7 sunnah before Sleeping

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In this article, we’ve compiled a list of Sahih hadiths that will offer you an overview of some of the Prophet’s pre-bedtime traditions.

Remember that these are the Prophet’s Sunnah, not fardh deeds. These are not required in any way; rather, they are Mustahabb (preferred) or makruh (disliked habits) that should be avoided.

You improve your character by adopting such attitudes, habits, and behaviours. Here are 7 Sunnah before going to sleep:

1. Make ablution before going to bed:

Al-Bara ‘bin Azib related: “Whenever you go to bed, conduct ablution like that for the prayer, lie on your right side and say,

اللَّهُمَّ أَسْلَمْتُ وَجْهِي إِلَيْكَ، وَفَوَّضْتُ أَمْرِي إِلَيْكَ، وَأَلْجَأْتُ ظَهْرِي إِلَيْكَ، رَغْبَةً وَرَهْبَةً إِلَيْكَ، لاَ مَلْجَأَ وَلاَ مَنْجَا مِنْكَ إِلاَّ إِلَيْكَ، اللَّهُمَّ آمَنْتُ بِكِتَابِكَ الَّذِي أَنْزَلْتَ، وَبِنَبِيِّكَ الَّذِي أَرْسَلْتَ

“Allahumma aslamtu wajhi ilaika, wa fauwadtu Amri ilaika, wa alja’tu Zahri ilaika raghbatan wa rahbatan ilaika raghbatan wa rahbatan ilaika raghbatan wa rahbatan ilaika raghbatan wa rahbatan il Minka illa ilaika la Malja’a wa la manja. Allahumma amantu bikitabika-l-ladhi anzalta wa bina-biyika-l ladhi arsalta” Allahumma amantu bikitabika-l-ladhi anzalta wa bina-biyika-l ladhi arsalta

Thank you, Allah! I give myself over to You, entrusting all of my affairs to You, and relying on You for Your blessings with both hope and trepidation. There is no hiding from You, and there is no other place of safety and shelter than with You, O Allah! I believe in the revelation of Your Book (the Qur’an) and the sending of Your Prophet (Muhammad).

Then you will die with faith if you die that night (i.e. or the religion of Islam)

Sahih Al-Bukhari 247

2. Recite these Surah: Ikhlas, Falaq, Nas and Ayatul Qursi

At night, the Prophet (saw) would recite Al-Mu’awwidhatan (both Surah Falaq and Surah Nas) and read Surah Ikhlas to seek sanctuary from satan.

Before retiring to bed, follow the Prophet’s sunnah.

After reciting Surat Al-Ikhlas, Surat Al-Falaq, and Surat An-Nas, the Prophet used to cup his hands together and blow over it, and then massage his hands over whatever portions of his body he could rub, starting with his head, face, and front of his body, according to ‘Aisha. That was something he used to do three times.

Sahih Al-Bukhari 5017

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, entrusted me to protect the charity of Ramadan. Someone came to me and began taking from the food. I took hold of him and I said, “I will certainly take you to the Messenger of Allah!” Abu Huraira told the story to the Prophet and he said, “The man told me that when I go to bed, I should recite the verse of the throne (Ayatul Qursi). Allah would appoint a protector with me and no devil would come near to me until morning.” The Prophet said, “He told you the truth, although he is a liar. That was Satan.”

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 4723

Grade: Sahih (authentic) according to Al-Bukhari

3. Dust your bed before going to sleep

According to Abu Huraira, the Prophet (PBUH) said, “When anyone of you goes to bed, he should shake out his bed with the inside of his waist sheet, because he has no idea what has come on to it after him,” and then he should say, “Bismika Rabbi Wadatu Janbi wa bika arfa’uhu, In amsakta nafsi farhamha wa in arsaltaha fahf

Sahih Muslim 2714 a and Sahih Al-Bukhari 6320

DHIKR AND TASBEEH BEFORE SLEEPING: Prophet Muhammad’s Sunnah was to recite subhanallah, alhamdulillah, and allahu akbar thirty times before sleeping.

4. Do Dhikr before falling asleep

Fatima came to the Prophet ( ) and asked for a servant, according to Ali bin Abi Talib. “May I notify you of something greater than that?” he asked. Recite “Subhan Allah” thirty-three times, “Al hamduli l-lah” thirty-three times, and “Allahu Akbar” thirty-four times before going to bed. ‘I have never failed to recite it since,’ Ali remarked. “Even on the night of the battle of Siffin?” someone inquired. “Even on the night of the battle of Siffin,” he said.

Sahih Muslim 2727 and Sahih Al-Bukhari 5362 a

5. Sleep on your Right Side

According to Hudhaifa, when the Prophet (saws) went to bed at night, he would place his palm under his cheek and say, “Allahumma bismika amutu wa ahya,” (O Allah, in Your name I die and live), and when he awoke, he would say, “Al-Hamdu lil-lahi al-ladhi ahyana ba’da ma amatana, wa (Praise be to Allaah, who has resurrected us after causing us to die, and to Him belongs the resurrection.)

6314 Sahih Al-Bukhari

6. Don’t sleep on your belly

“The Prophet (saw) passed by me, and I was laying on my stomach,” Abu Dharr was believed to have stated. ‘O Junaidib!’ he shouted, nudging me with his foot. This is how Hell’s inhabitants lie.’

Sunan Ibn Majah 3724 Sahih (Darussalam)

7. Recite Surah Al Mulk

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him narrates that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) said, “There is a Surah in the book of Allah it is but thirty passages which intercedes for a man on the day of judgement so that he taken out of the fire and entered into paradise; it is Surah the Blessed.” (Abu Dawud 1400, At-Tirmidhi 2891 and Ibn Majah 3876.)

It protects you while you sleep, which is critical because you are unable to defend yourself at that time, but an angel appears to guard you because you read it. 

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