God takes the souls at the time of their death, and those that do not die during their sleep; then He withholds those on whom He has passed the decree of death and sends the others back till an appointed term; most surely there are signs in this for a people who reflect.
Sura az-Zumar, 39:42
We can convert the hours we sleep into time spent in HIS ‘Obedience & Worship’ by being attentive to these matters…
It is highly emphasized to do Ablutions (wudhoo) before going to sleep.
A person sleeping in the state of having performed Wudhoo gets the reward of having done worship for the whole night.
The Prophet (saws) informed his daughter Fatima (sa) that before going to bed, she should do 4 things:
Recite Sura Ikhlass 3 times.
This is like reciting the full Quran.
Recite Salwaat 10 times.
This will get intercession from Prophets.
اَللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِ مُحَمَّدٍ
Allahumma Salle Ala Muhammadin Wa Aale Muhammad
O Allah send blessings on Muhammad & his family.
Seek Forgiveness for all believers.
This is equal to making all believers happy.
اَللَّهُمَّ مغفرلى مؤمنين و مؤمنات
Allahuma maghfir le momineen wal moninaat
O Allah, Please forgive all the believing men & women.
Recite the following, which is equal to doing Haj & Umra:
سُبْحَانَ اللهِ وَ الْحَمْدُ لِلهِ وَ لَا اِلٰهَ اِلَّا اللهُ وَ اللهُ اَكْبَر
Subhaanallaahi wa’l hamdu lillaahi wa laa ilaaha illallaahu wallaahu Akbar
Glory be to God, and praise be to God; there is no god but Allah, and Allah is Greater.
Imam Ali (as) recommends:
Recite 4 times Sura Al Hamd for the reward of giving 4000 dirhams in sadqa & recite “Astaghfirullah” 10 times for the reward of resolving disputes between believers.
Recite the Tasbeeh e Fatima (sa) before going to bed.
Recite this 3 times, which is equivalent to reciting 1000 rakat. Imam Ali (as) reports from the Prophet (saws):
يفْعَلُ اللهُ مَا يَشَاءُ بِقُدْرَتِهِ وَيَحْكُمُ مَا يُرِيدُ بِعِزَّتِهِ
“Yafalollaho Mashao be qudrati wa yahkomo ma yurido be izzate.”
He does what HE wills and rules what HE wills by HIS power.
Prophet (saws) dua:
بِاسْمِكَ اَللّهُمَّ أَحْيا وبِاسْمِكَ أَمُوتُ
Bismeka Allhumma Ahyaa wa bismeka amooto
With Your name do I live and with Your name I die.
Imam al-Sadiq (`a) is reported to have said:
Whoever repeats the following three times before going to bed will be released from his sins as a New Born:
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِي عَلاَ فَقَهَرَ
alhamdu lillahi alladhi `ala faqahara
All praise be to Allah Who has exalted, thus dominated.
وَٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِي بَطَنَ فَخَبَرَ
walhamdu lillahi alladhi batana fakhabara
All praise be to Allah Who has been immanent, thus known all things.
وَٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِي مَلَكَ فَقَدَرَ
walhamdu lillahi alladhi malaka faqadara
All praise be to Allah Who has owned all things, thus had power over them all.
وَٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِي يُحْيِي ٱلْمَوْتىٰ
walhamdu lillahi alladhi yuhyi almawta
All praise be to Allah Who gives life to the dead,
وَيُمِيتُ ٱلاحْيَاءَ
wa yumitu al-ahya’a
causes the living to die,
وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
wa huwa `ala kulli shay’in qadirun
and He has power over all things.
The Sunnah of Sleeping and Waking
The Holy Prophet (s) and the Ahlulbayt (a.s.) taught that sleep is a form of rest given by Allah and that the moments before sleep and after waking should begin and end with His remembrance. The duas above can be combined with a few simple practices drawn from Shia narrations.
Before Sleeping
- Perform wudu before going to bed.
- Recite the Tasbih of Bibi Fatima Zahra (s.a.): Allahu Akbar 34 times, Alhamdulillah 33 times and Subhanallah 33 times.
- Recite Ayat al-Kursi and the last three surahs of the Qur’an (al-Ikhlas, al-Falaq and al-Nas).
- Lie on your right side facing the qiblah if possible.
After Waking
- Say: Alhamdulillahil-ladhi ahyana ba‘da ma amatana wa ilayhin-nushur (“Praise be to Allah who gave us life after He caused us to die, and to Him is the return”).
- Brush your teeth (miswak) and perform wudu.
- Pray Fajr on time and recite a few verses of the Qur’an.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Tasbih of Fatima Zahra (s.a.)?
It is Allahu Akbar 34 times, Alhamdulillah 33 times and Subhanallah 33 times, recommended after every prayer and before sleeping.
What dua do I read when I wake up?
A common dua is “Alhamdulillahil-ladhi ahyana ba‘da ma amatana wa ilayhin-nushur”: Praise be to Allah who gave us life after death, and to Him is the return.
How can I teach bedtime duas to my children?
Read one short dua together every night, explain its meaning in simple words, and add a new dua once they know it by heart.
