Bedtime Prayers from the Prophetic Tradition
Numerous prayers and supplications related to bedtime can be found in the Hadiths. Below are some of the notable ones:
- The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) used to say upon laying down: “O Allah, in Your name I live and die.”
- He advised Ali and Fatimah (may Allah be pleased with them) by saying: “Shall I not guide you to something better than what you have asked? When you go to bed, say ‘Allahu Akbar’ thirty-four times, ‘Alhamdulillah’ thirty-three times, and ‘Subhanallah’ thirty-three times. This is better for you than having a servant.”
- It is reported by Al-Bara’ ibn ‘Azib (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) would rest his right hand under his head while sleeping, saying: “O Lord, protect me from Your torment on the Day You resurrect Your servants.”
- According to Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him), whenever the Prophet would go to bed, he would say: “All praises be to Allah who has provided us with food and drink, sufficed us, and sheltered us. How many are those who have no one to suffice or shelter them.”
- The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) stated: “When you intend to go to bed, say: ‘O Allah, I have submitted my soul to You, entrusted my affairs to You, directed my face toward You, and taken refuge with You, out of desire and fear of You. There is no refuge and no escape from You except in You. I believe in Your Book that You have revealed and in Your Prophet whom You have sent.’
- When the Prophet (peace be upon him) took to bed at night, he would say: “In the name of Allah, I lay down my side. O Allah, forgive my sins, silence my devil, free me from my shackles, and grant me a place among the highest assembly.”
Bedtime Prayers from the Holy Qur’an
The Qur’an contains several verses that are advised to be recited before sleep. Here are a few examples:
- Reciting Surah Al-Ikhlas and the two Mu’awwidhat (Surah Al-Falaq and Surah An-Nas) three times, followed by blowing into your hands and wiping your face and as much of your body as possible.
Also recommended is the recitation of Ayat Al-Kursi, which states: “Allah! There is no deity except Him, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of existence. Neither drowsiness nor sleep overtakes Him. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. Who is it that can intercede with Him except by His permission? He knows what is before them and what will be after them, and they encompass not a thing of His knowledge except for what He wills. His Kursi extends over the heavens and the earth, and their preservation tires Him not. And He is the Most High, the Most Great.” (Qur’an 2:255)
- It is also Sunnah to recite the last two verses of Surah Al-Baqarah before sleeping.
These verses provide safety from the perils of the night and are said to suffice the believer for the night prayer, which includes: “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 said, ‘We hear and we obey [Your command]. [Grant us] Your forgiveness, our Lord. To You is the final destination. Allah does not burden a soul beyond that it can bear. 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 made a mistake. Our Lord, 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.” (Qur’an 2:285-286)
General Supplications Before Sleep
Muslims can supplicate for whatever is good for them in this world and the Hereafter before they sleep. Here are a few general prayers:
- “O Allah, do not deprive me of the vastness of Your mercy, the completeness of Your health, and the abundance of Your bounty. Do not deny me Your blessings due to the shortcomings in myself, nor punish me for my wrong actions. Please do not turn Your gracious face away from me, through Your mercy, O Most Merciful of the merciful.”
- “O Allah, I extend my hand to You, and my desire is greatly magnified for what is with You. Accept my repentance, have mercy on my weakness, forgive my mistakes, accept my apologies, and grant me a share of every good and a path to every goodness, through Your mercy, O Most Merciful of the merciful.”
- “O Allah, I ask You for sincere reliance and good dependence on You, strong certainty, and to occupy our faculties in obedience to You and fill our hearts with Your love. O Allah, this evening, bring us a joyful piece of news, and remove pain and sorrows from every heart.”
- “O Allah, do not take my soul except when You are pleased with me.”