Sleep & the Night

Rabbanā lā tu'ākhidhnā in nasīnā aw akhṭa'nā. Rabbanā wa lā taḥmil ʿalaynā iṣran kamā ḥamaltahu ʿalal-ladhīna min qablinā. Rabbanā wa lā tuḥammilnā mā lā ṭāqata lanā bih. Waʿfu ʿannā waghfir lanā warḥamnā, Anta Mawlānā fanṣurnā ʿalal-qawmil-kāfirīn.

Our Lord, do not take us to task if we forget or fall into error. Our Lord, do not lay upon us a burden like that which You laid upon those before us. Our Lord, do not burden us with more than we have strength to bear. Pardon us, forgive us, and have mercy upon us. You are our Protector, so give us victory over the disbelieving people.

To each request in this verse Allah answered: 'Yes.' (Sahih Muslim 126). Whoever recites the last two verses of al-Baqarah at night, they will suffice him. (Sahih al-Bukhari 5009)

[ Surah Al-Baqara 2:286 ]

Rabbanā mā khalaqta hādhā bāṭilan, Subḥānaka faqinā ʿadhāban-nār.

Our Lord, You did not create this without purpose. Exalted are You; protect us from the punishment of the Fire.

[ Surah Aal-i-Imraan 3:191 ]

Rabbi aʿūdhu bika min hamazātish-shayāṭīn. Wa aʿūdhu bika Rabbi an yaḥḍurūn.

My Lord, I seek refuge in You from the incitements of the devils, and I seek refuge in You, my Lord, lest they be present with me.

[ Surah Al-Muminoon 23:97-98 ]

Qul aʿūdhu bi-Rabbil-falaq. Min sharri mā khalaq. Wa min sharri ghāsiqin idhā waqab. Wa min sharrin-naffāthāti fil-ʿuqad. Wa min sharri ḥāsidin idhā ḥasad.

Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of the daybreak, from the evil of that which He created, and from the evil of darkness when it settles, and from the evil of the blowers in knots, and from the evil of an envier when he envies.

Recited three times morning and evening, before sleep, and as ruqyah. (Sunan Abi Dawud 5082)

[ Surah Al-Falaq 113:1-5 ]

Qul aʿūdhu bi-Rabbin-nās. Malikin-nās. Ilāhin-nās. Min sharril-waswāsil-khannās. Alladhī yuwaswisu fī ṣudūrin-nās. Minal-jinnati wan-nās.

Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind, the Sovereign of mankind, the God of mankind, from the evil of the retreating whisperer who whispers in the breasts of mankind, from among the jinn and mankind.

Recited three times morning and evening, before sleep, and as ruqyah. (Sunan Abi Dawud 5082)

[ Surah An-Naas 114:1-6 ]

Bismillāhir-Raḥmānir-Raḥīm. Qul huwallāhu aḥad. Allāhuṣ-ṣamad. Lam yalid wa lam yūlad. Wa lam yakun lahu kufuwan aḥad. Reference: Al-Ikhlas 112:1-4. Bismillāhir-Raḥmānir-Raḥīm. Qul a`ūdhu birabbil-falaq. Min sharri mā khalaq. Wa min sharri ghāsiqin idhā waqab. Wa min sharrin-naffāthāti fil-`uqad. Wa min sharri ḥāsidin idhā ḥasad. Reference: Al-Falaq 113:1-5. Bismillāhir-Raḥmānir-Raḥīm. Qul a`ūdhu birabbin-nās. Malikin-nās. 'Ilāhin-nās. Min sharri ‘l-waswāsil-khannās. Alladhī yuwaswisu fī ṣudūrin-nās. Minal-jinnati wannās. Reference: An-Nas 114:1-6

Hold the palms together, blow (with a little spittle) into them, and recite: 'With the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Say: He is Allah (the) One. The Self-Sufficient Master, Whom all creatures need, He begets not nor was He begotten, and there is none equal to Him. With the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Say: I seek refuge with (Allah) the Lord of the daybreak, from the evil of what He has created, and from the evil of the darkening (night) as it comes with its darkness, and from the evil of those who practice witchcraft when they blow in the knots, and from the evil of the envier when he envies. With the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Say: I seek refuge with (Allah) the Lord of mankind, the King of mankind, the God of mankind, from the evil of the whisperer who withdraws, who whispers in the breasts of mankind, of jinns and men.' (Then pass your hands over as much of your body as you can reach, beginning with the head and the face, then the entire front of your body. Do this three times.)

[ Al-Bukhari, cf. Al-Asqalani, Fathul-Bari 9/62, and Muslim 4/ 1723. Hisn al-Muslim 99 ]

Allāhu lā ilāha illā huwa ‘l-Ḥayyul-Qayyūm, lā ta'khudhuhu sinatun wa lā nawm, lahu mā fis-samāwāti wa māfil-ardh, man dhal-ladhī yashfa`u `indahu illā bi'idhnih, ya`lamu mā bayna aydīhim wa mā khalfahum, wa lā yuḥītūna bishay'im-min `ilmihi illā bimā shā', wasi`a kursiyyuhus-samāwāti wal-ardh, wa lā ya'ūduhu hifẓuhumā, wa huwal-`Aliyyu‘l-`Aẓīm.

Allah! There is none worthy of worship but He, the Ever-Living, the One Who sustains and protects all that exists. Neither slumber nor sleep overtakes Him. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. Who is he that can intercede with Him except with His Permission? He knows what happens to them in this world, and what will happen to them in the Hereafter. And they will never encompass anything of His Knowledge except that which He wills. His Throne extends over the heavens and the earth, and He feels no fatigue in guarding and preserving them. And He is the Most High, the Most Great.

[ Al-Baqarah 2:255. Whoever reads this when he lies down to sleep will have a guardian from Allah remain with him and Satan will not be able to come near him until he rises in the morning. See Al-Bukhari, cf. Al-Asqalani, Fathul-Bari 4/487. Hisn al-Muslim 100 ]

Āmanar-Rasūlu bimā unzila ilaihi mir-Rabbihi wa ‘l-mu'minūn, kullun āmana billāhi wa malā'ikatihi wa kutubihi wa rusulih, lā nufarriqu bayna aḥadim-mir-rusulih, wa qālū sami`nā wa aṭa`nā, ghufrānaka Rabbanā wa ilayka ‘l-maṣīr. Lā yukallifu ‘llāhu nafsan illā wus`ahā, lahā mā kasabat wa `alayhā mak-tasabat, Rabbanā lā tu'ākhidhnā in nasīnā aw akhta'nā, Rabbanā wa lā taḥmil `alaynā iṣran kamā ḥamaltahu `alal-ladhīna min qablinā, Rabbanā wa lā tuḥammilnā mā lā ṭāqata lanā bih, wa`fu `annā, waghfir lanā, warḥamnā, Anta mawlānā fanṣurnā `ala ‘l-qawmi ‘l-kāfirīn.

The Messenger believes in what has been sent down to him from his Lord, and so do the believers. Each one believes in Allah, His Angels, His Books, and His Messengers. They say: 'We make no distinction between any of His Messengers,' and they say: 'We hear, and we obey. (We seek) Your Forgiveness, our Lord, and to You is the return.' Allah burdens not a person beyond what he can bear. He gets rewarded for that (good) which he has earned, and he is punished for that (evil) which he has earned. Our Lord! Punish us not if we forget or fall into error. Our Lord! Lay not on us a burden like that which You did lay on those before us. Our Lord! Put not on us a burden greater than we have the strength to bear. Pardon us and grant us forgiveness. Have mercy on us. You are our Protector, and help us against the disbelieving people.The Messenger believes in what has been sent down to him from his Lord, and so do the believers. Each one believes in Allah, His Angels, His Books, and His Messengers. They say: 'We make no distinction between any of His Messengers,' and they say: 'We hear, and we obey. (We seek) Your Forgiveness, our Lord, and to You is the return.' Allah burdens not a person beyond what he can bear. He gets rewarded for that (good) which he has earned, and he is punished for that (evil) which he has earned. Our Lord! Punish us not if we forget or fall into error. Our Lord! Lay not on us a burden like that which You did lay on those before us. Our Lord! Put not on us a burden greater than we have the strength to bear. Pardon us and grant us forgiveness. Have mercy on us. You are our Protector, and help us against the disbelieving people.

[ Al-Baqarah 2:285-6. These two Verses will be sufficient for anyone who recites them at night before sleeping. Al-Bukhari, cf. Al-Asqalani, Fathul-Bari.9/94, Muslim 1/554. Hisn al-Muslim 101 ]

Bismika Rabbī waḍa`tu janbī, wa bika arfa`uh, fa in amsakta nafsī farḥamhā, wa in arsaltahā faḥfaẓhā bimā taḥfaẓu bihi `ibādakaṣ-ṣāliḥīn.

With Your Name1 my Lord, I lay myself down; and with Your Name I rise. And if You take my soul, have mercy on it, and if You send it back then protect it as You protect Your righteous slaves.2

[ 1 'If any of you rises from his bed and later returns to it, let him dust off his bed with his waist garment three times and mention the Name of Allah, for he does not know what may have entered the bed after him, and when he lies down he should say. . . '. 2 Al-Bukhari 1 1/ 126 and Muslim 4/2084. Hisn al-Muslim 102 ]

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.

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.

[ Muslim 4/2083 and Ahmad 2/79. Hisn al-Muslim 103 ]

Allāhumma qinī `adhābaka yawma tab`athu `ibādak.

O Allah,1 save me from Your punishment on the Day that You resurrect Your slaves.2

[ 1 'When the Prophet (ﷺ) wanted to lie down to sleep, he used to place his right hand under his cheek and say...' 2 Abu Dawud 4/311. See also Al-Albani, Sahih At-Tirmidhi 3/143. Hisn al-Muslim 104 ]

Bismika Allāhumma amūtu wa aḥyā.

In Your Name, O Allah, I die and I live.

[ Here, dying and living are metaphors for sleep and wakefulness. This explains why the normal order of these words has been reversed in this Hadith. In other contexts the living is mentioned before dying. See Qur'an Al-Baqarah 2:258, Aal-'Imrdn 3:156, Al-A'raf 7:158 among many other examples, (trans.). See also Al-Asqalani, Fathul-Bari 11/113, Muslim 4/ 2083. Hisn al-Muslim 105 ]

Subḥānallāh, Wa ‘l-ḥamdu lillāh, Wallāhu Akbar.

Glory is to Allah (thirty-three times in Arabic), Praise is to Allah (thirty-three times), Allah is the Most Great (thirty-four times)

[ Al-Bukhari, cf. Al-Asqalani, Fathul-Bari 7/71, Muslim 4/2091. Hisn al-Muslim 106 ]

Allāhumma Rabbas-samāwātis-sab`i wa Rabba ‘l-`Arshi ‘l-`Aẓīm, Rabbanā wa Rabba kulli shay', fāliqa ‘l-ḥabbi wan-nawā, wa munzilat-Tawrāti wal-'Injīli, wal-Furqān, a`ūdhu bika min sharri kulli shay'in anta ākhidhun bināṣiyatih. Allāhumma anta ‘l-awwalu falaysa qablaka shay', wa antal-ākhiru falaysa ba`daka shay', wa antaẓ-ẓāhiru falaysa fawqaka shay', wa antal-bāṭinu falaysa dūnaka shay', iqḍi `annad-dayn, wa aghninā mina ‘l-faqr.

O Allah! Lord of the seven heavens and Lord of the Magnificent Throne. Our Lord and the Lord of everything. Splitter of the grain and the date-stone, Revealer of the Torah and the Injeel1 and the Furqan (the Qur'an), I seek refuge in You from the evil of everything that You shall seize by the forelock.2 O Allah You are the First and nothing has come before you, and You are the Last, and nothing may come after You. You are the Most High, nothing is above You and You are the Most Near, and nothing is nearer than You. Remove our debts from us and enrich us against poverty. 3

[ 1 The Scripture that was revealed to 'Isa (Jesus). 2 See Qur'an Al-'Alaq 96:15, where seizure by the forelock preceeds being cast into Hell. (Translator) 3 Muslim 4/2084. Hisn al-Muslim 107 ]

Alḥamdu lillāhil-lathī 'aṭ`amanā wa saqānā, wa kafānā, wa 'āwānā, fakam mimman lā kāfiya lahu wa lā mu'wī.

Praise is to Allah Who has provided us with food and with drink, sufficed us and gave us an abode, for how many are there with no provision and no home.

[ Muslim 4/2085. Hisn al-Muslim 108 ]

Allāhumma `ālima ‘l-ghaybi wash-shahādah, fātiras-samāwāti wa ‘l-ardh, Rabba kulli shay'in wa malīkah, ash-hadu an lā ilāha illā ant, a`ūdhu bika min sharri nafsī, wa min sharrish-shayṭāni wa shirkih, wa an aqtarifa `alā nafsī sū'an, aw ajurrahu ilā Muslim.

O Allah, Knower of the unseen and the evident, Maker of the heavens and the earth, Lord of everything and its Master, I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but You. I seek refuge in You from the evil of my soul, and from the evil of Satan and his helpers. (I seek refuge in You) from bringing evil upon my soul and from harming any Muslim.

[ Abu Dawud 4/317. See also Al-Albani, SahihAt-Tirmidhi 3/142. Hisn al-Muslim 109 ]

--

Recite Surah 32 (As-Sajdah) and Surah 67 (Al-Mulk) in Arabic.

[ At-Tirmidhi, An-Nasa'i. See also Al-Albani, Sahihul-Jami ' As-Saghir 4/255 Hisn al-Muslim 110 ]

Allāhumma aslamtu nafsī ilayk, wa fawwaḍtu amrī ilayk, wa wajjahtu wajhī ilayk, wa alja'tu ẓahrī ilayk, raghbatan wa rahbatan ilayk, lā malja'a wa la manjā minka illā ilayk, āmantu bikitābika ‘l-ladhī anzalt, wa bi-nabiyyika ‘l-ladhī arsalt.

O Allah,1 I submit myself to You, entrust my affairs to You, turn my face to You, and lay myself down depending upon You, hoping in You and fearing You. There is no refuge, and no escape, except to You. I believe in Your Book (the Qur'an) that You revealed, and the Prophet whom You sent.

[ 1 "Before you go to bed perform ablutions as you would for prayer, then lie down on your right side and say. . . " The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "Whoever says this and dies in his sleep, has died in a state of the natural monotheism (Fitrah)." Al-Bukhari, cf. Al-Asqalani, Fathul-Bari 11/113, Muslim 4/2081. Hisn al-Muslim 111 ]

Lā ilāha illallāh al-Wāḥidul-Qahhār, Rabbus-samāwāti wa ‘l-arḍi wa mā baynahuma al-`Azīzul-Ghaffār.

There is none worthy of worship but Allah, the One, the Victorious, Lord of the heavens and the earth and all that is between them, the All-Mighty, the All-Forgiving.

[ This is to be said if you turn over in bed during the night. Al-Hakim graded it authentic and Ath-Thahabi agreed 1/540. Also see An-Nasa'i, 'Amalul-Yawm wal-Laylah, and Ibn As-Sunni. See also Al-Albani, Sahihul-Jami' As-Saghir 4/ 213. Hisn al-Muslim 112 ]

A`ūdhu bikalimāti ‘llāhit-tāmmāti min ghaḍabihi wa `iqābihi wa sharri `ibādih, wa min hamazātish-shayāṭīni wa an yaḥḍurūn.

I seek refuge in the Perfect Words of Allah from His anger and His punishment, from the evil of His slaves, and from the taunts of devils and from their presence.

[ Abu Dawud 4/12. See also Al-Albani, Sahih At- Tirmidhi 3/171. Hisn al-Muslim 113 ]

Spit to your left (three times).1 Seek refuge in Allah from the Devil and from the evil of what you have seen (three times).2 Do not speak about it to anyone.3 Turn over on your other side.4

[ 1. Muslim 4/1 772. 2. Muslim 4/1 772, 3. 3. Muslim 4/1772. 4. Muslim 4/1773. Hisn al-Muslim 114 ]

Get up and pray if you desire to do so.

[ Muslim 4/1773. Hisn al-Muslim 115 ]

Alḥamdu lillāhil-ladhī 'aḥyānā ba`da mā 'amātanā wa 'ilayhin-nushūr.

Praise is to Allah Who gives us life after He has caused us to die and to Him is the return.

[ Al-Bukhari, cf. Al-Asqalani, Fathul-Bari 11/113; Muslim 4/2083. Hisn al-Muslim 1 ]

Lā 'ilāha 'illallāhu waḥdahu la sharīka lahu, lahul-mulku wa lahul-ḥamdu, wa huwa 'alā kulli shay'in qadīr Subḥānallāhi, walḥamdu lillāhi, wa lā 'ilāha 'illallāhu, wallāhu 'akbar, wa lā ḥaula wa lā quwwata 'illā billāhil-`aliyyil-`aẓīm, rabbighfir lī.

There is none worthy of worship but Allah alone, Who has no partner, His is the dominion and to Him belongs all praise, and He is able to do all things. Glory is to Allah. Praise is to Allah. There is none worthy of worship but Allah. Allah is the Most Great. There is no might and no power except by Allah's leave, the Exalted, the Mighty. My Lord, forgive me.

[ Whoever says this will be forgiven, and if he supplicates Allah, his prayer will be answered; if he performs ablution and prays, his prayer will be accepted. Al-Bukhari, cf. Al-Asqalani, Fathul-Bari 3/39, among others. The wording here is from Ibn Majah 2/335. Hisn al-Muslim 2 ]

Al-ḥamdu lillāhil-ladhī `āfānī fī jasadī, wa radda `alayya rūḥī, wa 'adhina lī bidhikrihi.

Praise is to Allah Who gave strength to my body and returned my soul to me and permitted me to remember Him.

[ At-Tirmidhi 5/473. See Al-Albani's Sahih Tirmidhi 3/144. Hisn al-Muslim 3 ]

Inna fī khalqi-ssamāwāti wal-'arđi wakhtilāfi-llayli wan-nahāri la'āyātin li'wlī-l-'albāb. Al-ladhīna yadhkurūna-allaha qiyāman wa quūdan wa alā junūbihim wa yatafakkarūna fī khalqi-ssamāwāti wal-'arđi rabbanā mā khalaqta hādhā bāţilāan subĥānaka faqinā adhāban-nār. Rabbanā 'innaka man tudkhili-nnāra faqad 'akhzaytahu wa mā li-žžālimīna min 'anşārin. Rabbanā 'innanā saminā munādīan yunādī lil'īmāni 'an 'āminū birabbikum fa 'āmannā. Rabbanā fāghfirlanā dhunūbanā wa kaffir annā sayyi'ātinā wa tawaffanā maa al-'abrāri. Rabbanā wa 'ātinā mā waadtanā alá rusulika wa lā tukhzinā yawmal-qiyāmati 'innaka lā tukhliful-mīād. Fāstajāba lahum rabbuhum 'annī lā 'uđīu amala āmilin minkum min dhakarin 'aw 'unthá bađukum min bađin fa-lladhīna hājarū wa 'ukhrijū min diyārihim wa 'ūdhū fī sabīlī wa qātalū wa qutilū la'ukaffiranna anhum sayyi'ātihim wa la'udkhilannahum jannātin tajrī min taĥtihāl-'anhāru thawāban min indil-lahi wal-lāhu indahu ĥusnuth-thawāb. Lā yaghurrannaka taqallubu 'l-ladhīna kafarū fī l-bilādi. Matāun qalīlun thumma ma'wāhum jahannamu wa bi'sa 'l-mihād. Lakini 'l-ladhīna 'ttaqaw rabbahum lahum jannātun tajrī min taĥtihā 'l-'anhāru khālidīna fīhā nuzulan min indi 'l-lahi wa mā inda 'llahi khayrun li 'l-abrār. Wa 'inna min 'ahli 'l-kitābi laman yu'minu bil-lahi wa mā 'unzila 'ilaykum wa mā 'unzila 'ilayhim khāshiīna lillahi lā yashtarūna bi'āyāti 'l-lahi thamanan qalīlāan 'ulā'ika lahum 'ajruhum inda rabbihim 'inna 'l-laha sarīu al-ĥisāb. Yā 'ayyuhā 'l-ladhīna 'āmanū-şbirū wa şābirū wa rābiţū wa 'ttaqu 'l-laha laallakum tufliĥūn.

Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of the day and night there are signs for people of reason. ˹They are˺ those who remember Allah while standing, sitting, and lying on their sides, and reflect on the creation of the heavens and the earth ˹and pray˺, “Our Lord! You have not created ˹all of˺ this without purpose. Glory be to You! Protect us from the torment of the Fire. Our Lord! Indeed, those You commit to the Fire will be ˹completely˺ disgraced! And the wrongdoers will have no helpers. Our Lord! We have heard the caller to ˹true˺ belief, ˹proclaiming,˺ ‘Believe in your Lord ˹alone˺,’ so we believed. Our Lord! Forgive our sins, absolve us of our misdeeds, and allow us ˹each˺ to die as one of the virtuous. Our Lord! Grant us what You have promised us through Your messengers and do not put us to shame on Judgment Day—for certainly You never fail in Your promise.” So their Lord responded to them: “I will never deny any of you—male or female—the reward of your deeds. Both are equal in reward. Those who migrated or were expelled from their homes, and were persecuted for My sake and fought and ˹some˺ were martyred—I will certainly forgive their sins and admit them into Gardens under which rivers flow, as a reward from Allah. And with Allah is the finest reward!” Do not be deceived by the prosperity of the disbelievers throughout the land. It is only a brief enjoyment. Then Hell will be their home—what an evil place to rest! But those who are mindful of their Lord will be in Gardens under which rivers flow, to stay there forever—as an accommodation from Allah. And what is with Allah is best for the virtuous. Indeed, there are some among the People of the Book who truly believe in Allah and what has been revealed to you ˹believers˺ and what was revealed to them. They humble themselves before Allah—never trading Allah’s revelations for a fleeting gain. Their reward is with their Lord. Surely Allah is swift in reckoning. O believers! Patiently endure, persevere, stand on guard, and be mindful of Allah, so you may be successful.

[ Qur'an Āl-'Imran 3: 190-200; Al-Bukhari, cf. Al-Asqalani, Fathul-Bari 8/237; Muslim 1/530. Hisn al-Muslim 4 ]