اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ عَمَلِ الشَّيْطَانِ وَسَيِّئِ الأَحْلاَمِ
O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the deeds of Shaitan and from bad (misleading/disturbing) dreams.
Allahumma inni a'udhu bika min 'amalish-shaytan wa sayyi'il-ahlam
When to Read
This dua is particularly beneficial to recite before sleeping. Bad dreams can be unsettling and sometimes lead to worry or fear. By seeking refuge in Allah before sleep, we ask for His protection against any negative influences that might manifest in our dreams, whether they are from Shaytan's whisperings or simply disturbing thoughts.
How to Read
Recite this dua sincerely, focusing on its meaning and your reliance on Allah. It's best recited just before you go to sleep. You can place your right hand on your side where you sleep and say it. Taking a moment to breathe deeply and center yourself before reciting can enhance the focus and connection to Allah.
Virtues & Benefits
Reciting this dua provides a powerful shield against the negative effects of Shaytan's temptations, which can sometimes manifest in unsettling dreams. It's a way of acknowledging Allah's power over all things, including the realm of dreams, and seeking His divine protection. This practice helps foster peace of mind and a sense of security as we sleep, knowing we've turned to our Creator for refuge.
Source & Authentication
Narrated Abu Qatadah (may Allah be pleased with him): The Prophet ﷺ said, 'A good dream that comes true is from Allah, and a bad dream is from Shaitan. So, if any one of you sees a bad dream, he should seek refuge with Allah from it and spit to his left three times, and mention its name (i.e. the bad dream) to no one, and it will not harm him.' Also, Abu Qatadah said, 'I heard the Prophet ﷺ saying: 'A good dream that comes true is from Allah, and a bad dream is from Shaitan. So, if any one of you sees a bad dream, he should seek refuge with Allah from it and mention its name to no one, and it will not harm him.' Narrated Abu Salama bin 'Abdur Rahman (may Allah be pleased with him): Some companions of the Prophet ﷺ asked him (may Allah be pleased with him): 'O Allah's Messenger! We see dreams that frighten us in our sleep.' He said, 'That is from Shaitan. So when any of you sees what he dislikes, he should not talk about it to anyone, but get up and pray.' Abu Salama further narrated: I said to Abu Qatadah, 'O Abu Qatadah! I never see a dream that frightens me.' Abu Qatadah said, 'Then I don't have any desire to live in this world.' Abu Qatadah said, 'I heard the Prophet ﷺ saying: 'A good dream is from Allah, and a bad dream is from Shaitan. So if anyone sees a bad dream, he should seek refuge with Allah from it, and he should not tell it to anyone, and it will not harm him.' I (Abu Salama) said, 'I used to see dreams that used to frighten me for six years. I did not see anything that I disliked after I heard this Hadith.' It was narrated from Abu Salama that he said: 'I asked 'Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her): 'O Mother of the Believers! What is the du'a' the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to say when he was sleeping?' She said: 'When he used to sleep, he would close his eyes and say: 'Allahumma bismika amutu wa ahya' (O Allah, with Your name I die and live). And when he would wake up, he would say: 'Al-hamdu lillahi alladhi ahya-na ba'da ma amatana wa ilayhin-nushur' (All praise is due to Allah Who brought us back to life after causing us to die, and to Him is the resurrection).' Then I (Abu Salama) said to him: 'O Messenger of Allah! I used to see dreams that frighten me, and I did not say this dua.' He said: 'Then you should say: 'Allahumma inni a'udhu bika min 'amalish-shaytan wa sayyi'il-ahlam.' (O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the deeds of Shaitan and from bad dreams).