Dua Before Sleeping (Dua Before Sleep & Waking Up)

dua before sleeping

The dua before sleeping is the dua a Muslim reads before going to bed, and the dua after waking up is the first dua of the new day. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) taught short sleep duas in Islam for both moments — a dua to say before sleeping, a dua for better sleep and protection through the night, and a dua after wake up from sleep to thank Allah for a new day. On this page you will find the dua before sleeping in English and Arabic with transliteration and meaning, including the dua before bed, Ayat al-Kursi, the three Quls, and the dua after waking up from sleep.

Dua Before Sleeping in Arabic with English Meaning

Dua Before Going to Bed

Arabic:

بِاسْمِكَ اللَّهُمَّ أَمُوتُ وَأَحْيَا

Transliteration:
Bismika Allahumma amutu wa ahya.

English meaning:
“In Your name, O Allah, I die and I live.”

Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 6324.

This is the main dua to read before sleep. It is short, easy to memorize, and the best dua before bedtime for kids and adults alike — say it as you lie down.

Dua Before Sleeping (Lying Down)

Arabic:

بِاسْمِكَ رَبِّي وَضَعْتُ جَنْبِي وَبِكَ أَرْفَعُهُ إِنْ أَمْسَكْتَ نَفْسِي فَارْحَمْهَا وَإِنْ أَرْسَلْتَهَا فَاحْفَظْهَا بِمَا تَحْفَظُ بِهِ عِبَادَكَ الصَّالِحِينَ

Transliteration:
Bismika Rabbi wada’tu janbi, wa bika arfa’uhu, in amsakta nafsi farhamha, wa in arsaltaha fahfazha bima tahfazu bihi ‘ibadakas-salihin.

English meaning:
“In Your name, my Lord, I lay down my side, and in Your name I raise it up. If You take my soul, have mercy on it, and if You send it back, protect it as You protect Your righteous servants.”

Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 6320.

This dua before going to sleep reminds us that sleep is like a small death — Allah takes our souls at night and returns them in the morning. Read it after the short bedtime dua above.

Ayat al-Kursi Before Sleeping

Read Ayat al-Kursi before sleeping for protection through the night. The Prophet (peace be upon him) taught that whoever recites it at night, a guardian from Allah stays with him and Shaytan cannot come near him until morning.

Arabic:

اللَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ ۚ لَا تَأْخُذُهُ سِنَةٌ وَلَا نَوْمٌ ۚ لَهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ ۗ مَنْ ذَا الَّذِي يَشْفَعُ عِنْدَهُ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِ ۚ يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ ۖ وَلَا يُحِيطُونَ بِشَيْءٍ مِنْ عِلْمِهِ إِلَّا بِمَا شَاءَ ۚ وَسِعَ كُرْسِيُّهُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ ۖ وَلَا يَئُودُهُ حِفْظُهُمَا ۚ وَهُوَ الْعَلِيُّ الْعَظِيمُ

Transliteration:
Allahu la ilaha illa Huwal-Hayyul-Qayyum, la ta’khudhuhu sinatun wa la nawm, lahu ma fis-samawati wa ma fil-ard, man dhal-ladhi yashfa’u ‘indahu illa bi idhnih, ya’lamu ma bayna aydihim wa ma khalfahum, wa la yuhituna bi shay’in min ‘ilmihi illa bima sha’, wasi’a kursiyyuhus-samawati wal-ard, wa la ya’uduhu hifzuhuma, wa Huwal-‘Aliyyul-‘Azim.

English meaning:
“Allah — there is no god but He, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer. Neither drowsiness nor sleep overtakes Him. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. Who is it that can intercede with Him except by His permission? He knows what is before them and what is behind them, and they encompass nothing of His knowledge except what He wills. His Kursi extends over the heavens and the earth, and their preservation does not tire Him. And He is the Most High, the Most Great.”

Reference: Quran 2:255 (Ayat al-Kursi); Sahih al-Bukhari 2311.

The Three Quls Before Sleeping

Before sleeping, recite Surah Al-Ikhlas, Surah Al-Falaq and Surah An-Nas, blow into your hands, and wipe them over your body three times. The Prophet (peace be upon him) did this every night before going to bed.

Surah Al-Ikhlas (112): قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ (1) اللَّهُ الصَّمَدُ (2) لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ (3) وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ (4)

Transliteration:
Qul Huwallahu Ahad. Allahus-Samad. Lam yalid wa lam yulad. Wa lam yakun lahu kufuwan Ahad.

English meaning:
“Say: He is Allah, the One. Allah, the Eternal Refuge. He neither begets nor is born, and there is none comparable to Him.”

Surah Al-Falaq (113): قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ الْفَلَقِ (1) مِنْ شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ (2) وَمِنْ شَرِّ غَاسِقٍ إِذَا وَقَبَ (3) وَمِنْ شَرِّ النَّفَّاثَاتِ فِي الْعُقَدِ (4) وَمِنْ شَرِّ حَاسِدٍ إِذَا حَسَدَ (5)

Transliteration:
Qul a’udhu bi Rabbil-falaq. Min sharri ma khalaq. Wa min sharri ghasiqin idha waqab. Wa min sharrin-naffathati fil-‘uqad. Wa min sharri hasidin idha hasad.

English meaning:
“Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of daybreak, from the evil of what He created, and from the evil of darkness when it settles, and from the evil of those who blow on knots, and from the evil of an envier when he envies.”

Surah An-Nas (114): قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ النَّاسِ (1) مَلِكِ النَّاسِ (2) إِلَٰهِ النَّاسِ (3) مِنْ شَرِّ الْوَسْوَاسِ الْخَنَّاسِ (4) الَّذِي يُوَسْوِسُ فِي صُدُورِ النَّاسِ (5) مِنَ الْجِنَّةِ وَالنَّاسِ (6)

Transliteration:
Qul a’udhu bi Rabbin-nas. Malikin-nas. Ilahin-nas. Min sharril-waswasil-khannas. Alladhi yuwaswisu fi sudurin-nas. Minal-jinnati wan-nas.

English meaning:
“Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind, the King of mankind, the God of mankind, from the evil of the whisperer who withdraws, who whispers into the hearts of mankind, from among the jinn and mankind.”

Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 5017.

Dua After Waking Up from Sleep

Arabic:

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي أَحْيَانَا بَعْدَ مَا أَمَاتَنَا وَإِلَيْهِ النُّشُورُ

Transliteration:
Alhamdu lillahil-ladhi ahyana ba’da ma amatana wa ilayhin-nushur.

English meaning:
“All praise is for Allah who gave us life after having taken it from us, and to Him is the resurrection.”

Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 6312.

This is the dua to say after waking up. Say it first thing in the morning, before you check your phone or start your day — it is the Muslim prayer after waking up, thanking Allah for returning your soul and giving you another day.

How to Read the Dua Before Sleeping

  • Make wudu before bed, as you would for prayer, and lie down on your right side.
  • Dust off your bed, then read the dua before going to sleep: “Bismika Allahumma amutu wa ahya.”
  • Read Ayat al-Kursi and the three Quls, blow into your hands, and wipe them over your body three times.
  • If you wake up during the night, you can repeat the short dua before bed again.
  • In the morning, start your day with the dua after wake up from sleep: “Alhamdu lillahil-ladhi ahyana ba’da ma amatana wa ilayhin-nushur.”

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the dua before sleeping?

The dua before sleeping is “Bismika Allahumma amutu wa ahya” (In Your name, O Allah, I die and I live) — Sahih al-Bukhari 6324. It is the shortest dua before bed, and the one most Muslims learn first.

Which dua should I read before going to bed?

Read “Bismika Allahumma amutu wa ahya”, then Ayat al-Kursi (Quran 2:255), and the three Quls — Surah Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq and An-Nas — blowing into your hands and wiping over your body (Bukhari 5017).

What is the dua after waking up?

The dua after waking up from sleep is “Alhamdu lillahil-ladhi ahyana ba’da ma amatana wa ilayhin-nushur” (All praise is for Allah who gave us life after having taken it from us) — Sahih al-Bukhari 6312.

Can I read the dua before sleeping in English?

Yes. The duas are best learned in Arabic, but you can read the dua before sleeping in English until you memorize the Arabic — Allah accepts dua in every language.

What is the dua for better sleep?

There is no separate “dua for better sleep” — the bedtime routine on this page is the dua for better sleep: wudu, the dua before going to bed, Ayat al-Kursi, and the three Quls. A clean heart, an early night, and these duas bring peaceful sleep, by Allah’s will.

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