1Making Wudu and Lying on the Right Side

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said to al-Bara ibn Azib, may Allah be pleased with him:

إِذَا أَتَيْتَ مَضْجَعَكَ فَتَوَضَّأْ وُضُوءَكَ لِلصَّلَاةِ، ثُمَّ اضْطَجِعْ عَلَى شِقِّكَ الأَيْمَنِ

Meaning: "When you go to bed, perform wudu as you do for prayer, then lie down on your right side."

Reported by al-Bukhari and Muslim.

Making wudu before sleep is a Sunnah, and a Muslim begins sleeping on the right side. This does not mean that sleeping on the other side is forbidden when needed, or that turning onto it during sleep is forbidden.

If a person breaks wudu after performing it but before sleeping, they may renew it to observe this Sunnah. Doing so is not obligatory.

2Dusting the Bed Before Lying Down

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

إِذَا أَوَى أَحَدُكُمْ إِلَى فِرَاشِهِ فَلْيَنْفُضْ فِرَاشَهُ بِدَاخِلَةِ إِزَارِهِ؛ فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَدْرِي مَا خَلَفَهُ عَلَيْهِ

Meaning: "When one of you goes to bed, let him dust his bed with the inside of his lower garment, for he does not know what may have come onto it after he left it."

Reported by al-Bukhari and Muslim. An authentic narration also mentions dusting it three times.

Today, the purpose can be fulfilled by dusting the bed with the edge of a garment, a covering, or something similar before lying down. This Sunnah combines following Prophetic guidance with taking precautions for safety.

3Placing the Hand Under the Cheek and Saying the Supplication

When the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, went to bed at night, he placed his hand under his cheek and said:

اللَّهُمَّ بِاسْمِكَ أَمُوتُ وَأَحْيَا

Meaning: "O Allah, in Your name I die and live."

Reported by al-Bukhari.

It is also established that he placed his right hand under his cheek and said:

اللَّهُمَّ قِنِي عَذَابَكَ يَوْمَ تَبْعَثُ عِبَادَكَ

Meaning: "O Allah, protect me from Your punishment on the Day You resurrect Your servants."

Reported by Abu Dawud and graded authentic by a number of scholars.

4Reciting Ayat al-Kursi

In the account of Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, it is established that a person who recites Ayat al-Kursi before sleeping was told:

لَنْ يَزَالَ عَلَيْكَ مِنَ اللَّهِ حَافِظٌ، وَلَا يَقْرَبُكَ شَيْطَانٌ حَتَّى تُصْبِحَ

Meaning: "A guardian from Allah will remain over you, and no devil will approach you until morning."

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said about the devil who had told him this: "He told you the truth, although he is a habitual liar." Reported by al-Bukhari.

This means that Allah appoints a guardian for the person. Allah alone is the Protector; reciting Ayat al-Kursi is a prescribed means of protection, not something that works independently of His will, exalted is He.

5Reciting al-Ikhlas, al-Falaq, and al-Nas and Wiping the Body

Every night when the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, went to bed, he brought his palms together, gently blew into them, and recited: "Say: He is Allah, One" (al-Ikhlas), "Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of daybreak" (al-Falaq), and "Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind" (al-Nas). He then wiped as much of his body as he could with them, beginning with his head, face, and the front of his body. He did this three times. Reported by al-Bukhari.

The Arabic term nafth refers to gentle blowing accompanied by a very small amount of saliva, not spitting.

6Reciting Surat al-Kafirun

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said to Nawfal, may Allah be pleased with him:

اقْرَأْ: {قُلْ يَا أَيُّهَا الكَافِرُونَ}، ثُمَّ نَمْ عَلَى خَاتِمَتِهَا؛ فَإِنَّهَا بَرَاءَةٌ مِنَ الشِّرْكِ

Meaning: "Recite: 'Say: O disbelievers,' then go to sleep after completing it, for it is a declaration of freedom from shirk."

Reported by Abu Dawud and al-Tirmidhi, and graded authentic by al-Albani.

A Muslim recites the entire surah before sleeping, reflecting on its affirmation of worship devoted sincerely to Allah and rejection of shirk, without believing that reciting it is obligatory.

7Reciting the Last Two Verses of Surat al-Baqarah at Night

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

مَنْ قَرَأَ بِالآيَتَيْنِ مِنْ آخِرِ سُورَةِ البَقَرَةِ فِي لَيْلَةٍ كَفَتَاهُ

Meaning: "Whoever recites the last two verses of Surat al-Baqarah in a night, they will suffice him."

Reported by al-Bukhari and Muslim.

The hadith concerns the night generally, so these verses do not have to be recited specifically when lying down. Scholars have explained "they will suffice him" in different ways: some said protection from harm or from the devil, while others said sufficiency in place of standing in prayer that night. The hadith indicates great virtue without requiring us to insist on only one of these meanings. Night prayer remains a separate voluntary act, and nothing replaces the obligatory prayers.

8Established Supplications Before Sleep

Among the most comprehensive bedtime supplications is what the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, taught al-Bara, may Allah be pleased with him:

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْلَمْتُ وَجْهِي إِلَيْكَ، وَفَوَّضْتُ أَمْرِي إِلَيْكَ، وَأَلْجَأْتُ ظَهْرِي إِلَيْكَ، رَغْبَةً وَرَهْبَةً إِلَيْكَ، لَا مَلْجَأَ وَلَا مَنْجَا مِنْكَ إِلَّا إِلَيْكَ، آمَنْتُ بِكِتَابِكَ الَّذِي أَنْزَلْتَ، وَبِنَبِيِّكَ الَّذِي أَرْسَلْتَ

Meaning: "O Allah, I have submitted my face to You, entrusted my affairs to You, and turned to You for support, in hope of You and fear of You. There is no refuge or escape from You except with You. I believe in Your Book which You revealed and in Your Prophet whom You sent."

He instructed him to make this supplication his last words and said: "If you die that night, you will be upon the fitrah," meaning the natural disposition of faith. Reported by al-Bukhari and Muslim.

Another established supplication is:

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

Meaning: "In Your name, my Lord, I lay down my side, and by You I raise it. If You keep my soul, have mercy on it; and if You release it, protect it as You protect Your righteous servants."

Reported by al-Bukhari and Muslim.

There are other authentic bedtime adhkar. For a collection of their wordings and evidence, see Sleep and Waking Adhkar.

9The Tasbih Taught to Fatimah and Ali

When Fatimah, may Allah be pleased with her, asked for a servant, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, directed her and Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, to say before sleeping:

• سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ: Subhan Allah, "Glory be to Allah," thirty-three times.
• الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ: Alhamdu lillah, "All praise is due to Allah," thirty-three times.
• اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ: Allahu akbar, "Allah is the Greatest," thirty-four times.

He told them: "It is better for you both than a servant." Reported by al-Bukhari and Muslim.

This remembrance is a Sunnah for men and women, not something exclusive to Fatimah and Ali, may Allah be pleased with them both.

10Closing Doors, Covering Vessels, and Removing Fire Hazards

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

أَطْفِئُوا المَصَابِيحَ إِذَا رَقَدْتُمْ، وَغَلِّقُوا الأَبْوَابَ، وَأَوْكُوا الأَسْقِيَةَ، وَخَمِّرُوا الطَّعَامَ وَالشَّرَابَ

Meaning: "Extinguish the lamps when you sleep, close the doors, tie the mouths of the waterskins, and cover food and drink."

Reported by al-Bukhari and Muslim.

A Muslim closes the doors of the home while mentioning Allah's name, covers vessels, and does not leave a fire or a heating or cooking appliance running when its harm is feared during sleep. This combines reliance on Allah with taking practical precautions. It does not mean that safe electric lighting must be switched off merely because it is called a lamp.

11Beginning with Praise of Allah

When the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, woke up, he said:

الحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي أَحْيَانَا بَعْدَ مَا أَمَاتَنَا، وَإِلَيْهِ النُّشُورُ

Meaning: "All praise is due to Allah, who gave us life after causing us to die, and to Him is the resurrection."

Reported by al-Bukhari.

Sleep is a lesser death, and waking reminds a Muslim of resurrection and returning to Allah. Begin with this remembrance before becoming occupied with a phone or conversation.

12Using the Siwak When Rising at Night

Hudhayfah, may Allah be pleased with him, said:

كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِذَا قَامَ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ يَشُوصُ فَاهُ بِالسِّوَاكِ

Meaning: "When the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, rose at night, he cleaned his mouth with the siwak."

Reported by al-Bukhari and Muslim.

The expression yashusu fahu means rubbing and cleaning the mouth with the siwak. This is especially emphasized when rising for tahajjud, Quran recitation, and prayer.

13Washing the Hands Before Dipping Them into a Water Vessel

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

إِذَا اسْتَيْقَظَ أَحَدُكُمْ مِنْ نَوْمِهِ فَلَا يَغْمِسْ يَدَهُ فِي الإِنَاءِ حَتَّى يَغْسِلَهَا ثَلَاثًا؛ فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَدْرِي أَيْنَ بَاتَتْ يَدُهُ

Meaning: "When one of you wakes from sleep, he must not dip his hand into the vessel until he has washed it three times, for he does not know where his hand spent the night."

Reported by al-Bukhari and Muslim.

This ruling concerns putting the hand into a vessel of water before washing it. Someone using a tap without dipping a hand into a vessel is not in the same situation addressed by this prohibition. Washing both hands at the beginning of wudu remains recommended.

14Rinsing the Nose and Expelling the Water

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

إِذَا اسْتَيْقَظَ أَحَدُكُمْ مِنْ مَنَامِهِ فَتَوَضَّأَ، فَلْيَسْتَنْثِرْ ثَلَاثًا؛ فَإِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ يَبِيتُ عَلَى خَيْشُومِهِ

Meaning: "When one of you wakes from sleep and performs wudu, let him expel water from his nose three times, for the devil spends the night on the inner part of his nose."

Reported by al-Bukhari and Muslim.

Istinthar means expelling water from the nose after drawing it in. We believe the Prophet's report, peace and blessings be upon him, as it came, without speculating about how the devil spends the night on the inner part of the nose.

For the complete method of wudu, see How to Make Wudu Correctly.

15Remembrance, Supplication, and Prayer When Waking During the Night

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "Whoever wakes during the night," then mentioned declaring Allah's oneness, praising Him, glorifying Him, declaring His greatness, and saying that there is no power or strength except through Allah. He continued:

ثُمَّ قَالَ: اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي، أَوْ دَعَا؛ اسْتُجِيبَ لَهُ، فَإِنْ قَامَ فَتَوَضَّأَ ثُمَّ صَلَّى قُبِلَتْ صَلَاتُهُ

Meaning: "Then he says: 'O Allah, forgive me,' or supplicates, he will be answered. If he gets up, performs wudu, and then prays, his prayer will be accepted." Reported by al-Bukhari.

This is an opportunity that many overlook: someone who wakes at night begins with affirming Allah's oneness and remembering Him, then supplicates or gets up to pray.

It is also established in the hadith of Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with them both, that when the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, rose for tahajjud, he wiped the sleep from his face with his hand, recited the final ten verses of Surat Al Imran, performed wudu, and began praying. Reported by al-Bukhari and Muslim. This was part of his guidance when rising for night prayer; reciting these verses should not be treated as a requirement after every ordinary awakening.

The full wording of the remembrance for someone who wakes during the night is available in Adhkar Upon Waking Up. For the method of night prayer, see Qiyam al-Layl and Tahajjud.