One of the best times to recite dua is before sleeping. Let the last thing you say before bed be the glorifying of God and His remembrance in your heart!
One of the best times to recite dua is before sleeping. Let the last thing you say before bed be the glorifying of God and His remembrance in your heart!
When we go to sleep, Allah (SWT) takes our soul temporarily, which is why sleep is considered a minor death. Some souls are returned. They wake up and live another day. Other souls, He chooses to keep. They experience major and permanent death.
This makes reciting duas before sleeping one of the most important times to do so. It could be the last words you utter before death. It could be the last thing the angels on your shoulders record you saying. You want it to be a glorification of Allah (SWT). With that in mind, if you’re after a dua for going to sleep, we have compiled 10+ duas below.
Seek Forgiveness for All Muslims
Why is it recommended to seek forgiveness for other Muslims first and not ourselves? There are several reasons. Firstly, it teaches us not to hold grudges against people. Secondly, it builds the quality of mercy within our souls, which is one of the great names of Allah (SWT). Lastly, we’re more likely to be forgiven by God for our mistakes if we learn to forgive others.
This dua is very short and can be recited within a few seconds before sleeping:
Allahuma maghfir le momineen wal moninaat
O Allah Please forgive all the believing men & women.”
If you wish to seek forgiveness for specific people, you may add their names like this:
Allahuma maghfir *insert name*
Glorify Allah (SWT)
The next dua to recite before sleeping is one of glorification of God. Glorifying and praising God brings about spiritual and material blessings, and it’s beautiful to close our eyes and fall asleep whilst the remembrance of God is on our tongues and, hopefully, our hearts. This dua is also short and very easy to say:
Subhaanallaahi wa’l hamdu lillaahi wa laa ilaaha illallaahu wallaahu Akbar.
Glory be to God, and praise be to God; there is no god but Allah, and Allah is Greater.”
Imam Ali reports that the Prophet would also recite this glorification:
Yafalollaho mashao be qudrati wa yahkomo ma yurido be izzate
He does what He wills and rule what He wills by His power.”
You can also say the following dua that is pretty apt for a bedtime dua (also recited by the Prophet)
Bismeka Allhumma Ahyaa wa bismeka amooto
With Your name do I live and with Your name I die.”
Ask for Forgiveness
The third dua to recite before sleeping is seeking forgiveness for oneself. You can say any of the following:
Astagfirullah
I repent to God.”
Or the longer version (but still very short):
Astagfirullaha rabbi wa atutbu ilyah
I repent to God and I return to Him.”
This dua is short but profound, especially when being said before sleeping. We’re asking God for forgiveness and are returning to Him i.e. returning back to obedience to Him right before sleeping (where it’s possible we’ll spiritually return to Him through death.
You can also say:
Allahumma maghfirli
O Allah, forgive me!”
Are there specific sins or mistakes that are bothering you? You can mention them in the following way:
Allahumma maghfirli *confess your sin in any language*
Praise God
Allah (SWT) is worthy of all praise. We should try and praise Him as much as possible. Here is a specific praise taught to us by Imam Sadiq:
Alhamdu lillahi alladhi `ala faqahara walhamdu lillahi alladhi batana fakhabara walhamdu lillahi alladhi malaka faqadara walhamdu lillahi alladhi yuhyi almawta wa yumitu al-ahya’a wa huwa `ala kulli shay’in qadirun.
All praise be to Allah Who has exalted, thus dominated. All praise be to Allah Who has been immanent, thus known all things. All praise be to Allah Who has owned all things, thus had power over them all. All praise be to Allah Who gives life to the dead, causes the living to die, and He has power over all things.”
It is said anyone who recites this dua three times will sleep like a newborn i.e with no sins.
Ask for Protection
The dua for protection before sleeping is also recommended by Imam Sadiq:
Aoodhu Bi Izzatillaahi Wa Aoodhu Bi Qudratillaahi Wa Aoodhu Bi Jalaaillaahi Wa Aoodhu Bi Sultwaanillaahi Wa Aoodhu Bi Jamaalillaahi Wa Aoodhu Bi Daf’illaahi Wa Aoodhu Bi Man’illaahi Wa Aoodhu Bi Jam’illaahi Wa Aoodhu Bi Mulkillaahi Wa Aoodhu Bi Wajhillaahi Wa Aoodhu Bi Rasoolillaahi Min Sharri Maa Khalaqa Wa Bara’a Wa Dhara’a.
I pray for protection in Allah’s almightiness. I pray for protection in Allah’s omnipotence. I pray for protection in Allah’s majesty. I pray for protection in Allah’s authority. I pray for protection in Allah’s beauty. I pray for protection in Allah’s defence. I pray for protection in Allah’s guard. I pray for protection in Allah’s wholeness. I pray for protection in Allah’s control. I pray for protection in Allah’s face. I pray for protection in Allah’s Messenger. I pray for Allah’s protection against the evil of whatever He has created, originated, and made.”
Here’s another protection dua recited by the Prophet. He would lie down on his right side and place his right hand under his right cheek, then he would say:
Allahumma qini a’dhabaka yaw matab a’thoo i’bdak
O Allah! Keep me safe from Your Wrath on the day when You resurrect Your servants.”
He would say this three times.
Other Duas for Sleeping
There are many duas left behind for us by the Prophet that we can say before sleeping:
Bismika rabbee wadaAAtu janbee wabika arfaAAuh, fa-in amsakta nafsee farhamha, wa-in arsaltaha fahfathha bima tahfathu bihi AAibadakas-saliheen
In Your name my Lord, I lie down and in Your name I rise, so if You should take my soul then have mercy upon it, and if You should return my soul then protect it in the manner You do so with Your righteous servants.”
Allahumma innaka khalaqta nafsee wa-anta tawaffaha, laka mamatuha wamahyaha in ahyaytaha fahfathha, wa-in amattaha faghfir laha. Allahumma innee as-alukal-AAafiyah.
O Allah, verily You have created my soul and You shall take its life, to You belongs its life and death. If You should keep my soul alive then protect it, and if You should take its life then forgive it. O Allah, I ask You to grant me good health.”
Many of these duas are short and easy to memorise. Let’s get into the habit of reciting a few of these before sleeping!
