Dua Before Sleeping
The words the Prophet ﷺ said most often before sleeping — the heart of his bedtime Sunnah, meant to be said with intention as the very last thing before your eyes close.
Bismika Allahumma amutu wa ahya
With Your name, O Allah, I die and I live
The dua the Prophet ﷺ said most often before sleep — narrated by Hudhayfah (RA), Sahih al-Bukhari 6324.
In this guide: sourcing for every dua, the fuller "last words" dua, Ayat al-Kursi, the three Quls, what to say if a bad dream wakes you up, and the FAQs — about eight minutes, start to finish.
What Should I Say Before Sleeping?
Two duas anchor the Prophet's ﷺ bedtime Sunnah: a short one, said most nights, and a fuller one meant to be your very last words before sleep. Before either, the Sunnah itself is simple — have wudu if you can, and lie down on your right side.
The short dua is the one shown above: "Bismika Allahumma amutu wa ahya," narrated by Hudhayfah (RA) — by his account, the words the Prophet ﷺ reached for most often as he went to bed (Sahih al-Bukhari 6324).
The fuller dua is different in kind, not just in length. It comes with its own hadith, its own narrator, and its own instruction — covered in full just ahead.
Is It Authentic?
Yes — both duas sit near the top of hadith grading, recorded in the two most rigorously verified collections in Sunni Islam.
The short dua — "Bismika Allahumma amutu wa ahya" — is recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari itself (6324), narrated by Hudhayfah (RA).
The fuller dua — "Allahumma aslamtu nafsi ilayka..." — is recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari (6315) and also appears in Sahih Muslim, narrated by Al-Bara' ibn Azib (RA). Being found in both of the two most rigorously verified hadith collections gives it about as strong a grading as a hadith can carry.
Arabic Text, Transliteration & Meaning
Here's the short dua broken down piece by piece, for anyone who wants to understand it, not just repeat it.
Bismika Allahumma amutu wa ahya
| Arabic | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| بِاسْمِكَ | With Your name | Addressed to Allah, said as you lie down |
| اللَّهُمَّ | O Allah | A vocative form used only in supplication |
| أَمُوتُ | I die | Sleep spoken of as a small death |
| وَأَحْيَا | and I live | Trusting Allah for the waking that follows |
Pronunciation tip: the doubled م in "Allahumma" carries a shaddah (tashdid) — hold it slightly longer than a single م. In "wa ahya," the ح is a breathy, from-the-throat sound, noticeably heavier than an English "h."
The Short Dua vs. the Fuller "Last Words" Dua
These aren't interchangeable, and it's worth knowing why: one is what you say most nights — short, memorable, five words. The other is specifically for your very last words before sleep.
The Short Dua
"Bismika Allahumma amutu wa ahya" — Sahih al-Bukhari 6324. Short enough to say from memory, every night, as you lie down.
The Fuller Dua
"Allahumma aslamtu nafsi ilayka..." — Sahih al-Bukhari 6315 and Sahih Muslim. Taught by the Prophet ﷺ to be the very last thing said before sleep.
Allahumma aslamtu nafsi ilayka, wa wajjahtu wajhi ilayka, wa fawwadtu amri ilayka, wa alja'tu zahri ilayka, raghbatan wa rahbatan ilayka, la malja'a wa la manja minka illa ilayka. Amantu bikitabika alladhi anzalta wa bi-nabiyyika alladhi arsalta.
O Allah, I submit myself to You, I turn my face to You, I entrust my affairs to You, and I rely on You, in hope and in fear of You. There is no refuge and no escape from You except to You. I believe in Your Book which You revealed, and in Your Prophet whom You sent.
Narrated by Al-Bara' ibn Azib (RA) — Sahih al-Bukhari 6315, also Sahih Muslim.
This dua comes with a detail worth knowing. When the Prophet ﷺ taught it to Al-Bara' ibn Azib (RA), he told him to make it his last words before sleep — "if you die that night, you die upon the fitrah," the natural state of faith. Al-Bara' repeated it back to check he had it right, but said "...and in Your messenger" in place of "...and in Your Prophet." The Prophet ﷺ corrected him on the spot. It's why the wording above is worth learning exactly as it stands, rather than paraphrased.
Ayat al-Kursi Before Sleep
Reciting Ayat al-Kursi (Surah al-Baqarah, 2:255) before sleep is a well-known Sunnah in its own right, separate from the two duas above.
The hadith behind it carries one of the more memorable backstories in the Sunnah. Abu Hurairah (RA) was guarding the stores of Ramadan charity when he caught someone stealing food — three nights running. On the third night he finally held on to the thief, who turned out to be a devil in human form. In exchange for being let go, the thief made him a promise:
Recite Ayat al-Kursi before you sleep, and a guardian from Allah will stay with you, and no devil will come near you until morning.
As reported by Abu Hurairah (RA) — Sahih al-Bukhari 5010.
When Abu Hurairah told the Prophet ﷺ what had happened, he confirmed it, with a line that's become well known in its own right:
He told you the truth, though he is a liar.
The Prophet ﷺ, on the same authority — Sahih al-Bukhari 5010.
The Three Quls Before Sleep
Recite Surah al-Ikhlas, al-Falaq, and an-Nas into your cupped hands, blow into them gently, then wipe them over as much of your body as you can reach — starting with your head and face. Do this three times.
This was the Prophet's ﷺ nightly practice, as narrated by Aisha (RA) — Sahih al-Bukhari 5017.
Surah al-Ikhlas (112)
A declaration of Allah's oneness — that He is not born and does not give birth, and that nothing is comparable to Him.
Surah al-Falaq (113)
Seeking refuge from the evil of what He created, including the darkness of night and hidden harm.
Surah an-Nas (114)
Seeking refuge in the Lord of mankind from the whispering of Shaytan.
A Simple Bedtime Routine, Step by Step
Putting the pieces above together, here's the order they naturally fall into.
Prepare
Have wudu if you can, and lie down on your right side.
Recite the three Quls
Al-Ikhlas, al-Falaq, and an-Nas into your cupped hands, blown into gently, then wiped over your head, face, and as much of your body as you can reach. Three times.
Recite Ayat al-Kursi
For the guardian and the protection promised in the hadith.
Close with your last words
Either the short dua, or the fuller "Allahumma aslamtu nafsi ilayka" — said as the very last thing before your eyes close.
None of this needs to be rushed, and none of it needs to be perfect to count. Even the short dua alone, said sincerely, fulfils the core of the Sunnah — the rest is there to build up to, not a bar to clear first.
Can't Sleep, or Bad Dreams?
If fear, a bad dream, or restlessness is keeping you up, there's a specific dua taught for exactly that.
A'udhu bi kalimatillahi at-tammati min ghadabihi wa 'iqabihi wa sharri 'ibadihi wa min hamazatish-shayatini wa an yahdurun
I seek refuge in the perfect words of Allah from His anger and punishment, from the evil of His creation, and from the whispers of the devils and their presence
Taught by the Prophet ﷺ to Khalid ibn al-Walid (RA), who told him, "I have nightmares" — recorded in Muwatta Imam Malik (Book 51, Hadith 9), also Jami' at-Tirmidhi and Sunan Abi Dawud, graded Sahih by Sheikh al-Albani.
At a Glance: The Bedtime Sunnah
| When | What to Say or Do | Source |
|---|---|---|
| As you lie down (short version) | Bismika Allahumma amutu wa ahya | Sahih al-Bukhari 6324 |
| As you lie down (fuller version) | Allahumma aslamtu nafsi ilayka... | Sahih al-Bukhari 6315 |
| Before closing your eyes | Recite Ayat al-Kursi | Sahih al-Bukhari 5010 |
| Same time | The three Quls, blown into palms and wiped over the body, ×3 | Sahih al-Bukhari 5017 |
| If woken by fear or a bad dream | A'udhu bi kalimatillahi at-tammati... | Muwatta Malik / Tirmidhi / Abi Dawud |
Frequently Asked Questions
The short and most commonly said one is "Bismika Allahumma amutu wa ahya" — "With Your name, O Allah, I die and I live" (Sahih al-Bukhari 6324).
Have wudu, lie on your right side, recite the three Quls into your cupped hands and wipe them over your body, recite Ayat al-Kursi, then say either the short dua or the fuller "Allahumma aslamtu nafsi ilayka" as your very last words.
There's no dua that guarantees instant sleep, but the Sunnah routine above — especially the three Quls and Ayat al-Kursi — is specifically for a settled heart and a protected night. If a bad dream or fear is what's keeping you up, the "A'udhu bi kalimatillahi at-tammati" dua is the one taught for that.
Yes — "A'udhu bi kalimatillahi at-tammati min ghadabihi wa 'iqabihi..." which the Prophet ﷺ taught to Khalid ibn al-Walid (RA) for exactly this.
It's an authentic hadith (Sahih al-Bukhari 5010) that a guardian from Allah remains with the person who recites it until morning, and no devil comes near. It's one of the most well-established night-time practices in the Sunnah.
Yes, and it's a beautiful habit to start young — the short "Bismika Allahumma amutu wa ahya" is only five words and easy for even small children to learn, before building up to the rest.
A Gentle End to the Day
Sleep is a small death and a daily reminder — the Prophet ﷺ himself framed it that way, closing each day the same way he'd want to close his life: in submission to Allah.
Teaching a child to say a few words before they close their eyes is teaching them to end every day, big or small, turned toward Allah.
- The short dua — "Bismika Allahumma amutu wa ahya" — is enough on its own, and simple enough for a child to learn (Sahih al-Bukhari 6324).
- For your very last words specifically, the fuller "Allahumma aslamtu nafsi ilayka" carries its own hadith and its own instruction (Sahih al-Bukhari 6315).
- Ayat al-Kursi before sleep brings a guardian from Allah until morning (Sahih al-Bukhari 5010).
- The three Quls, blown into cupped hands and wiped over the body, were the Prophet's ﷺ own nightly practice (Sahih al-Bukhari 5017).
- For fear or bad dreams, there's a specific dua taught for exactly that.
- No dua guarantees instant sleep — only a settled heart, and speaking to a GP about ongoing sleeplessness is no contradiction of that.
It's one of the first small Sunnahs we help build into a child's routine at Al Niyah Quran Academy, alongside our Noorani Qaida course for our youngest learners — and there's no better night to start than tonight.
Continue Your Learning
- Dua for PainArabic, meaning, and authentic hadith sources for physical pain.
- Dua Before WuduWhat to say before ablution, and why.
- The Six Kalimas of IslamArabic, transliteration, and translation for every child to learn.
- Daily Duas Every Muslim Should KnowA complete hub of everyday supplications.
- Online Qur'an ClassesLearn to recite these duas correctly, one-on-one.