The 365 · Sunnah · Day 76 · Sleep
Dusting the Bed with the Inside of the Garment Before Sleep
The hadith
إِذَا أَوَىٰ أَحَدُكُمْ إِلَىٰ فِرَاشِهِ فَلْيَنْفُضْ فِرَاشَهُ بِدَاخِلَةِ إِزَارِهِ، فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَدْرِي مَا خَلَفَهُ عَلَيْهِ
The Prophet ﷺ said: 'When one of you goes to his bed, let him dust off his bed with the inside of his garment, for he does not know what may have come upon it after he left.' (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 6320, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2714, narrated by Abū Hurayrah.)
Svenska: Profeten ﷺ sade: 'När någon av er går till sin säng, låt honom damma av sängen med insidan av sitt plagg, ty han vet inte vad som har kommit dit efter att han lämnade den.'
Sahih Bukhari 6320, Sahih Muslim 2714 (Abū Hurayrah)
The story
The Companions modeled this practice. The classical adab literature treats bed-dusting as one of the visible Sunnah-markers of bedtime preparation. The Prophet's ﷺ instruction (with the inside of the garment) suggests a particular method, possibly because the garment's inner-side has been against the body and is therefore familiar.
Why it's here
The Prophet ﷺ established this for both physical safety (insects, dust, debris) and structural sunnah-following. The classical scholars elaborated: dusting with the garment's inner side, three times. The practice combines physical cleanliness with the dhikr that accompanies the action.
Try it today
1. Before lying down, dust off the bed (especially where you will lie). 2. Use the inside of your garment. 3. Three times is the classical recommendation. 4. Recite the bedtime adhkār package (Day 71) after the dusting.
In your day
Modern bedrooms with sealed sheets and clean rooms still benefit: the discipline retrains the body's bedtime preparation, and the practice itself is sunnah. Build the habit even if your bed is structurally clean.
A reflection to carry
Dust the bed before sleep. The Prophet ﷺ: 'When one of you goes to his bed, let him dust off his bed with the inside of his garment, for he does not know what may have come upon it after he left.' (Bukhārī 6320, Muslim 2714.)
Read the longer reflection
The structural Sunnah: physical safety (insects, dust, debris) plus spiritual discipline (the structural Sunnah-following). Three times is the classical recommendation. Cure: before lying down, dust off the bed (especially the area where you will lie); use the inside of your garment; train children. Modern bedrooms with sealed sheets and clean rooms still benefit: the discipline retrains the body's bedtime preparation. The Companions practiced this consistently; modern Muslims often skip it. Build the habit even if your bed is structurally clean.
Sources: Sahih Bukhari, Sahih Muslim. The Qur'an and its translation are verified; the scholarship is retold faithfully in our own words and credited to its sources, never reproduced verbatim.
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