The Prophet ﷺ did not sleep until he had recited Surah As-Sajdah and Surah Al-Mulk. He also said: "A surah of the Quran of thirty verses interceded for a man until he was forgiven: Tabarak alladhi biyadihil-mulk."
✓ SahihReference: at-Tirmidhi 2892 and 2891, Abu Dawud 1400, Ibn Majah 3786; graded sahih/hasan by al-Albani
Recited together with Surah Al-Mulk, as in the hadith above.
✓ SahihReference: at-Tirmidhi 2892; graded sahih by al-Albani
Quran
The last two verses of Surah Al-Baqarah (2:285–286)
"Whoever recites the last two verses of Surah Al-Baqarah at night, they will suffice him."
✓ SahihReference: al-Bukhari 5009, Muslim 807
Quran
Ayat al-Kursi (2:255)
"When you go to your bed, recite Ayat al-Kursi. A guardian from Allah will stay with you, and no devil will come near you until morning."
✓ SahihReference: al-Bukhari 2311, 5010
Quran
Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq and An-Nas, blowing into the hands
× 3
Every night, when the Prophet ﷺ went to bed, he joined his palms, blew lightly into them and recited these three surahs. Then he wiped as much of his body as he could, starting with his head, face and the front of his body. He did this three times.
✓ SahihReference: al-Bukhari 5017
Quran
Surah Al-Kafirun (109)
The Prophet ﷺ told a Companion: "Recite Qul ya ayyuhal-kafirun, then sleep at its end, for it is a declaration of freedom from shirk."
◐ HasanReference: Abu Dawud 5055, at-Tirmidhi 3403; graded hasan by al-Albani
Bismika Rabbi wada‘tu janbi, wa bika arfa‘uh. In amsakta nafsi farhamha, wa in arsaltaha fahfazha bima tahfazu bihi ‘ibadakas-salihin.
In Your name, my Lord, I lay down my side, and by You I raise it. If You take my soul, have mercy on it; and if You send it back, protect it as You protect Your righteous servants.
Before lying down, dust off your bed three times with the edge of your garment, because you do not know what came onto it after you left it.
Allahumma aslamtu nafsi ilayk, wa fawwadtu amri ilayk, wa wajjahtu wajhi ilayk, wa alja’tu zahri ilayk, raghbatan wa rahbatan ilayk. La malja’a wa la manja minka illa ilayk. Amantu bi kitabikal-ladhi anzalt, wa bi nabiyyikal-ladhi arsalt.
O Allah, I have submitted myself to You, entrusted my affair to You, turned my face to You and relied completely on You, out of hope and fear of You. There is no refuge and no escape from You except to You. I believe in Your Book which You revealed and in Your Prophet whom You sent.
Make wudu as for prayer, lie on your right side and make this the last thing you say. "If you die that night, you die upon the fitrah."
✓ SahihReference: al-Bukhari 247, 6311; Muslim 2710
Al-hamdu lillahil-ladhi at‘amana wa saqana, wa kafana wa awana, fa kam mimman la kafiya lahu wa la mu’wi.
Praise be to Allah who has fed us and given us drink, who has sufficed us and given us shelter. How many there are who have no one to suffice them and no one to give them shelter.
Allahumma khalaqta nafsi wa anta tawaffaha, laka mamatuha wa mahyaha. In ahyaytaha fahfazha, wa in amattaha faghfir laha. Allahumma inni as’alukal-‘afiyah.
O Allah, You created my soul and You take it back. Its death and its life belong to You. If You keep it alive, protect it; and if You cause it to die, forgive it. O Allah, I ask You for well-being.
Allahumma Rabbas-samawati wa Rabbal-ardi wa Rabbal-‘arshil-‘azim, Rabbana wa Rabba kulli shay’, faliqal-habbi wan-nawa, wa munzilat-Tawrati wal-Injili wal-Furqan, a‘udhu bika min sharri kulli shay’in anta akhidhun bi nasiyatih. Allahumma antal-Awwalu fa laysa qablaka shay’, wa antal-Akhiru fa laysa ba‘daka shay’, wa antaz-Zahiru fa laysa fawqaka shay’, wa antal-Batinu fa laysa dunaka shay’. Iqdi ‘annad-dayna wa aghnina minal-faqr.
O Allah, Lord of the heavens, Lord of the earth and Lord of the Mighty Throne, our Lord and Lord of everything, who splits the seed and the date-stone, who revealed the Torah, the Injil and the Furqan (Quran): I seek refuge in You from the evil of everything whose forelock You hold. O Allah, You are the First and nothing is before You; You are the Last and nothing is after You; You are the Most High and nothing is above You; You are the Most Near and nothing is closer than You. Settle our debt for us and free us from poverty.
Allahumma ‘Alimal-ghaybi wash-shahadah, Fatiras-samawati wal-ard, Rabba kulli shay’in wa malikah. Ashhadu an la ilaha illa ant. A‘udhu bika min sharri nafsi, wa min sharrish-shaytani wa shirkih, wa an aqtarifa ‘ala nafsi su’an aw ajurrahu ila muslim.
O Allah, Knower of the unseen and the seen, Originator of the heavens and the earth, Lord and Sovereign of everything: I bear witness that there is no god but You. I seek refuge in You from the evil of my own self, from the evil of Shaytan and his call to shirk, and from doing wrong against myself or bringing it upon a Muslim.
The Prophet ﷺ taught Abu Bakr to say this in the morning, in the evening and when going to bed.
✓ SahihReference: Abu Dawud 5067, at-Tirmidhi 3392; graded sahih by al-Albani
Tasbih before sleeping
The Prophet ﷺ taught this to Ali and Fatimah when they asked for a servant, and said it is better for you than a servant.
Prophetic dua
SubhanAllah
× 33
سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ
SubhanAllah.
Glory be to Allah.
✓ SahihReference: al-Bukhari 3113, 6318; Muslim 2727
Prophetic dua
Alhamdulillah
× 33
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ
Alhamdulillah.
All praise is for Allah.
✓ SahihReference: al-Bukhari 3113, 6318; Muslim 2727
Prophetic dua
Allahu Akbar
× 34
اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ
Allahu Akbar.
Allah is the Greatest.
✓ SahihReference: al-Bukhari 3113, 6318; Muslim 2727
When you wake up during the night
If you wake up and turn in bed at night, say this. Then ask Allah for forgiveness or make dua: it will be answered. If you make wudu and pray, your prayer will be accepted.
La ilaha illallahu wahdahu la sharika lah, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamd, wa huwa ‘ala kulli shay’in qadir. Al-hamdu lillah, wa subhanallah, wa la ilaha illallah, wallahu akbar, wa la hawla wa la quwwata illa billah. Allahummaghfir li.
There is no god but Allah alone, with no partner. His is the dominion and His is the praise, and He is able to do all things. Praise be to Allah, glory be to Allah, there is no god but Allah, Allah is the Greatest, and there is no power and no strength except with Allah. O Allah, forgive me.
✓ SahihReference: al-Bukhari 1154
Quran
The last ten verses of Surah Al Imran (3:190–200)
When the Prophet ﷺ woke at night for prayer, he wiped the sleep from his face, recited the last ten verses of Surah Al Imran, then made wudu and prayed.
✓ SahihReference: al-Bukhari 183, Muslim 763
Sunnah habits at bedtime
All of these are recommended (mustahabb); none of them is obligatory.
✓Make wudu before going to bed. (al-Bukhari 247, Muslim 2710)
✓Dust off your bed three times before lying down. (al-Bukhari 6320, Muslim 2714)
✓Lie on your right side, with your right hand under your cheek. (al-Bukhari 247; Abu Dawud 5045 (sahih, al-Albani))
✓Pray Witr before sleeping if you fear you will not wake up for it. (Muslim 755; al-Bukhari 1178)
✓Close the doors, cover vessels and put out lamps and fires, saying Bismillah. (al-Bukhari 3280, 6295; Muslim 2012)
✓After a bad dream: blow lightly to your left three times, seek refuge in Allah from Shaytan and from its evil three times, turn to your other side, and tell no one about it. (Muslim 2261, 2262; al-Bukhari 6995)
✓After a good dream: praise Allah, and tell only those you love. (al-Bukhari 6985, 7044)
No. Reciting Surah Al-Mulk at night is Sunnah: the Prophet ﷺ did not sleep until he had recited it (at-Tirmidhi 2892, sahih). It is recommended, not obligatory.
What is the best dua before sleeping?
All the duas on this page are authentic. The Prophet ﷺ told al-Bara' ibn Azib to make "Allahumma aslamtu nafsi ilayk..." the last thing he says, after wudu, lying on his right side (al-Bukhari 247).
Do I have to say all of these every night?
No. Say what you can. Keeping a few of these Sunnahs regularly is better than doing many once.
