بِسْمِكَ رَبِّ وَضَعْتُ جَنْبِي، وَبِكَ أَرْفَعُهُ، إِنْ أَمْسَكْتَ نَفْسِي فَارْحَمْهَا، وَإِنْ أَرْسَلْتَهَا فَاحْفَظْهَا بِمَا تَحْفَظُ بِهِ عِبَادَكَ الصَّالِحِينَ
In Your name, my Lord, I lay down my side, and in Your name I raise it. If You seize my soul, then have mercy on it, and if You release it, then protect it with what You protect Your righteous servants.
Bismika rabbi wada'tu janbi, wa bika arfa'uhu. In amsakta nafsi farhamha, wa in arsalta f_ahfadh-ha bima tahfadu bihi 'ibadakas-salihin.
When to Read
This profound supplication is recited as one prepares to sleep, right before settling down. It's a beautiful way to conclude your day, entrusting yourself entirely to Allah's care as you transition into rest. Imagine the peace of mind knowing you've sought refuge in the Most Merciful before slumber claims you.
How to Read
Recite this dua while lying down in bed, ready to sleep. Utter the words with sincerity and a heart full of reliance on Allah. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught this, so reciting it as he did, with a humble and hopeful heart, is key. It's a moment to pause, reflect on your day, and acknowledge your complete dependence on your Creator for safety and well-being throughout the night.
Virtues & Benefits
This dua encompasses a comprehensive seeking of Allah's protection. By saying 'In Your name, my Lord, I lay down my side...', you acknowledge His sovereignty over even the most basic actions of life. The plea, 'If You seize my soul, then have mercy on it...', is a recognition of death and the need for His mercy, while 'and if You release it, then protect it...' is a request for protection and continued life. The final part, 'with what You protect Your righteous servants,' is a beautiful way to ask for a level of divine safeguarding similar to that given to the best of Allah's creation. It’s a holistic prayer for your soul and your well-being during sleep.
Source & Authentication
Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet (ﷺ) used to say when he slept at night: 'O Allah, Lord of the seven heavens and Lord of the great Throne, our Lord and the Lord of everything, who splits the grain and the date-seed, who revealed the Qur'an and the Torah and the Gospel, who killed the first of the Israelites and brought them back to life again, protect yourself from my evil and from the evil of every killer (animal or human) that You have a hold of its forelock. Verily, my Lord is on the right path (i.e. He is Just). O Allah, You are Al-Mustaghni (The Rich, Free of all wants) and I am the poor (needy). O my slave, the returning ones and the returning ones, the returning ones (i.e. You are the best to be relied upon and the best to provide for the needy). O Allah, make our provision sufficient for us, and do not make anyone else provide for us. O Allah, by Your Knowledge of the unseen, and by Your Power to create, keep me alive as long as You know that living is better for me and take me away when death is better for me. O Allah, I ask of You, my fear of You in secret and in public, and I ask of You the word of truth in agreement (contentment) in the time of pleasure and displeasure. I ask of You a moderate provision in the time of wealth and poverty. I ask of You a lasting bliss which will not be miserable. I ask of You enjoyment of the decree, coolness of life after death. I ask of You the pleasure of Your decree, and a life of ease after death. I ask of You the enjoyment of looking at Your Face (on the Day of Resurrection) and the longing to meet You without any evil and trying distress. O Allah, decorate us with the adornment of Faith, and make us guides (or helpers) who are guided (or guided themselves). O Allah, fight those who disbelieve in Allah. O Allah, do not make them (disbelievers) dominate us. O Allah, grant me victory over them. O Allah, do not make me and my family suffer from hardships. O Allah, grant me sustenance and protect me from distress. O Allah, forgive me my sins and my ignorance and my immoderation in all my affairs. O Allah, forgive me my mistakes, my deliberate acts, my ignorance and my forgetfulness. All of these are with me. O Allah, forgive me what I have done in secret and what I have done in public. You are the One who sends forth and the One who delays. You have power over everything. O Allah, do not let my heart deviate after You have guided me, and grant me mercy from You. Verily, You are the Bestower of favors. (Sahih Muslim 2710). The following related hadith is also relevant for the topic of sleep protection: Narrated 'Abdullah bin 'Amr: When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) went to bed, he would put his right hand under his right cheek and say: 'O Allah, save me from Your punishment on the Day when You raise up Your servants.' (Sahih Muslim 2713). And also: Narrated 'Aisha: Whenever the Prophet (ﷺ) went to bed every night, he used to cup his hands together and then blow in them, and recite 'Say: 'He is Allah, the One...' (112:1), 'Say: 'I seek refuge in the Lord of the dawn...' (113:1), and 'Say: 'I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind...' (114:1). Then he would rub them over whatever part of his body he was able to, starting from his head and face and the front part of his body. He used to do that three times. (Sahih al-Bukhari 5017). And the dua in this entry is: Narrated 'Abdullah bin Abi Rafi': 'Abdullah bin 'Amr told me that he heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) saying when he went to bed: 'Bismika Rabbi wada'tu janbi, wa bika arfa'uhu. In amsakta nafsi farhamha, wa in arsalta f_ahfadh-ha bima tahfadu bihi 'ibadakas-salihin.' (Sahih al-Bukhari 6320).