Dua & Sunnah

Dua for the Beginning of the Night: Seeking Allah's Protection

Evening Adhkar
Sahih HadithSahih al-Bukhari 6306

بِاسْمِكَ رَبِّ وَضَعْتُ جَنْبِي ، وَبِاسْمِكَ أَرْفَعُهُ ، إِنْ أَمْسَكْتَ نَفْسِي فَارْحَمْهَا ، وَإِنْ أَرْسَلْتَهَا فَاحْفَظْهَا بِمَا تَحْفَظُ بِهِ عِبَادَكَ الصَّالِحِينَ.

In Your name, my Lord, I lie down, and in Your name I rise. If You take my soul, then have mercy upon it. And if You release it, then protect it with what You protect Your righteous servants with.

Bismika Rabbi wada'tu janbi, wa bismika arfa'uhu. In amsakta nafsi, farhamha. Wa in arsaltaha, fahfadha bima tahfazu bihi 'ibadak as-salihin.

When to Read

This dua is recited before going to sleep, as you are lying down to rest. It's a beautiful way to mark the end of the day and entrust yourself to Allah's care as night falls.

How to Read

Recite this dua with sincerity and conviction, reflecting on the meaning of entrusting your life and well-being to Allah. Utter it as you are settling into bed.

Virtues & Benefits

This dua encapsulates a profound reliance on Allah. By reciting it, we acknowledge that our life, our rest, and our safety are entirely in Allah's hands. It invokes His mercy should He decide to keep us in His grasp (through sleep or death) and His protection should He allow us to wake, just as He protects His pious servants. It's a comprehensive supplication for peace and security throughout the night.

Source & Authentication

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) used to say when he went to bed: 'Allahumma bismika ahyā wa amūt' (O Allah, in Your name I live and I die). And when he woke up from sleep, he used to say: 'Al-hamdu lillāhi alladhī ahyānā ba'da mā amātanā wa ilayhi an-nushūr' (All the praises are for Allah Who gave us life after He had caused us to die, and to Him is the rising again). And when he slept, he would place his right hand under his cheek and say: 'Allahumma qini 'adhābaka yawma tab'athu 'ibādaka' (O Allah, save me from Your punishment on the Day when You will resurrect Your servants). And when he woke up from sleep, he would say: 'Al-hamdu lillāhi rabbil 'alamīn, subḥānakallāhumma wa biḥamdika, ash-hadu an lā ilāha illā anta, astaghfiruka wa atūbu ilayka' (All Praises are for Allah, the Lord of the worlds. Glory be to You, O Allah, and Praises be to You. I bear witness that there is no god but You. I seek Your forgiveness and I turn to You in repentance). This hadith also contains the mention of the dua: 'Bismika Rabbi wada'tu janbi, wa bismika arfa'uhu. In amsakta nafsi, farhamha. Wa in arsaltaha, fahfadha bima tahfazu bihi 'ibadak as-salihin.' (Sahih al-Bukhari 6306)
Sahih HadithSahih al-Bukhari 6306
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