Muslim Habits Before Sleeping
Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala said:
وَمِنۡ ءَايَٰتِهِۦ مَنَامُكُم بِٱلَّيۡلِ وَٱلنَّهَارِ وَٱبۡتِغَآؤُكُم مِّن فَضۡلِهِۦٓ ۚ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَأٓيَٰتٍ لِّقَوۡمٍ يَسۡمَعُونَ
“And of His signs is your sleep by night and day and your seeking of His bounty. Indeed in that are signs for a people who listen.” (30:23)
وَهُوَ الَّذِي جَعَلَ لَكُمُ اللَّيْلَ لِبَاسًا وَالنَّوْمَ سُبَاتًا وَجَعَلَ النَّهَارَ نُشُورًا
“And it is He who has made the night for you as clothing and sleep [a means for] rest and has made the day a resurrection.” (25:47)
Sunnah Before Sleeping
Close Doors And Turn Off Light Before Sleep
Narrated Jabir bin `Abdullah: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Cover your utensils and tie your water skins, and close your doors and keep your children close to you at night, as the Jinns spread out at such time and snatch things away. When you go to bed, put out your lights, for the mischief-doer (i.e. the rat) may drag away the wick of the candle and burn the dwellers of the house." Ata said, "The devils." (instead of the Jinns).[Bukhari (3316)]
Perform Wudu (Ablution) Before Going To Sleep
Narrated Al-Bara 'bin `Azib: The Prophet (ﷺ) said to me, "Whenever you go to bed perform ablution like that for the prayer...” [Bukhari (247)]
Say The Supplication
Narrated Hudhaifa: When the Prophet (ﷺ) went to bed, he would say:
بِاسْمِكَ اللَّهُمَّ أَمُوتُ وَأَحْيَا
“In Your name, O Allah I live and die”
Additional Supplications Before Sleeping
بِاسْمِكَ رَبِّي وَضَعْتُ جَنْبِي، وَبِكَ أَرْفَعُهُ، فَإِنْ أَمْسَكْتَ نَفْسِي فَارْحَمْهَا، وَإِنْ أَرْسَلْتَهَا فَاحْفَظْهَا، بِمَا تَحْفَظُ بِهِ عِبَادَكَ الصَّالِحِينَ
“With Your Name my Lord, I lay myself down and with Your Name I rise. And if my soul You take, have mercy on it, and if You send it back then protect it as You protect Your righteous slaves."
إِنَّكَ خَلَقْتَ نَفْسِي وَأَنْتَ تَوَفَّاهَا، لَكَ مَمَاتُهَا وَمَحْيَاهَا، إِنْ أَحْيَيْتَهَا فَاحْفَظْهَا، وَإِنْ أَمَتَّهَا فَا غْفِرْ لَهَا، اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ الْعَافِيَةَ
“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.”
Sleep On Right Side
It is reported in Bukhari that Al-Bara' bin `Azib mentioned that “When Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) went to bed, he used to sleep on his right side…” [Bukhari (6315)]
Place The Hand Under The Right Cheek
Narrated Hudhaifa: "When the Prophet (ﷺ) went to bed at night, he would put his hand under his cheek…" [Bukhari (6314)]
Dust The Bed Before Lying Down
It is a sunnah of the Prophet to dust one’s bed before going to sleep.
Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet (ﷺ) 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…” [Bukhari (6320)]
Recite Muawwidhaat And Wipe Over Body
Narrated 'Aisha: Whenever the Prophet (ﷺ) went to bed every night, he used to cup his hands together and blow over it after reciting Surat Al-Ikhlas (112), Surat Al-Falaq (113) and Surat An-Nas (114), and then rub his hands over whatever parts of his body he was able to rub, starting with his head, face and front of his body. He used to do that three times. [Bukhari (5017)]
بِسْمِ اللَّـهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ قُلْ هُوَ اللَّـهُ أَحَدٌ،1 اللَّـهُ الصَّمَدُ،2 لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ،3 وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ،4
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Say (O Muhammad (ﷺ) : "He is Allah, (the) One (1) Allah, the Eternal Refuge (2) He neither begets nor is born (3) Nor is there to Him any equivalent" (4)
بِسْمِ اللَّـهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ الْفَلَقِ،1 مِن شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ،2 وَمِن شَرِّ غَاسِقٍ إِذَا وَقَبَ،3 وَمِن شَرِّ النَّفَّاثَاتِ فِي الْعُقَدِ،4 وَمِن شَرِّ حَاسِدٍ إِذَا حَسَدَ،5
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Say: "I seek refuge with (Allah) the Lord of the daybreak (1) From the evil of what He has created (2) And from the evil of the darkening (night) as it comes with its darkness; (or the moon as it sets or goes away) (3) And from the evil of those who practice witchcraft when they blow in the knots (4) And from the veil of the envier when he envies. (5)"
بِسْمِ اللَّـهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ النَّاسِ،1 مَلِكِ النَّاسِ،2 إِلَـٰهِ النَّاسِ،3 مِن شَرِّ الْوَسْوَاسِ الْخَنَّاسِ،4 الَّذِي يُوَسْوِسُ فِي صُدُورِ النَّاسِ،5 مِنَ الْجِنَّةِ وَالنَّاسِ،6
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Say: "I seek refuge with (Allah) the Lord of mankind (1) The King of mankind (2) The God of mankind (3) From the evil of the whisperer (devil who whispers evil in the hearts of men) who withdraws (from his whispering in one’s heart after one remembers Allah) (4) Who whispers in the breast of mankind. (5) Of jinn and men (6)"
Recite The Last Two Ayats Of Surah Al-Baqarah
Narrated Abu Mas'ud Al-Ansari: that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Whoever recites the last two Ayat of Surat Al-Baqarah during the night, they shall suffice him." [Tirmidhi (2881)]
آمَنَ الرَّسُولُ بِمَا أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ رَبِّهِ وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ كُلٌّ آمَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَمَلَائِكَتِهِ وَكُتُبِهِ وَرُسُلِهِ لَا نُفَرِّقُ بَيْنَ أَحَدٍ مِنْ رُسُلِهِ وَقَالُوا سَمِعْنَا وَأَطَعْنَا غُفْرَانَكَ رَبَّنَا وَإِلَيْكَ الْمَصِيرُ.285 لَا يُكَلِّفُ اللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا لَهَا مَا كَسَبَتْ وَعَلَيْهَا مَا اكْتَسَبَتْ رَبَّنَا لَا تُؤَاخِذْنَا إِنْ نَسِينَا أَوْ أَخْطَأْنَا رَبَّنَا وَلَا تَحْمِلْ عَلَيْنَا إِصْرًا كَمَا حَمَلْتَهُ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِنَا رَبَّنَا وَلَا تُحَمِّلْنَا مَا لَا طَاقَةَ لَنَا بِهِ وَاعْفُ عَنَّا وَاغْفِرْ لَنَا وَارْحَمْنَا أَنْتَ مَوْلَانَا فَانْصُرْنَا عَلَى الْقَوْمِ الْكَافِرِينَ.286
- The Messenger has believed in what was revealed to him from his Lord, and [so have] the believers. All of them have believed in Allah and His angels and His books and His messengers, (saying), "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 (final) destination."
- Allah does not charge a soul except (with that within) its capacity. It will have (the consequence of) what (good) it has gained, and it will bear (the consequence of) what (evil) it has earned. "Our Lord, do not impose blame upon us if we have forgotten or erred. Our Lord, and lay not upon us a burden like that which You laid upon those before us. Our Lord, and burden us not with that which we have no ability to bear. And pardon us; and forgive us; and have mercy upon us. You are our protector, so give us victory over the disbelieving people."
Recite Ayat Al-Kursi
اللَّهُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ لَا تَأْخُذُهُ سِنَةٌ وَلَا نَوْمٌ لَهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ مَنْ ذَا الَّذِي يَشْفَعُ عِنْدَهُ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِ يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ وَلَا يُحِيطُونَ بِشَيْءٍ مِنْ عِلْمِهِ إِلَّا بِمَا شَاءَ وَسِعَ كُرْسِيُّهُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ وَلَا يَئُودُهُ حِفْظُهُمَا وَهُوَ الْعَلِيُّ الْعَظِيمُ
"Allah! There is no God 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." (2:255)
Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) deputed me to keep Sadaqat (al-Fitr) of Ramadan. A comer came and started taking handfuls of the foodstuff (of the Sadaqa) (stealthily). I took hold of him and said, "By Allah, I will take you to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) ." He said, "I am needy and have many dependents, and I am in great need." I released him, and in the morning Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) asked me, "What did your prisoner do yesterday?" I said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) ! The person complained of being needy and of having many dependents, so, I pitied him and let him go." Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Indeed, he told you a lie and he will be coming again." I believed that he would show up again as Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) had told me that he would return. So, I waited for him watchfully. When he (showed up and) started stealing handfuls of foodstuff, I caught hold of him again and said, "I will definitely take you to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) . He said, "Leave me, for I am very needy and have many dependents. I promise I will not come back again." I pitied him and let him go. In the morning Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) asked me, "What did your prisoner do." I replied, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) ! He complained of his great need and of too many dependents, so I took pity on him and set him free." Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Verily, he told you a lie and he will return." I waited for him attentively for the third time, and when he (came and) started stealing handfuls of the foodstuff, I caught hold of him and said, "I will surely take you to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as it is the third time you promise not to return, yet you break your promise and come." He said, "(Forgive me and) I will teach you some words with which Allah will benefit you." I asked, "What are they?" He replied, "Whenever you go to bed, recite "Ayat-al-Kursi"– 'Allahu la ilaha illa huwa-l-Haiy-ul Qaiyum' till you finish the whole verse. (If you do so), Allah will appoint a guard for you who will stay with you and no satan will come near you till morning. " So, I released him. In the morning, Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) asked, "What did your prisoner do yesterday?" I replied, "He claimed that he would teach me some words by which Allah will benefit me, so I let him go." Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) asked, "What are they?" I replied, "He said to me, 'Whenever you go to bed, recite Ayat-al-Kursi from the beginning to the end -— Allahu la ilaha illa huwa-lHaiy-ul-Qaiyum-—.' He further said to me, '(If you do so), Allah will appoint a guard for you who will stay with you, and no satan will come near you till morning.' (Abu Huraira or another sub-narrator) added that they (the companions) were very keen to do good deeds. The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "He really spoke the truth, although he is an absolute liar. Do you know whom you were talking to, these three nights, O Abu Huraira?" Abu Huraira said, "No." He said, "It was Satan."
Make At-Tasbeeh, At-Tahmeed And At-Takbeer
Narrated `Ali: Fatima complained about the blisters on her hand because of using a mill-stone. She went to ask the Prophet (ﷺ) for servant, but she did not find him (at home) and had to inform `Aisha of her need. When he came, `Aisha informed him about it. `Ali added: The Prophet (ﷺ) came to us when we had gone to our beds. When I was going to get up, he said, "'Stay in your places,"and sat between us, till I felt the coolness of the feet on my chest. The Prophet (ﷺ) then said, "Shall I not tell you of a thing which is better for you than a servant? When you (both) go to your beds, say 'Allahu Akbar' thirty-three times, and 'Subhan Allah' thirty-three times, 'Al-hamduillah' thirty-three times, for that is better for you than a servant." Ibn Seereen said, "Subhan Allah' (is to be said for) thirty-four times." (6318)
سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ
Glory is to Allah (Thirty-three times)
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ
Praise is to Allah (Thirty-three times)
اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ
Allah is the Most Great (Thirty-four times).
Recite Surah Al-Mulk And As-Sajdah
It was narrated by Jabir that “The Prophet (ﷺ) would not sleep until he reached Tanzil as-Sajdah and Tabarak.” [At-Tirmidhi (3404)] (Hasan Hadith)
*Surat Al-Mulk is chapter 67 and Surat As-Sajdah is chapter 32 of the Quran
Recite Surah Al-Kafirun
Farwah b. Nawfal quoted his father as saying that the Prophet (ﷺ) said to Nawfal (his father): “Recite (the Surah) 'Say, O you disbelievers!' and then go to sleep at its end, for it is a declaration of freedom from polytheism.” [Sunan Abi Dawud, (5055)]
*Surat Al-Kafirun is chapter 109
Nightly Routines to implement before going to sleep to help boost productivity and improve quality of life
- Before going to bed, follow the sunnah above like dusting your bed, sleeping on your right side, your right hand under your right cheek, closing the doors and turning off lights
- The prophet encouraged his companions to go to bed early and to wake up early
- Avoid heavy meal before sleep and eat dinner early to digest the food
- Put away electronic devices at least 1 hour before bedtime.
- Take a bath or shower, do skin care and brush teeth
- Make ablution before going to sleep
- Pray the Isha, Witr and voluntary prayer
- Recite something from the Quran and supplicate
- Write journal, and to do list for the next day
- Read at least one page from a book