Duas to Recite Before Sleeping
Quick Answer
Before sleeping, the Prophet (peace be upon him) recited Ayatul Kursi and the surahs Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq and An-Nas, blowing into his cupped hands and wiping his body. He also recited the dua 'Allahumma aslamtu nafsi ilayk'. These duas are a sunnah for protection through the night, safety from Satan, and waking healthy in the morning. It is narrated in Bukhari that whoever recites Ayatul Kursi will remain under Allah's protection until morning.
Why the Bedtime Duas Matter
Sleep is likened to a small death. Seeking Allah's protection during these unconscious hours is a strongly established sunnah in Islam. The Prophet (peace be upon him) recited certain duas before sleeping and recommended them to his family and Companions as well.
The duas recited before sleeping bring three main benefits:
- Coming under Allah's protection throughout the night
- Distancing oneself from Satan and negative thoughts
- Restful, healthy sleep and ease in waking early
1. Ayatul Kursi (The Most Virtuous)
The Prophet (peace be upon him) strongly recommended reciting Ayatul Kursi upon going to bed.
Transliteration:
Allahu la ilaha illa huwa'l-hayyu'l-qayyum... (For the full text, see our Ayatul Kursi page)
Its virtue:
"If you recite Ayatul Kursi upon going to bed, a guardian from Allah will remain with you and Satan will not come near you until morning." — Bukhari, Wakalah, 10
2. Surahs Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq and An-Nas (The Three Quls)
Every night before sleeping, the Prophet (peace be upon him) would recite these three surahs, blow into his cupped hands, and then wipe his hands over his head and the rest of his body.
- Surah Al-Ikhlas — the surah of tawhid
- Surah Al-Falaq — refuge from external harm
- Surah An-Nas — refuge from whispered evil
Practical tip: reciting each three times is a sunnah.
3. The Main Bedtime Dua ("Allahumma Aslamtu Nafsi Ilayk")
One of the most comprehensive duas the Prophet recited upon going to bed:
Transliteration:
Allahumma aslamtu nafsi ilayka wa wajjahtu wajhi ilayka wa fawwadtu amri ilayka wa alja'tu zahri ilayka, raghbatan wa rahbatan ilayk, la malja'a wa la manja minka illa ilayk. Amantu bi-kitabika'lladhi anzalta wa bi-nabiyyika'lladhi arsalt.
Meaning:
"O Allah, I submit myself to You, I turn my face towards You, I entrust my affair to You, and I rely on You in hope and in fear of You. There is no refuge or place of safety from You except with You. I believe in Your Book which You have revealed and in Your Prophet whom You have sent."
Its virtue:
"Whoever recites this dua upon going to bed and dies that night, dies in a state of fitrah (the natural state of belief)." — Bukhari, Wudu, 75
4. The Tasbih Dua (33 — 33 — 34)
The Prophet (peace be upon him) recommended that his daughter Fatimah say the following before sleeping:
- 33 times "Subhanallah" (Glory be to Allah, free from all imperfection)
- 33 times "Alhamdulillah" (All praise belongs to Allah)
- 34 times "Allahu akbar" (Allah is the Greatest)
Total: 100 remembrances.
Its virtue:
"This tasbih is better for you than a servant." — Bukhari, Da'awat, 11
What to Do Before Sleeping — A Practical Order
A practical sequence to follow:
- Perform wudu (a sunnah)
- Lie on your right side (a sunnah)
- Recite the tasbih dua (33-33-34)
- Recite Ayatul Kursi
- Recite Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq and An-Nas three times each, blow into your cupped hands, and wipe your body
- Recite the "Allahumma aslamtu nafsi ilayk" dua
- Say "Bismika Rabbi wada'tu janbi" and settle into sleep
The Short Version, If You're Short on Time
If time is limited, at minimum do these three:
- Ayatul Kursi (once)
- The Three Quls (once each — minimum)
- "Bismika Allahumma amutu wa ahya" (a short bedtime dua)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it necessary to recite all of these duas every single night?
It is not obligatory. All of them are sunnah practices. Reciting at least Ayatul Kursi and the Three Quls is considered ideal. If you are very tired, even the basmalah followed by "Bismika Allahumma amutu wa ahya" fulfils the sunnah.
Do I need to face the qibla while reciting these duas?
No, facing the qibla is not required to recite a dua. You may recite them regardless of which direction you are lying in bed. However, lying on your right side is itself a sunnah.
How should these duas be taught to children?
Start with the shorter ones: Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq, An-Nas (all three are short). Then move to Ayatul Kursi. The main bedtime dua can be introduced around adolescence. Repeating them together each night is the most effective way to help a child memorise them.
A Daily Dua Reminder in the Nurlu App
When you enable the night-time bedtime dua reminder in the Nurlu app, at the time you choose each night you'll receive:
- audio recitation of these duas
- the Arabic and English text
- an automatic Three Quls + Ayatul Kursi playlist
all free of charge.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which dua is recited before sleeping?
In the sunnah, before sleeping one recites: 1) Ayatul Kursi, 2) Surah Al-Ikhlas, 3) Surah Al-Falaq, 4) Surah An-Nas (three times each), 5) the dua 'Allahumma aslamtu nafsi ilayk'. These duas are a sunnah for protection through the night and safety from Satan.
What is the virtue of reciting Ayatul Kursi before sleeping?
The Prophet said, 'If you recite Ayatul Kursi upon going to bed, a guardian from Allah will remain with you and Satan will not come near you until morning' (Bukhari, Wakalah, 10). For this reason, reciting Ayatul Kursi before sleeping is one of the most virtuous sunnah practices.
Is reciting a dua before sleeping obligatory?
No, it is not obligatory. Reciting a dua before sleeping is a sunnah and a recommended practice. Not doing it is not sinful, but doing it carries great reward and was a practice the Prophet (peace be upon him) maintained consistently.
Is it enough to recite the bedtime dua in transliteration?
Reciting it in Arabic carries greater virtue, since the Quran and hadiths are in their original language. However, those who do not know Arabic may recite the transliteration or read the meaning. What matters most is reciting it sincerely and with presence of heart.
Get daily dua reminders with Nurlu
Morning, evening and situational dua reminders — in the app.