Here are some of the prominent duas that can be recited before sleeping, as per Islamic tradition and hadiths:
Dua for Sleeping – Bismika Rabbi
Transliteration: “Bismika Rabbi wada’tu janbi, wa bika arfa’uhu. Fa’in amsakta nafsi farhamha, wa in arsaltaha faḥfazha bima tahfazu bihi ‘ibadakas-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.”[2][3].
Dua for Sleeping – Allahumma innaka khalaqta nafsee
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.”[2].
Ayatul Kursi
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 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.”[2][5].
Dua Before Sleeping – Bismika Allahumma amutu wa ahya
Transliteration: “Bismika Allahumma amutu wa ahya.”
Translation: “In your name, O Allah, I die and I live.”[3].
Dua Before Sleeping – Allahumma qini ‘adhabaka yawma tab’ath ‘ibadaka
Transliteration: “Allahumma qini ‘adhabaka yawma tab’ath ‘ibadaka.”
Translation: “O Allah, protect me from Your punishment on the Day You resurrect Your slaves.”[3].
Surah Al-Ikhlas
Transliteration: “Qul Huwallahu Ahad, Allahu as-Samad, Lam yalid wa lam yulad, Wa lam yakun lahu kufuwan ahad.”
Translation: “Say, ‘He is Allah, [who is] One, Allah, the Eternal Refuge. He neither begets nor is born, nor is there to Him any equivalent.'”[5].
These duas are recommended to be recited with a clean state (after performing Wudu), in a quiet and comfortable space, and with a focused mind and heart, reflecting on the meaning and significance of the words.
