Dua Before Sleeping: Authentic Duas and Sunnah Dhikr
Reciting a dua before sleeping is part of the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Islamic teachings include supplications for bedtime, Quranic recitations, and remembrance of Allah before going to sleep.
This guide covers authentic bedtime duas in Arabic, English transliteration, and translation, along with Hadith references. You will also learn how to recite Ayatul Kursi, the three Quls, and bedtime dhikr according to the reported Sunnah.
1. Dua Before Sleeping in Arabic
One of the shortest supplications for bedtime is the dua narrated by Hudhaifah (RA).
Arabic:
بِاسْمِكَ أَمُوتُ وَأَحْيَا
Transliteration:
Bismika amutu wa ahya.
English Translation:
In Your name, I die, and I live.
Hadith Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 6312.
Hudhaifah (RA) reported that when Prophet Muhammad ﷺ went to bed, he recited this supplication. The same narration also records a supplication that he said upon waking up.
This short dua is a simple starting point for anyone learning the Sunnah of bedtime remembrance. Learn the Arabic alongside the translation so that you understand what you are reciting.
2. Dua for Protection Before Sleeping
Another bedtime supplication asks Allah for protection from His punishment on the Day of Resurrection.
Arabic:
اللَّهُمَّ قِنِي عَذَابَكَ يَوْمَ تَبْعَثُ عِبَادَكَ
Transliteration:
Allahumma qini ‘adhabaka yawma tab’athu ‘ibadak.
English Translation:
O Allah, protect me from Your punishment on the Day You resurrect Your servants.
Hadith Reference: Sunan Abi Dawud 5045.
Hafsah (RA) reported that when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ wanted to sleep, he placed his right hand beneath his cheek and recited this supplication three times.
The dua reminds Muslims of the Hereafter and the importance of seeking Allah’s protection. Its reported repetition is three times; there is no need to add other fixed counts that are not established by the cited narration.
3. Dua When Lying Down in Bed
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ also taught a supplication that acknowledges Allah’s care when a person lies down and gets up.
Arabic:
بِاسْمِكَ رَبِّي وَضَعْتُ جَنْبِي وَبِكَ أَرْفَعُهُ، إِنْ أَمْسَكْتَ نَفْسِي فَارْحَمْهَا، وَإِنْ أَرْسَلْتَهَا فَاحْفَظْهَا بِمَا تَحْفَظُ بِهِ عِبَادَكَ الصَّالِحِينَ
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, 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 return it, protect it as You protect Your righteous servants.
Hadith Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 6320.
This supplication expresses reliance on Allah and asks for mercy and protection. It is important to preserve the meaning of the Arabic when translating the dua rather than adding promises or explanations that are not part of the original wording.
4. Dua for Entrusting Your Affairs to Allah
A longer bedtime supplication teaches Muslims to submit themselves to Allah and entrust their affairs to Him.
Arabic:
اللَّهُمَّ أَسْلَمْتُ نَفْسِي إِلَيْكَ، وَوَجَّهْتُ وَجْهِي إِلَيْكَ، وَفَوَّضْتُ أَمْرِي إِلَيْكَ، وَأَلْجَأْتُ ظَهْرِي إِلَيْكَ، رَغْبَةً وَرَهْبَةً إِلَيْكَ، لَا مَلْجَأَ وَلَا مَنْجَا مِنْكَ إِلَّا إِلَيْكَ، آمَنْتُ بِكِتَابِكَ الَّذِي أَنْزَلْتَ، وَبِنَبِيِّكَ الَّذِي أَرْسَلْتَ
Transliteration:
Allahumma aslamtu nafsi ilayk, wa wajjahtu wajhi ilayk, wa fawwadtu amri ilayk, wa alja’tu zahri ilayk, raghbatan wa rahbatan ilayk. La malja’a wa la manja minka illa ilayk. Amantu bikitabikal-ladhi anzalt, wa binabiyyikal-ladhi arsalt.
English Translation:
O Allah, I submit myself to You, turn my face towards You, entrust my affairs to You, and rely upon You in hope and fear of You. There is no refuge or escape from You except with You. I believe in Your Book that You revealed and in Your Prophet whom You sent.
Hadith Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 6315.
The narration teaches this supplication as part of the bedtime routine and instructs the person reciting it to lie on the right side. Because the dua is longer, you can learn it in short phrases while paying attention to its meaning.
5. Recite the Three Quls Before Sleeping
The three Quls refer to Surah Al-Ikhlas, Surah Al-Falaq, and Surah An-Nas. Sahih al-Bukhari records that the Prophet ﷺ recited these surahs before sleeping.
Surah Al-Ikhlas (Surah 112)
Arabic:
قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ اللَّهُ الصَّمَدُ لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ
Transliteration:
Qul huwa Allahu ahad. Allahus-samad. Lam yalid wa lam yulad. Wa lam yakun lahu kufuwan ahad.
English Translation:
Say: He is Allah, the One. Allah, the Eternal Refuge. He neither begets nor is born, nor is there any equivalent to Him.
Surah Al-Falaq and Surah An-Nas
Surah Al-Falaq teaches believers to seek refuge in the Lord of daybreak. Surah An-Nas teaches them to seek refuge in the Lord, King, and God of humanity.
Recite both surahs along with Surah Al-Ikhlas as described in the bedtime narration.
Sunnah method:
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Cup your hands together.
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Recite Surah Al-Ikhlas, Surah Al-Falaq, and Surah An-Nas.
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Blow lightly into your hands.
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Wipe your hands over the parts of your body you can reach.
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Repeat the process three times.
Hadith Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 5017.
The narration from Aisha (RA) describes the Prophet ﷺ beginning with his head, face, and the front of his body when wiping his hands over himself.
6. Recite Ayatul Kursi Before Sleeping
Ayatul Kursi is verse 255 of Surah Al-Baqarah. It describes Allah as the Ever-Living and Sustainer of all existence and affirms His authority over the heavens and the earth.
Arabic opening:
اللَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ
Transliteration:
Allahu la ilaha illa Huwal-Hayyul-Qayyum.
English Translation:
Allah—there is no deity except Him, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of all existence.
Read the complete verse from the Quran when following this bedtime practice.
Hadith Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 2311.
This narration describes Abu Hurayrah (RA) encountering someone who taught him to recite Ayatul Kursi from beginning to end before sleeping. The Prophet ﷺ confirmed that the teaching was true and identified the person as Shaytan. The narration mentions that a guardian would remain with the person and that Shaytan would not approach until morning.
This is the specific virtue reported in the Hadith. It should not be expanded into unsupported guarantees about every form of harm or difficulty.
7. Bedtime Dhikr: What to Recite Before Sleeping
Along with bedtime duas, the Sunnah includes tasbih, tahmid, and takbir before going to bed.
In a narration from Ali (RA), Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught him and Fatimah (RA) the following remembrance:
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Allahu Akbar: 34 times.
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SubhanAllah: 33 times.
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Alhamdulillah: 33 times.
Meanings:
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Allahu Akbar: Allah is the Greatest.
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SubhanAllah: Glory be to Allah.
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Alhamdulillah: All praise belongs to Allah.
Hadith Reference: Sahih Muslim 2727a.
The narration describes this remembrance as better for them than having a servant to help with their work. Follow the counts recorded in the narration rather than assigning additional benefits or promises to the practice.
Sunnah Practices Before Going to Bed
The bedtime Sunnah includes more than reciting duas. The following practices are supported by the cited narrations:
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Perform wudu: Sahih al-Bukhari 6311 includes the instruction to perform ablution as one would for prayer before going to bed.
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Dust the bed: Sahih al-Bukhari 6320 describes shaking out the bedding before lying down.
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Lie on the right side: This instruction appears in the narration about the longer bedtime supplication in Sahih al-Bukhari 6315.
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Recite the bedtime duas: Learn the short supplications and gradually memorise the longer ones.
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Recite the Quranic passages: Include the three Quls and Ayatul Kursi as described in their respective narrations.
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Complete the bedtime dhikr: Recite the prescribed tasbih, tahmid, and takbir counts.
These are individual practices reported in the Sunnah. You can learn them step by step and refer to the cited narrations for their wording and details.
Conclusion
The Sunnah provides several supplications and practices for remembering Allah before sleeping. Start with Bismika amutu wa ahya, learn the longer bedtime duas, recite the three Quls and Ayatul Kursi, and practise the bedtime dhikr with its reported counts.
Read the Arabic carefully, learn the meaning of each supplication, and consult the cited Hadith sources to understand the original wording. Keeping the article focused on verified teachings helps readers learn the bedtime Sunnah without relying on unsupported claims or promised results.
Frequently asked questions
What is the dua before sleeping in Islam?
One short bedtime dua is Bismika amutu wa ahya, meaning, “In Your name, I die, and I live.” It is recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari 6312.
Which surahs should I read before sleeping?
The Sunnah describes reciting Surah Al-Ikhlas, Surah Al-Falaq, and Surah An-Nas before sleeping. The method includes blowing lightly into the hands and wiping over the body, repeated three times.
What should I recite 33 times before sleeping?
The bedtime remembrance includes SubhanAllah 33 times, Alhamdulillah 33 times, and Allahu Akbar 34 times. Sahih Muslim 2727a records the order as 34 takbirs, 33 tasbihs, and 33 tahmids.
Is there an authentic dua for falling asleep instantly?
The cited bedtime narrations provide supplications and Quranic recitations for the time before sleep. They do not establish a guarantee that someone will fall asleep instantly. Muslims may also make personal dua to Allah in their own words.
Can I make personal dua before sleeping?
Yes. You can ask Allah for forgiveness, guidance, protection, and help with your concerns. When presenting specific words as a supplication taught by Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, verify the wording and attribution through a reliable source.