Unlike other Abrahamic religions, Islam is still a pure religion. No religious dignity or influential ruler dared to amend, delete, or insert any additions in the Quran. Also, we Muslims are lucky enough to have a complete history of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). Every aspect and teachings of our Holy Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) are intact to this day. Therefore, we can seek guidance from the Quran and the life of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) regarding every aspect of our lives.
Like other life aspects of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), his sleeping ritual is perfectly recorded. In this blog, we will discuss the sleeping ritual of our Holy Prophet (ﷺ) so that you can also follow the same sleeping routine for success in this world and in the hereafter.
Best Duas before Sleeping
Following is the first Dua that you need to recite before going to sleep. Reference: Al Bukhari 11:126
بِاسْمِكَ رَبِّي وَضَعْتُ جَنْبِي، وَبِكَ أَرْفَعُهُ، فَإِنْ أَمْسَكْتَ نَفْسِي فَارْحَمْهَا، وَإِنْ أَرْسَلْتَهَا فَاحْفَظْهَا، بِمَا تَحْفَظُ بِهِ عِبَادَكَ الصَّالِحِينَ.
Transliteration: Bismika rabbee wadaAAtu janbee wabika arfaAAuh, fa-in amsakta nafsee farhamha, wa-in arsaltaha fahfathha bima tahfathu bihi AAibadakas-saliheen
Translation: “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.”
After reciting the first Dua, here is the second Masnoon Dua which you should recite before going to sleep. Reference: Al-Muslim 4:2083
اللَّهمَّ إِنَّكَ خَلَقْتَ نَفْسِي وَأَنْتَ تَوَفَّاهَا لَكَ مَمَاتُهَا وَمَحْيَاهَا، إِنْ أَحْيَيْتَهَا فَاحْفَظْهَا، وَإِنْ أَمَتَّهَا فَاغْفِرْ لَهَا. اللَّهمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ العَافِيَةَ.
Transliteration: Allahumma innaka khalaqta nafsee wa-anta tawaffaha, laka mamatuha wamahyaha in ahyaytaha fahfathha, wa-in amattaha faghfir laha. Allahumma innee as-alukal-AAafiyah.
Translation: “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.”
The third Masnoon Dua before sleeping is.
اللَّهُمَّ بِاسْـمِكَ أَمُوتُ وَأَحْيَا
Transliteration: Bismikal-lahumma amootu wa-ahya.
Translation: In Your name O Allah, I live and die.
Ayatul Kursi is one of the most exalted verses of the Holy Quran and reciting it before sleeping has many benefits. Reference: Surah Al Baqarah 2:255
اللهُ 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 الْعَظِيمُاللهُ 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
Transliteration: Allaahu laa ‘ilaaha ‘illaa Huwal-Hayyul-Qayyoom, laa ta’khuthuhu sinatun wa laa nawm, lahu maa fis-samaawaati wa maafil-‘ardh, man thal-lathee yashfa’u ‘indahu ‘illaa bi’ithnih, ya’lamu maa bayna ‘aydeehim wa maa khalfahum, wa laa yuheetoona bishay’im-min ‘ilmihi ‘illaa bimaa shaa’a, wasi’a kursiyyuhus-samaawaati wal’ardh, wa laa ya’ooduhu hifdhuhumaa, wa Huwal-‘Aliyyul- ‘Adheem
Translation: “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.”
Holy Prophet’s (ﷺ) Sleeping Practice
Following is the sleeping practice of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ).
- Perform Ablution (Wudu)
Holy prophet (ﷺ) used to perform wudu before sleeping. Our holy Prophet (ﷺ) also used miswak regularly before going to bed.
- Dusting the Bedsheet off
Holy Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) used to prepare his bed before sleep. He would dust his bed thrice before lying in the bed. Holy Prophet (ﷺ) also directed us to dust our bedsheets off before lying in them.
- Sleep on the Right Side
Holy Prophet (ﷺ) always slept on his right side. He also instructed us to sleep on the right side.
إذا أتيت مضجعك فتوضأ وضوءك للصلاة ثم اضطجع على شقك الأيمن
“Whenever you intend to go to bed, perform wudu as is done for salah (prayer); and then lie down on the right side and…” (Bukhari 247 and Muslim 2710)
- Refrain from Sleeping on Stomach
Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) didn’t sleep on his stomach and refrained Muslims to sleep on their stomach. Finally, our beloved Prophet(ﷺ) would recite some verses of the Quran and then sleep while intending to offer Tahajud prayers.