Duas for sleep and waking
Sleep is a small death. The Prophet framed it that way and gave supplications for entering it and returning from it.
Two habits carry the whole night. Reading Ayatul Kursi before sleep: a guardian from Allah stays with you until morning. Reading the last two verses of Surah al-Baqarah: they suffice you.
Read the sleep duas as your last words for the night. If you wake in the night, the Prophet taught a specific line. If you wake in the morning, another. All are below in the order you will use them.
Sourced supplications
بِاسْمِكَ اللَّهُمَّ أَمُوتُ وَأَحْيَا
Bismika‑llahumma amutu wa ahya.
In Your name, O Allah, I die and I live.
Sahih al-Bukhari 6324. Say as your head touches the pillow.
اللَّهُمَّ قِنِي عَذَابَكَ يَوْمَ تَبْعَثُ عِبَادَكَ
Allahumma qini ‘adhabaka yawma tab‘athu ‘ibadak. (three times, right hand under right cheek)
O Allah, save me from Your punishment on the day You resurrect Your servants. (3x)
Sunan Abi Dawud 5045, sahih
لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ...
La ilaha illa‑llahu wahdahu la sharika lah... Alhamdulillah, subhanAllah, la ilaha illa‑llah, Allahu akbar, la hawla wa la quwwata illa billah.
For anyone who wakes in the night and says this, then supplicates, they are answered. If they perform wudu and pray, their prayer is accepted.
Sahih al-Bukhari 1154. The dua for waking in the middle of the night.
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي أَحْيَانَا بَعْدَ مَا أَمَاتَنَا وَإِلَيْهِ النُّشُورُ
Alhamdu li‑llahi‑lladhi ahyana ba‘da ma amatana wa ilayhi‑n-nushur.
All praise is due to Allah who gave us life after taking it and to Him is the resurrection.
Sahih al-Bukhari 6324. Say the moment you wake in the morning.
Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest.
Frequently asked
What is the single most important dua before sleep?
Ayatul Kursi. The Prophet told Abu Hurayra that whoever reads it before sleep will have a guardian from Allah with them until morning, and no devil will approach. Sahih al-Bukhari 2311.
What if I fall asleep before finishing?
You are rewarded for what you managed. Intention is written. Start again the next night without guilt.
Do I have to say the Arabic exactly?
The Arabic is best because that is what the Prophet said. If you cannot yet, say a transliteration and understand the English. Learn one line a week.
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