Sleep is a small death, and the Prophet (peace be upon him) taught his Companions to enter it the way they would want to leave this world: with Allah's name on the tongue and the heart turned toward Him. This chapter gathers the words he would say as he lay down, words that hand the soul back to its Maker for the night.
Notice how each supplication does something different. Some praise Allah for the day's provision, some ask protection from the punishment to come, and some seek refuge in the Mu'awwidhat (the protective surahs Al-Falaq and An-Nas). The common thread is tawakkul, entrusting yourself fully to Allah at the moment you are most helpless. The takeaway is simple: let your last conscious act be remembrance, so that if you do not wake, you depart upon faith.
Hadith 1458
Hudhaifah and Abu Dharr (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعن حذيفة وأبي ذر رضي الله عنهما أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم كان إذا أوى إلى فراشه قال: "باسمك اللهم أحيا وأموت" ((رواه البخاري)).
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to supplicate when he went to bed at night: "Bismik-Allahumma ahya wa amut (With Your Name, O Allah, I expire and return to life)." [Al- Bukhari].
In plain words
As he lay down to sleep, the Prophet would say that with Allah's name he dies and returns to life. He entered sleep with Allah's name on his tongue.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1458 In-book reference : Book 15, Hadith 51
Hadith 1459
'Ali (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعن علي رضي الله عنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال له ولفاطمة، رضي الله عنهما: "إذا أويتما إلى فراشكما، أو: إذا أخذتما مضجعكما - فكبرا ثلاثًا وثلاثين، وسبحا ثلاثًا وثلاثين، واحمدا ثلاثًا وثلاثين" وفي رواية: التسبيح أربعًا وثلاثين" وفي رواية: "التكبير أربعًا وثلاثين" ((متفق عليه)).
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said to me and to Fatimah (May Allah be pleased with her) (Ali's wife and the Prophet's daughter), "When you go to bed, recite: Takbir (Allahu Akbar) thirty-three times and Tasbih (Subhan-Allah) thirty-three times and Tahmid (Al-hamdu lillah) thirty-three times." Another narration is: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Recite Tasbih thirty-four times." Another narration is: The Messenger of Allah(ﷺ) said, "Recite Takbir thirty-four times." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
In plain words
He taught 'Ali and Fatimah to say at bedtime glory be to Allah, praise be to Allah, and Allah is Greatest, around thirty-three times each. A simple nightly remembrance given to his own family.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1459 In-book reference : Book 15, Hadith 52
Hadith 1460
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: "إذا أوى أحدكم إلى فراشه، فلينفض فراشه بداخلة إزاره فإنه لا يدري ما خلفه عليه، ثم يقول: باسمك ربي وضعت جنبي، وبك أرفعه؛ إن أمسكت نفسي فارحمها، وإن أرسلتها، فاحفظها بما تحفظ به عبادك الصالحين" ((متفق عليه)).
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "When any of you goes to bed, he should shake off (or dust off) his bedsheet because he does not know what might have fallen on it after he had left it. Then he should recite: 'Bismika Rabbi wada'tu janbi, wa bika arfa'uhu, in amsakta nafsi farhamha, wa in arsaltaha fahfazha bima tahfazu bihi 'ibadakas-salihin [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 slaves]."' [Al- Bukhari and Muslim].
In plain words
Going to bed, dust off the bedding since you do not know what settled on it, then say the taught words placing your side down in Allah's name and entrusting your soul to Him to keep or take in mercy. Sleep is handed over to Allah's care.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1460 In-book reference : Book 15, Hadith 53
Hadith 1461
'A ishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported:
وعن عائشة، رضي الله عنه، أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، كان إذا أخذ مضجعه نفث في يديه، وقرأ بالمعوذات ومسح بهما جسده. ((متفق عليه)). وفي رواية لهما: "أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم، كان إذا أوى إلى فراشه كل ليلة جمع كفيه، ثم نفث فيهما فقرأ فيهما: قل هو الله أحد، وقل أعوذ برب الفلق، وقل أعوذ برب الناس، ثم مسح بهما ما استطاع من جسده، يبدأ بهما على رأسه ووجهه، وما أقبل من جسده، يفعل ذلك ثلاث مرات" . ((متفق عليه)). قال أهل اللغة : (( النفث )) نفخ لطيف بلا ريق
Whenever the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) went to bed, he would blow upon his hands recite Al-Mu'awwidhat; and pass his hands over his body. [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
In plain words
Before sleeping the Prophet would recite the protective surahs into his hands and wipe them over his body. A practice of seeking Allah's protection at night.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1461 In-book reference : Book 15, Hadith 54
Hadith 1462
Al-Bara' bin 'Azib (May Allah be pleased with them) reported:
وعن البراء بن عازب رضي الله عنهما، قال: قال لي رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: "إذا أتيت مضجعك فتوضأ وضوءك للصلاة، ثم اضطجع على شقك الأيمن، وقل: اللهم أسلمت نفسي إليك، ووجهت وجهي إليك وفوضت أمري إليك، وألجأت ظهري إليك رغبة ورهبة إليك لا ملجأ ولا منجا منك إلا إليك آمنت بكتابك الذي أنزلت، وبنبيك الذي أرسلت، فإن مت، مت على الفطرة، واجعلهن آخر ما تقول" ((متفق عليه)).
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Whenever you intend to go to bed, perform Wudu' as is done for Salat (prayer); and then lie down on the right side and recite: 'Allahumma aslamtu nafsi ilaika, wa fawwadtu amri ilaika, wal-ja'tu zahri ilaika, raghbatan wa rahbatan ilaika, la malja'a wa la manja minka illa ilaika, amantu bikitabik-alladhi anzalta, wa binabiyyik-alladhi arsalta [O Allah! I have submitted myself to You. I have turned my face to You, entrusted my affairs to You and relied completely on You out of desire for and fear of You (expecting Your reward and fearing Your punishment). There is no resort and no deliverer from (hardships) except You. I affirm my faith in Your Book which You have revealed, and in Your Prophet whom You have sent].' If you die during the night, you will die in the true religion. Let these words be your last words at night." [Al- Bukhari and Muslim].
In plain words
He taught that before bed one make wudu, lie on the right side, and recite words of complete submission and trust in Allah, His Book, and His Prophet, so that dying that night means dying upon faith. He urged making these the last words of the night.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1462 In-book reference : Book 15, Hadith 55
Hadith 1463
Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعن أنس رضي الله عنه، أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم، كان إذا أوى فراشه قال: "الحمد لله الذي أطعمنا وسقانا، وكفانا وآوانا، فكم ممن لا كافي له ولا مئوي" ((رواه مسلم)).
Whenever the Prophet (ﷺ) went to his bed, he would say: "Al-hamdu lillah-illadhi at'amana wa saqana, wa kafana wa awana, fakam mimman la kafiya lahu wa la mu'wiya (Praise is due to Allah Who has fed us, provided us drink, satisfied us and gave us protection. Many are those who have no one to provide for them, or give them shelter)." [Muslim].
In plain words
At bedtime the Prophet praised Allah for feeding, giving drink, satisfying, and sheltering him, recalling the many who have no provider or shelter. It teaches gratitude and awareness of others' hardship as we rest.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1463 In-book reference : Book 15, Hadith 56
Hadith 1464
Hudhaifah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعن حذيفة رضي الله عنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، كان إذا أراد أن يرقد وضع يده اليمنى تحت خده، ثم يقول: "اللهم قني عذابك يوم تبعث عبادك" . ((رواه الترمذي وقال حديث حسن ورواه أبو داود من رواية حفصة رضي الله عنه وفيه أنه كان يقوله ثلاث مرات)).
Whenever the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) intended to go to sleep, he would place his right hand under his (right) cheek and supplicate: "Allahumma qini 'adhabaka yauma tab'athu 'ibadaka (O Allah! Guard me against Your punishment on the Day when You will resurrect Your slaves)." [At-Tirmidhi]. In a narration in Abu Dawud, Hafsah (May Allah be pleased with her) said: Before going to sleep the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) would recite this Du'a three times.
In plain words
As he lay down, the Prophet would place his right hand under his cheek and ask Allah to guard him from punishment on the Day people are raised. A short, humble plea for safety before sleep.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1464 In-book reference : Book 15, Hadith 57