Recite Ayat al-Kursi in full:

{اللَّهُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الحَيُّ القَيُّومُ، لَا تَأْخُذُهُ سِنَةٌ وَلَا نَوْمٌ، لَهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الأَرْضِ، مَنْ ذَا الَّذِي يَشْفَعُ عِنْدَهُ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِ، يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ، وَلَا يُحِيطُونَ بِشَيْءٍ مِنْ عِلْمِهِ إِلَّا بِمَا شَاءَ، وَسِعَ كُرْسِيُّهُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضَ، وَلَا يَئُودُهُ حِفْظُهُمَا، وَهُوَ العَلِيُّ العَظِيمُ}

{Allah: none has the right to be worshipped except Him, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of all. Neither drowsiness nor sleep overtakes Him. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. Who can intercede with Him except by His permission? He knows what is before them and what is behind them, and they encompass nothing of His knowledge except what He wills. His Kursi extends over the heavens and the earth, and preserving them does not burden Him. He is the Most High, the Magnificent.} [Al-Baqarah: 255; translation of the meaning].

The account of Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, establishes that reciting Ayat al-Kursi at bedtime is a means of having a guardian from Allah and of no devil approaching the reciter until morning. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, confirmed this. Reported by al-Bukhari (2311).

Protection comes from Allah alone. Recitation is a prescribed means and does not act independently of His will. This hadith does not prescribe reciting the verse three times at bedtime.

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, would bring his palms together, blow lightly into them, and recite al-Ikhlas, al-Falaq, and an-Nas. He would then wipe with his hands as much of his body as he could reach, beginning with his head, face, and the front of his body. He did this three times. Reported by al-Bukhari (5017).

The practice combines recitation, light blowing, and wiping, with the whole sequence repeated three times. The light blowing contains a very small amount of saliva; it is not spitting.

Surah al-Ikhlas:

{قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ * اللَّهُ الصَّمَدُ * لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ * وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ}

{Say: He is Allah, One. Allah, the One upon whom all depend. He neither begets nor was begotten, and none is equal to Him.} [Al-Ikhlas: 1-4; translation of the meaning].

Surah al-Falaq:

{قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ الفَلَقِ * مِنْ شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ * وَمِنْ شَرِّ غَاسِقٍ إِذَا وَقَبَ * وَمِنْ شَرِّ النَّفَّاثَاتِ فِي العُقَدِ * وَمِنْ شَرِّ حَاسِدٍ إِذَا حَسَدَ}

{Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of daybreak, from the evil of what He created, from the evil of darkness when it settles, from the evil of those who blow into knots, and from the evil of an envious person when they envy.} [Al-Falaq: 1-5; translation of the meaning].

Surah an-Nas:

{قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ النَّاسِ * مَلِكِ النَّاسِ * إِلَهِ النَّاسِ * مِنْ شَرِّ الوَسْوَاسِ الخَنَّاسِ * الَّذِي يُوَسْوِسُ فِي صُدُورِ النَّاسِ * مِنَ الجِنَّةِ وَالنَّاسِ}

{Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind, the King of mankind, the God of mankind, from the evil of the whisperer who retreats, who whispers into the hearts of mankind, from among jinn and mankind.} [An-Nas: 1-6; translation of the meaning].

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, instructed Nawfal, may Allah be pleased with him, to recite Surah al-Kafirun at bedtime and explained that it is a declaration of freedom from shirk. Reported by Abu Dawud (5055), and authenticated by al-Albani.

{قُلْ يَا أَيُّهَا الكَافِرُونَ * لَا أَعْبُدُ مَا تَعْبُدُونَ * وَلَا أَنْتُمْ عَابِدُونَ مَا أَعْبُدُ * وَلَا أَنَا عَابِدٌ مَا عَبَدْتُمْ * وَلَا أَنْتُمْ عَابِدُونَ مَا أَعْبُدُ * لَكُمْ دِينُكُمْ وَلِيَ دِينِ}

{Say: O disbelievers! I do not worship what you worship, nor are you worshippers of what I worship. Nor am I a worshipper of what you have worshipped, nor are you worshippers of what I worship. For you is your religion, and for me is my religion.} [Al-Kafirun: 1-6; translation of the meaning].

Recite it in full, mindful of devoting worship sincerely to Allah and disavowing the worship of anyone other than Him.

مَنْ قَرَأَ بِالآيَتَيْنِ مِنْ آخِرِ سُورَةِ البَقَرَةِ فِي لَيْلَةٍ كَفَتَاهُ

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "Whoever recites the last two verses of Surah al-Baqarah during a night, they will suffice him." Reported by al-Bukhari (5009).

The two verses are:

{آمَنَ الرَّسُولُ بِمَا أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ رَبِّهِ وَالمُؤْمِنُونَ، كُلٌّ آمَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَمَلَائِكَتِهِ وَكُتُبِهِ وَرُسُلِهِ، لَا نُفَرِّقُ بَيْنَ أَحَدٍ مِنْ رُسُلِهِ، وَقَالُوا سَمِعْنَا وَأَطَعْنَا، غُفْرَانَكَ رَبَّنَا وَإِلَيْكَ المَصِيرُ}

{The Messenger has believed in what was revealed to him from his Lord, and so have the believers. All have believed in Allah, His angels, His Books, and His messengers. "We make no distinction between any of His messengers." They say, "We hear and obey. We seek Your forgiveness, our Lord, and to You is the final return."} [Al-Baqarah: 285; translation of the meaning].

{لَا يُكَلِّفُ اللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا، لَهَا مَا كَسَبَتْ وَعَلَيْهَا مَا اكْتَسَبَتْ، رَبَّنَا لَا تُؤَاخِذْنَا إِنْ نَسِينَا أَوْ أَخْطَأْنَا، رَبَّنَا وَلَا تَحْمِلْ عَلَيْنَا إِصْرًا كَمَا حَمَلْتَهُ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِنَا، رَبَّنَا وَلَا تُحَمِّلْنَا مَا لَا طَاقَةَ لَنَا بِهِ، وَاعْفُ عَنَّا، وَاغْفِرْ لَنَا، وَارْحَمْنَا، أَنْتَ مَوْلَانَا فَانْصُرْنَا عَلَى القَوْمِ الكَافِرِينَ}

{Allah does not burden any soul beyond its capacity. It benefits from the good it has earned and bears the evil it has earned. "Our Lord, do not hold us accountable if we forget or make a mistake. Our Lord, do not place upon us a burden like that which You placed upon those before us. Our Lord, do not burden us with what we have no strength to bear. Pardon us, forgive us, and have mercy upon us. You are our Protector, so grant us victory over the disbelieving people."} [Al-Baqarah: 286; translation of the meaning].

This virtue relates to reciting them during the night, not exclusively at the moment of lying down. Someone who recites them earlier in the night before going to bed does not have to repeat them to attain the reported virtue.

Commentators have offered different explanations of "they will suffice him." It should therefore not be asserted that this means guaranteed protection from every illness or harm. Reciting them does not replace the obligatory prayers.

When the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, intended to sleep, he said:

بِاسْمِكَ اللَّهُمَّ أَمُوتُ وَأَحْيَا

"In Your name, O Allah, I die and I live."

Reported by al-Bukhari (6324).

A Muslim invokes their Lord's name and entrusts their life and death to Him. Sleep resembles death, and waking reminds one of resurrection.

After dusting off the bed, say:

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

"In Your name, my Lord, I lay down my side, and by You I raise it. If You keep my soul, have mercy upon it; and if You release it, protect it with the protection You grant Your righteous servants."

Reported by al-Bukhari (6320).

One asks their Lord for mercy if He takes their soul and for protection if He returns it to them. The servant's life and death are in Allah's hand.

When the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, went to bed, he said:

الحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي أَطْعَمَنَا وَسَقَانَا وَكَفَانَا وَآوَانَا، فَكَمْ مِمَّنْ لَا كَافِيَ لَهُ وَلَا مُؤْوِيَ

"All praise belongs to Allah, who has fed us, given us drink, met our needs, and sheltered us. How many there are who have no one to meet their needs or give them shelter."

Reported by Muslim (2715).

Before sleeping, remember the blessings of food, drink, having your needs met, and shelter, and praise Allah for them. This hadith does not specify a repetition count for this dhikr.

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, taught Ali and Fatimah, may Allah be pleased with them both, to say at bedtime:

سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ

1. "Glory be to Allah" thirty-three times.

الحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ

2. "All praise belongs to Allah" thirty-three times.

اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ

3. "Allah is the Greatest" thirty-four times.

He explained that this was better for them than a servant. Reported by al-Bukhari (5361).

The total is one hundred, including thirty-four repetitions of "Allah is the Greatest."

When the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, intended to sleep, he would place his right hand under his cheek and say:

اللَّهُمَّ قِنِي عَذَابَكَ يَوْمَ تَبْعَثُ عِبَادَكَ

"O Allah, protect me from Your punishment on the day You resurrect Your servants."

Reported by Abu Dawud (5045). Al-Albani authenticated the basic report without the additional phrase "three times." Ibn Baz graded its chain hasan with the wording prescribing three repetitions in his collected fatwas (26/41). The basic supplication is also established in at-Tirmidhi (3398), who said that it is a hasan sahih hadith.

The supplication is therefore established, while hadith scholars do not unanimously agree on the authenticity of repeating it three times.

اللَّهُمَّ فَاطِرَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ، عَالِمَ الغَيْبِ وَالشَّهَادَةِ، رَبَّ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَمَلِيكَهُ، أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ، أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ نَفْسِي، وَمِنْ شَرِّ الشَّيْطَانِ وَشِرْكِهِ، وَأَنْ أَقْتَرِفَ عَلَى نَفْسِي سُوءًا، أَوْ أَجُرَّهُ إِلَى مُسْلِمٍ.

O Allah, Originator of the heavens and the earth, Knower of the unseen and the seen, Lord and Owner of everything, I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped except You. I seek refuge in You from the evil of my soul, from the evil of Satan and his incitement to associating partners with You, and from committing evil against myself or bringing it upon a Muslim.

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, told Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, to say this dhikr in the morning, in the evening, and when going to bed.

Reported by Abu Dawud, at-Tirmidhi, an-Nasa'i, and Ahmad, and authenticated by a number of scholars.

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, taught al-Bara', may Allah be pleased with him, to say, after performing wudu and lying on his right side:

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

"O Allah, I submit myself to You, entrust my affairs to You, and place my back under Your protection, in hope of You and fear of You. There is no refuge or escape from You except with You. O Allah, I believe in Your Book that You revealed and in Your Prophet whom You sent."

فَإِنْ مُتَّ مِنْ لَيْلَتِكَ فَأَنْتَ عَلَى الفِطْرَةِ / وَاجْعَلْهُنَّ آخِرَ مَا تَتَكَلَّمُ بِهِ

He then said: "If you die during that night, you will be upon the fitrah," and: "Make these your last spoken words." Reported by al-Bukhari (247).

If you say this supplication, make it your last words at bedtime. When al-Bara' repeated the supplication and said "and Your Messenger," the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, corrected his wording to "and Your Prophet whom You sent." Preserve the wording "and in Your Prophet whom You sent" as reported, and do not replace it with another expression.

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

الحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي أَحْيَانَا بَعْدَ مَا أَمَاتَنَا، وَإِلَيْهِ النُّشُورُ

"All praise belongs to Allah, who has brought us to life after causing us to die, and to Him is the resurrection."

Reported by al-Bukhari (6324).

"To Him is the resurrection" means that resurrection after death and the return for judgment and recompense are to Allah. No specific repetition count has been established for this dhikr upon waking.

For more adhkar and Sunnahs upon waking, read Adhkar Upon Waking Up.

Someone who wakes from sleep during the night says:

لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، لَهُ المُلْكُ وَلَهُ الحَمْدُ، وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ، الحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ، وَسُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ، وَلَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ، وَاللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، وَلَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ

"None has the right to be worshipped except Allah alone, without any partner. To Him belongs all dominion, and to Him belongs all praise, and He has power over all things. All praise belongs to Allah. Glory be to Allah. None has the right to be worshipped except Allah. Allah is the Greatest. There is no might or power except through Allah."

اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي

Then say: "O Allah, forgive me," or ask Allah for whatever good you wish.

This is the dhikr reported in the hadith about "whoever wakes during the night." The phrase refers to someone who wakes at night. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, explained that someone who says it and then seeks forgiveness or supplicates will be answered, and that if they perform wudu and pray, their prayer will be accepted. Reported by al-Bukhari (1154).

Wudu and prayer relate to the promise concerning the prayer. Wudu is not a requirement merely to say the dhikr and make dua.