Allah the Exalted said: (It is out of His Mercy that He has made for you the night and the day, that you may rest therein (i.e. during the night) and that you may seek of His Bounty (i.e. during the day), and in order that you may be grateful) (The Noble Qur’an 28:73)
Before Sleeping
Jabir said: Messenger of Allah said: “Cover up the (kitchen) containers (i.e., pots, pans, etc.), tie up the mouth of the water-skin, lock up the doors and extinguish the lamps, because Satan can neither unite the water-skin nor open the door nor uncover the containers. If one can cover the cooking pot even by placing a piece of wood across it, and pronounce the Name of Allah on it, let him do it. A mouse can sometimes cause a house to burn along its dwellers.” (Muslim)
How to sleep According to the Sunnah
Hudhaifah reported: Whenever the Prophet intended to go to bed, he would recite: “Bismika Allahumma amutu wa ahya (With Your name, O Allah, I die and I live).” And when he woke up from his sleep, he would say: “Al-hamdu lil-lahil-ladhi ahyana ba’da ma amatana; wa ilaihin-nushoor” (All the Praises are for Allah w\Who has made us alive after He made us die (sleep) and unto Him is the Resurrection). (Al-Bukhari)
A l-Bara’ ibn ‘Azib reported: Whenever Messenger of Allah went to bed, he would lie down on his right side and recite:
“Allāhumma aslamtu nafsi ilaika, wa wajjahtu wajhi ilaik, wa fawwadtu amri ilaik,
wa ‘alja’tu dhahri ilaik, raghbatan wa rahbatan ilaik, la malja’a wa la manja minka illa ilaik.
Amantu bikitabikal-ladhi anzalt, wa nabiyyikal-ladhi arsalt.”
[O Allah! I have submitted myself to You, I have turned my face to You, committed my affairs to You, and depend on You for protection out of desire for You and out of fear of You (expecting Your reward and fearing Your punishment). There is no refuge and no place of safety from You but with You. I believed in the Book You have revealed, and in the Prophet You have sent (i.e. Muhammad)] (Al-Bukhari).
In another narration: “Whenever you go to bed, perform Wudu’ as you do for Salat then (before sleeping) recite it and make this supplication your last words (before sleeping).” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
Do not sleep on your belly
Ya’ish ibn Takhfah Al-Ghifari reported: May father said: I was lying down on my belly in the masjid when someone shook me with his foot and said: “Laying down this way is hated by Allah.” I looked up and saw that it was Messenger of Allah). (Abu Dawood, declared sound by Al-Albani).
Additional remembrance which are recommended to read before sleeping
- Abu Hurairah reported; The MEssenger of Allah said: “When any of you goes to bed, he should take hold of the hem of his lower garment and he should dust his bed and say bismillah because he does not know what might have fallen on it after he had left it. And when he intends to lie on bed, he should lie on his right side, then he should recite:
“Bismika Rabbi wada’tu janbi, wa bika arfa’uh, in amsakta nafsi farhamha, wa in arsaltaha fahfadha bima tahfadhu bihi ibādakas-salihīn”
[With Your Name, my Rubb, I place my side (upon the bed) and with Your Grace I will raise it up. If You withhold my soul (cause me to die), have mercy on it but if You let it go (let me live), guard it against which You guarded Your pious servants].” (Muslim)
2. Put your hands together (like in supplication), recite the last 3 chapters of the Qur’an, blow into your hand and wipe your body, starting with head, face and the rest of the body; do that 3 times. (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
3. Reading the Kursi verse (Ch.2 v.255), which is the greatest verse in the Qur’an, (who ever recites it when he goes to bed, will have a protector from Allah and Satan will approach him until he weaks up) (Al-Bukhari)
4. Recite the last two verses of the Bakarah chapter (Ch V.285-286). (who ever recite them, they shall protect him – from evil) (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
How much do we miss when we wake up at night and don’t remember Allah?!
Narrated Ubada ibn As-Samit: The Prophet said: “Whoever gets up at night and says: ‘La ilaha illal-lahu Wahdahu la Sharika lah, Lahul-mulku, waLahul-hamd wahuwa ‘ala kullishai’in Qadeer. Al hamdu lil-lahi wa subhanal-lahi wa la-ilaha ilal-lah wal-lahu akbar wa la hawla Wala Quwata illa bil-lah.’ (None has the right to be worshipped but Allah. He is the Only One and has no partner. For Him is the Kingdom and all the praises are due for Him. He is Omnipotent. All the praises are for Allah. All the glories are for Allah. And none has the right to be worshipped but Allah, And Allah is Great And there is neither Might nor Power except with Allah).
And then says: Allahumma, lghfir li. (O Allah! Forgive me). Or invokes (Allah), he will be responed to and if he performs ablution (and prays), his prayer will be accepted.” (Al-Bukhari)
