Remembrance Before Sleep

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum

The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam said:

1) ‘When retiring to his bed every night, the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam would hold his palms together, spit in them, recite the last three chapters of the Qur’an (Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq, An-Naas) and then wipe over his entire body as much as possible with his hands, beginning with his head and face and then all parts of the body, he would do this three times.’

2) ‘When you are about to sleep recite Ayat-ul-Kursi till the end of the verse for there will remain over you a protection from Allah and no devil will draw near to you until morning.’

ٱللَّـهُ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ٱلْحَىُّ ٱلْقَيُّومُ ۚ لَا تَأْخُذُهُۥ سِنَةٌ وَلَا نَوْمٌ ۚ لَّهُۥ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۗ مَن ذَا ٱلَّذِى يَشْفَعُ عِندَهُۥٓ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِۦ ۚ يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ ۖ وَلَا يُحِيطُونَ بِشَىْءٍ مِّنْ عِلْمِهِۦٓ إِلَّا بِمَا شَآءَ ۚ وَسِعَ كُرْسِيُّهُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ ۖ وَلَا يَـُٔودُهُۥ حِفْظُهُمَا ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَلِىُّ ٱلْعَظِيمُ ﴿٢٥٥

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. (255) [Al-Baqarah 2:255]

3)'Whoever reads this when he lies down to sleep will have a guardian from Allah remain with him and Satan will not be able to come near him until he rises in the morning.' [Al-Bukhari]

ءَامَنَ ٱلرَّسُولُ بِمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْهِ مِن رَّبِّهِۦ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ ۚ كُلٌّ ءَامَنَ بِٱللَّـهِ وَمَلَـٰٓئِكَتِهِۦ وَكُتُبِهِۦ وَرُسُلِهِۦ لَا نُفَرِّقُ بَيْنَ أَحَدٍ مِّن رُّسُلِهِۦ ۚ وَقَالُوا۟ سَمِعْنَا وَأَطَعْنَا ۖ غُفْرَانَكَ رَبَّنَا وَإِلَيْكَ ٱلْمَصِيرُ ﴿٢٨٥﴾ لَا يُكَلِّفُ ٱللَّـهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا ۚ لَهَا مَا كَسَبَتْ وَعَلَيْهَا مَا ٱكْتَسَبَتْ ۗ رَبَّنَا لَا تُؤَاخِذْنَآ إِن نَّسِينَآ أَوْ أَخْطَأْنَا ۚ رَبَّنَا وَلَا تَحْمِلْ عَلَيْنَآ إِصْرًا كَمَا حَمَلْتَهُۥ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِنَا ۚ رَبَّنَا وَلَا تُحَمِّلْنَا مَا لَا طَاقَةَ لَنَا بِهِۦ ۖ وَٱعْفُ عَنَّا وَٱغْفِرْ لَنَا وَٱرْحَمْنَآ ۚ أَنتَ مَوْلَىٰنَا فَٱنصُرْنَا عَلَى ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ ﴿٢٨٦

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." (285) 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." (286) [Al-Baqarah 2:285-286]

4) ‘If one of you rises from his bed and then returns to it he should dust it with the edge of his garment three times for he does not know what has occurred in his absence and when he lies down he should supplicate:

بِاسْمِكَ رَبِّي وَضَعْتُ جَنْبِي، وَبِكَ أَرْفَعُهُ، فَإِنْ أَمْسَكْتَ نَفْسِي فَارْحَمْهَا، وَإِنْ أَرْسَلْتَهَا فَاحْفَظْهَا، بِمَا تَحْفَظُ بِهِ عِبَادَكَ الصَّالِحِينَ

Bismika Rabbee wadha'tu janbee , wa bika 'arfa'uhu, fa'in 'amsakta nafsee farhamhaa, wa 'in 'arsaltahaa fahfadhhaa, bimaa tahfadhu bihi 'ibaadakas-saaliheen.

‘In Your name my Lord, I lie down and I 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.’ [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

5)

اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ خَلَقْتَ نَفْسِي وَأَنْتَ تَوَفَّاهَا، لَكَ مَمَاتُهَا وَمَحْيَاهَا، إِنْ أَحْيَيْتَهَا فَاحْفَظْهَا، وَإِنْ أَمَتَّهَا فََاغْفِرْ لَهَا، اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ الْعَافِيَةَ

Allaahumma 'innaka khalaqta nafsee wa 'Anta tawaffaahaa, laka mamaatuhaa wa mahyaahaa, 'in 'ahyaytahaa fahfadhhaa, wa 'in 'amattahaa faghfir lahaa . Allaahumma 'innee 'as'alukal-'aafiyata

‘O Allah, verily You have created my soul and You shall take it’s life, to You belongs it’s 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.’

6) The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam would place his right hand under his cheek when about to sleep and supplicate:

اللَّهُمَّ قِنِي عَذَابَكَ يَوْمَ تَبْعَثُ عِبَادَكَ

Allaahumma qinee 'athaabaka yawma tab'athu 'ibaadaka

‘O Allah, protect me from Your punishment on the day Your servants are resurrected.’ (3 times) [Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi]

7)

بِاسْمِكَ اللَّهُمَّ أَمُوتُ وَأَحْيَا

Bismika Allaahumma 'amootu wa 'ahyaa

‘In Your name O Allah, I live and die.’

8)

سُبْحَانَ اللهِ، والْحَمْدُ للهِ، وَاللهُ أَكْبَرُ

SubhaanAllaahi, - Walhamdu lillaahi, -Wallaahu 'Akbar.

Glory is to Allah, and praise is to Allah, and Allah is the Most Great (100 times)

‘Shall I not direct you both (the Prophet was addressing Ali and Fatimah- May Allah be pleased with them) when they approached him for a servant) to something better than a servant? When you go to bed say:

(i) SuhanAllah (How Perfect Allaah is) (33 times)

(ii) Alhamdulillah (All praise is for Allah) (33 times)

(iii) Allahu Akbar (Allaah is the greatest) (34 times)

…for that is indeed better for you both than a servant.’

9)

اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّ السَّمَاوَاتِ السَّبْعِ وَرَبَّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيمِ، رَبَّنَا وَرَبَّ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ، فَالِقَ الْحَبِّ وَالنَّوَى، وَمُنْزِلَ التَّوْرَاةِ وَالْإِنجِيلِ، وَالْفُرْقَانِ، أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ أّنْتَ آخِذٌ بِنَاصِيَتهِ. اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ الأَوَّلُ فَلَيْسَ قَبْلَكَ شَيْءٌ، وَأَنْتَ الْآخِرُ فَلَيْسَ بَعْدَكَ شَيْءٌ، وَأَنْتَ الظَّاهِرُ فَلَيْسَ فَوْقَكَ شَيْءٌ، وَأَنْتَ الْبَاطِنُ فَلَيْسَ دُونَكَ شَيْءٌ، اقْضِ عَنَّا الدَّيْنَ وَأَغْنِنَا مِنَ الْفَقْرِ

Allaahumma Rabbas-samaawaatis-sab'i wa Rabbal-'Arshil-'Adheem, Rabbanaa wa Rabba kulli shay 'in, faaliqal-habbi wannawaa , wa munzilat-Tawraati wal-'Injeeli, wal-Furqaani, 'a'oothu bika min sharri kulli shay 'in 'Anta 'aakhithun binaasiyatihi. Allaahumma 'Antal-'Awwalu falaysa qablaka shay'un, wa 'Antal-'Aakhiru falaysa ba'daka shay'un, wa 'Antadh-Dhaahiru falaysa fawqaka shay'un, wa 'Antal-Baatinu falaysa doonaka shay'un, iqdhi 'annad-dayna wa 'aghninaa minal-faqri

‘O Allah, Lord of the seven heavens and the exalted throne, our Lord and Lord of all things, Splitter of the seed and the date stone, Revealer of the Torah, the Injeel and the Furqaan, I take refuge in You from the evil of all things You shall seize by the forelock. O Allaah, You are The First so there is nothing before You and You are The Last so there is nothing after You. You are Ath-Thaahir so there is nothing above You and You are Al-Baatin so there is nothing closer than You. Settle our debt for us and spare us from poverty.’

10)

الْحَمْدُ للهِ الَّذِي أَطْعَمَنَا وَسَقَانَا، وَكَفَانَا، وَآوَانَا، فَكَمْ مِمَّنْ لَا كَافِيَ لَهُ وَلَا مُؤْويَ

Alhamdu lillaahil-lathee 'at'amanaa wa saqaanaa, wa kafaanaa, wa 'aawaanaa, fakam mimman laa kaafiya lahu wa laa mu'wiya

'All praise is for Allah, Who fed us and gave us drink, and Who is sufficient for us and has sheltered us, for how many have none to suffice them or shelter them.’

11)

اللَّهُمَّ عَالِمَ الْغَيْبِ وَالشَّهَادَةِ فَاطِرَ السَّمَاواتِ والْأَرْضَ، رَبَّ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَمَلِكُهُ، أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ، أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ نَفْسِي، وَمِنْ شَرِّ الشَّيْطَانِ وَشِرْكِهِ، وَأَنْ أَقْتَرِفَ عَلَى نَفْسِي سُوءاً، أَوْ أَجُرَّهُ إِلَى مُسْلِمٍ

Allaahumma 'Aalimal-ghaybi wash-shahaadati faatiras-samaawaati wal'ardhi, Rabba kulli shay 'in wa maleekahu, 'ash-hadu 'an laa 'ilaaha 'illaa 'Anta, 'a'oothu bika min sharri nafsee, wa min sharrish-shaytaani wa shirkihi, wa 'an 'aqtarifa 'alaa nafsee soo 'an, 'aw 'ajurrahu 'ilaa Muslimin

‘O Allah, Knower of the seen and the unseen, Creator of the heavens and the earth, Lord and Sovereign of all things I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped except You. I take refuge in You from the evil of my soul and from the evil and shirk of the devil, and from committing wrong against my soul or bringing such upon another Muslim.’

12) 'The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam never used to sleep until he had recited Surah As-Sajdah and Surah Al-Mulk.’

One should also recite Surah Mulk before sleeping as it is saves one from the grave
punishment. Surah Mulk should also be read as well as Surah Yaasin. Surah Waqi’ah should be read before sleeping as it saves one from hunger and poverty.

13) ‘If you take to your bed, then perform ablution, lie on your right side and then supplicate:

اللَّهُمَّ أَسْلَمْتُ نَفْسِي إِلَيْكَ، وَفَوَّضْتُ أَمْرِي إِلَيْكَ، وَوَجَّهْتُ وَجْهِي إِلَيْكَ، وَأَلْجَأْتُ ظَهْرِي إِلَيْكَ، رَغْبَةً وَرَهْبَةً إِلَيْكَ، لَا مَلْجَأَ وَلّا مَنْجَا مِنْكَ إِلَّا إِلَيْكَ، آمَنْتُ بِكِتَابِكَ الَّذِيْأَنْزَلْتَ وَبِنَبِيِّكَ الَّذِي أَرْسَلْتَ

Allaahumma 'aslamtu nafsee 'ilayka, wa fawwadhtu 'amree 'ilayka, wa wajjahtu wajhee 'ilayka, wa 'alja'tu dhahree 'ilayka, raghbatan wa rahbatan 'ilayka, laa raalja' wa laa manja minka 'illaa 'ilayka, 'aamantu bikitaabikal-lathee 'anzalta wa bi-nabiyyikal-lathee 'arsalta

‘O Allah, I submit my soul unto You, and I entrust my affair unto You, and I turn my face towards You, and I totally rely on You, in hope and fear of You. Verily there is no refuge nor safe haven from You except with You. I believe in Your Book which You have revealed and in Your Prophet whom You have sent.’

The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam said: "Whoever says this and dies in his sleep, has died in a state of the natural monotheism (Fitrah)." [Bukhari, Muslim]

14) To have water and Miswaak ready in advance for Wudhu. (Muslim)

15) To sleep with the intention of getting up for Tahajjud. (Nisaa’i)

16) To perform the night vigil prayer (Tahajjud) before fajr (Dawn). (Mishkaat)

17) Rasulallah read long rak’ahs which caused swelling of his blessed feet. Whilst reciting Qur’an in Salaah Rasulullah used to cry excessively and this caused a wheezing sound coming from his blessed chest as if a pot was being boiled. This is due to the fear Rasulullah had of Almighty Allah.

18) It is recommended to start the night vigil with two short raka'ats, because of the hadith of Abu Hurayra that the Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wassallam said, “It you get up for night prayer, start with two short raka'ats.” [Muslim, Ahmad, Abu Dawud]

19) Abu Hurayra reports that the Messenger of Allah was asked, “What prayer is most virtuous, after the obligatory prayers?” He said, “Prayer in the depths of the night.” (Muslim, Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, Nisaa’i, Ibn Majah)

20) For Tahajjud one should read at least 2 Rak’ahs and a maximum of 12 rak’ahs. This is Sunnah. However there is no limit for (Nafil) voluntary worship. One may also do a lot of Dhikrullah as well as recitation of the Qur’an.

21) The dua's at the time of Tahajjud are very readily accepted by Almighty Allah and one should repent and ask of Allah and try to cry in their dua's at this time, if one cannot cry due to the hardness of ones heart due to sin then at least one should make the face as if one is crying. Just as a mother tends to her baby quickly and promptly when it cries the same way Allah attends to his servant quicker when they are crying.

We should try and pray Tahajjud every night as it is one of the best and most rewarding Nafil prayers and makes it possible for one to gain the top ranks of Jannah. If not then at least pray it as much as we can.

Ibn Mas’ud was asked, ‘I cannot pray at night.’ He said, ‘Your sins have prevented you.’

If one is overcome by sleep then it is best to sleep but one should always ensure that one
does not miss their Fajr. Men should do their best to attend Fajr with Jamaat as this is huge
rewards and women get the same reward for praying at home.

22) Recite the following Astaghfaar three times:

Asthaghfirullah halladhee laa ilaaha ilallahuwal hayyul qayyumu wa atuubu ilayhi

I seek forgiveness from Allah besides whom there is none worthy of worship, the living, the sustainer of life and to Him i repent. (Tirmidhi)

23) To recite Bismillah 21 times is said to save ones home from theft and the evil effects of Shaytan and sudden death.

24) Recite salawat whilst falling asleep.

25) Dhikr is a cleanser (purifier) of the heart. (Baihaqi)

26) The remembrance of Allah just as one is about to sleep shall be a means of that person achieving high stages in Jannah. (Attargheeb)

….When you go to bed, glorify Him and praise Him and magnify Him one hundred times: that will be one hundred on the tongue and a thousand in the scales. Who among you does 2500 sayi’aat (bad deeds) in one day?’ They said: ‘How could we not count (our sins)?’ He said: ‘The Shaytaan comes to any one of you whilst he is praying and says, Remember this, remember that, until he finishes his prayer and does not do (this Dhikr), or he comes to him when he is lying down and makes him sleepy, until he falls asleep (without doing this Dhikr).’” [Sunan al-Tirmidhi]

27) To keep the prayer mat near ones head or besides bed before sleeping (Nisaa’i)

28) Precaution should be taken that children do not notice marital relations between husband and wife (Mishkaat)

29) At the time of difficulty when sleeping:

Zaid bin Thaabit complained to Rasulullah of not being able to go to sleep at times and Rasulullah advised him to recite the following du'a:

اللّهُمّ غَارَتِ النّجُومُ وَهَدَأَتِ الْعُيُونُ وَأَنْتَ حَيّ قَيّومٌ * لَ تَأْخُذُكَ سِنَةٌ وَلَ نَوْمٌ يَا حَيّ
يَا قَيّومُ أَهْدِئْ لَيْلِي وَأَنِمْ عَيْنِي

Allahummah ghaarithinnujumu wa hadaathil uyoonu wa antha hayyun qayyumulla ta'khudhu ka sinathuwalaa nawmun yaa hayyun yaa qayyoomu a’hde’ laylee wa anim ‘aynee

Oh Allah the stars have sunk in and the eyes have become tranquil and quite and You are alive and ever lasting neither does sleep overcome You. Oh the living and ever lasting one make my night my tranquil and give my eyes sleep.

30) If afraid to go to sleep or feeling lonely or depressed then recite:

أعَُوذُ بكِلَِمَاتِ اللهِ التاّمّاتِ مِنْ غَضَبهِِ وَعِقَابهِِ،"
وَشَرّ عِباَدِهِ، وَمِنْ هَمَزَاتِ الشّياَطِينِ وَأنَْ
."يحَْضُرُونِ

'A'oothu bikalimaatil-laahit-taammaati min ghadhabihi wa 'iqaabihi, wa sharri 'ibaadihi, wa min hamazaatish-shayaateeni wa 'an yahdhuroon.

I seek refuge in the Perfect Words of Allah from His anger and His punishment, from the evil of His slaves and from the taunts of devils and from their presence. (Abu Dawud, At-Tirmidhi)

31) This is to be recited if you turn over in bed during the night:

لَ إلَِهَ إلِّ اللهُ الْوَاحِدُ اقَْهّارُ، رَبّ السّمَاوَاتِ"
."وَالْرَْضِ وَمَا بيَنْهَُمَا الْعَزِيزُ الْغَفّارُ

Laa 'ilaaha 'illallaahul-Waahidul-Qahhaaru, Rabbus-samaawaati wal'ardhi wa maabaynahumal-'Azeezul-Ghaffaaru.

There is none worthy of worship but Allah, the One, the Victorious, Lord of the heavens and the earth and all that is between them, the All-Mighty, the All-Forgiving. (An-Nasa'i]

32) If after sleeping one experiences a pleasant dream then when ones eyes open then say: “Alhamdulillah” – All Praise be to Allah, then the pleasant dream should only be revealed to trustworthy learned ones so that the dream can be interpreted correctly.

33) If one experiences an unpleasant dream then one should spit (A form of spitting comprising mainly of air with little spittle) three times on the left side and then recite three times: “Audhobillaahi Minashaythaanirajeem”.

Also change one’s position to the other side and sleep. (Muslim-Vol.2, chapter of dreams)

34) The dream should not be revealed to anyone then it will bring no harm to the person. (Bukhari, Muslim)

Allah knows best.
Wassalaam