What the Prophet (peace be upon him) said and recited on going to bed, with sources and a transliteration guide.
These are the recitations and supplications the Prophet (peace be upon him) is reported to have said on going to bed. Say them as the last things before you sleep. The Arabic is the reliable text; the transliteration is a pronunciation aid.
Key points
- Ayat al-Kursi and the three short surahs are the core recitation before sleep.
- The Prophet (peace be upon him) combined recitation, wiping the body, and supplication.
- Sleeping on the right side after wudu is part of the sunnah described in these narrations.
- The tasbih before sleep in this narration is 33 + 33 + 33.
Practical steps
- Perform wudu and lie on your right side.
- Recite Ayat al-Kursi.
- Recite al-Ikhlas, al-Falaq and an-Nas into your hands, blow, and wipe over your body - three times.
- Say "Allahumma aslamtu wajhi ilayk..." as the last thing you say.
- You may also say "Bismika Rabbi wada'tu janbi...", "Bismika amutu wa ahya", and the tasbih.
Qur’an
“Allah - there is no deity except Him, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of [all] existence. Neither drowsiness overtakes Him nor sleep. 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 [presently] 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.”
Surah Al-Baqarah — 2:255 (Ayat al-Kursi)
When to read: Recite once on lying down. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said that whoever recites it on going to bed will have a protector from Allah, and no devil will come near him until morning (Sahih al-Bukhari 5010).
Qul huwa Allahu ahad...
“1. Say, "He is Allah, [who is] One, 2. Allah, the Eternal Refuge. 3. He neither begets nor is born, 4. Nor is there to Him any equivalent."”
Surah Al-Ikhlas — 112
When to read: Recite al-Ikhlas, al-Falaq and an-Nas into cupped hands, blow into them, and wipe over the body starting with the head and face - three times (Sahih al-Bukhari 5017).
Qul a'udhu bi-rabbi l-falaq...
“1. Say, "I seek refuge in the Lord of daybreak 2. From the evil of that which He created 3. And from the evil of darkness when it settles 4. And from the evil of the blowers in knots 5. And from the evil of an envier when he envies."”
Surah Al-Falaq — 113
When to read: Recited with al-Ikhlas and an-Nas into the hands before sleep, three times (Sahih al-Bukhari 5017).
Qul a'udhu bi-rabbi n-nas...
“1. Say, "I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind, 2. The Sovereign of mankind. 3. The God of mankind, 4. From the evil of the retreating whisperer - 5. Who whispers [evil] into the breasts of mankind - 6. From among the jinn and mankind."”
Surah An-Nas — 114
When to read: The third of the surahs recited into the hands before sleep (Sahih al-Bukhari 5017).
Hadith
Allahumma aslamtu wajhi ilayk, wa fawwadtu amri ilayk, wa alja'tu zahri ilayk, raghbatan wa rahbatan ilayk. La malja'a wa la manja minka illa ilayk. Allahumma amantu bi-kitabika lladhi anzalt, wa bi-nabiyyika lladhi arsalt.
O Allah, I submit my face to You, entrust my affair to You, and turn my back to You, out of hope and fear of You. There is no refuge and no escape from You except to You. O Allah, I believe in Your Book which You revealed, and in Your Prophet whom You sent.
Sahih al-Bukhari, no. 247 .
When to read: The Prophet (peace be upon him) taught that after wudu, lying on the right side, this should be the last thing said before sleep; whoever dies that night dies upon the fitrah.
Bismika Rabbi wada'tu janbi, wa bika arfa'uh. In amsakta nafsi fa-rhamha, wa in arsaltaha fa-hfazha bima tahfazu bihi 'ibadaka s-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 release it, protect it with that by which You protect Your righteous servants.
Sahih al-Bukhari, no. 6320 .
When to read: Said on lying down, after shaking out the bedding.
Bismika amutu wa ahya.
In Your name I die and I live.
Sahih al-Bukhari, no. 6312 .
When to read: Said on going to bed. On waking, the Prophet (peace be upon him) would say "Al-hamdu lillahi lladhi ahyana ba'da ma amatana wa ilayhi n-nushur".
Allahumma qini 'adhabaka yawma tab'athu 'ibadak.
O Allah, protect me from Your punishment on the Day You raise Your servants.
Sunan Abi Dawud, no. 5045 — graded sahih by al-Albani.
When to read: The Prophet (peace be upon him) would say this three times as he put his right hand under his cheek on lying down.
Say the takbir (Allahu akbar) thirty-three times, the tasbih (Subhan Allah) thirty-three times, and the tahmid (al-hamdu lillah) thirty-three times.
Sahih al-Bukhari, no. 6318 .
When to read: Taught by the Prophet (peace be upon him) to Fatimah and Ali as "better for you than a servant".
Hadith text and grading above are shown as supplied by their source. HikmahBridge does not grade Hadith itself. See Sources & Methodology.
FAQ
Do I have to do all of these every night?
No. The simplest authentic routine is Ayat al-Kursi, the three surahs with wiping, and "Allahumma aslamtu wajhi ilayk". Add the others as you learn them.
What if I fall asleep before finishing?
Begin with the most emphasised items. If sleep overtakes you, there is no blame - the intention and what you managed are recorded.
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