that Allah is always watching over us.
Is sleeping after Fajr Haram in Islam?
To answer this question, we have checked the complete Quran and Hadith books. There is no restrictions on sleeping after Farj Salah, therefore, if you are feeling sleepy, go to sleep after Fajr. However, the Holy Prophet (PBUH) practiced mid-day naps instead of sleeping after Fajr.
What else should you know?
Here is a list of powerful Islamic duas you should know.
