Dua Before Sleeping - Arabic, Urdu Translation & Hadith

The Prophet ﷺ had a regular routine before sleep, from wudu to remembrance. This guide lists those practices with their sources, so that you can follow them step by step.

The central dua before sleeping is "Bismika Allahumma amutu wa ahya" ("In Your name, O Allah, I die and I live"), recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari. Around it the Prophet ﷺ recited Ayatul Kursi, the last two verses of Al-Baqarah and the three Quls, and said the tasbih of Fatimah.

1. Make wudu. Al-Bara' ibn 'Azib reported that the Prophet ﷺ told him: when you go to your bed, make wudu as for prayer, lie on your right side and say the dua (Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim).
2. Lie on your right side. The same report mentions it, and the Prophet ﷺ would place his right hand under his cheek (Sunan Abi Dawud and Jami' at-Tirmidhi). See dua 44.
3. Say "Bismika Allahumma amutu wa ahya." Recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari. See dua 41.
4. Recite Ayatul Kursi. Abu Hurairah's report in Sahih al-Bukhari says that whoever recites it when going to bed will have a guardian from Allah over him until morning. See dua 42 and our Ayatul Kursi page.
5. Recite the last two verses of Al-Baqarah. "Whoever recites the last two verses of Surah Al-Baqarah at night, they will suffice him" (Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim).
6. Recite the three Quls and blow. Aisha reported that every night the Prophet ﷺ would join his palms, blow into them, recite Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq and An-Nas, and wipe over as much of his body as he could, starting with the head and face, three times (Sahih al-Bukhari).
7. Say the tasbih of Fatimah. The Prophet ﷺ taught Ali and Fatimah to say Subhanallah 33 times, Alhamdulillah 33 times and Allahu Akbar 34 times when going to bed (Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim).
8. Optionally, read Surah Al-Mulk and As-Sajdah. Reported in Jami' at-Tirmidhi that the Prophet ﷺ did this. See our Surah Mulk article.

• "Allahumma aslamtu nafsi ilayka..." The Prophet ﷺ told Al-Bara' that if he said it and died that night, he would die upon the fitrah, and that it should be his last words (Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim).
• "Allahumma qini 'adhabaka yawma tab'athu 'ibadak." Placing the hand under the cheek and saying it three times (Sunan Abi Dawud and Jami' at-Tirmidhi).

"Alhamdu lillahilladhi ahyana ba'da ma amatana wa ilayhin-nushur" ("All praise is for Allah, who gave us life after causing us to die, and to Him is the resurrection"), recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari. See dua 43.

The Prophet ﷺ said a good dream is from Allah, and a bad one from Shaytan. When you see something you dislike, spit lightly to your left three times, seek refuge in Allah from its evil and from Shaytan, and do not tell anyone, and it will not harm you (Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim). See dua 47.

• Teach one item at a time, starting with "Bismika Allahumma amutu wa ahya."
• Read the Quls with the child so they hear the meaning.
• Pair the routine with a bedtime story about the Prophets, rather than screens.