أَعُوذُ بِكَلِمَاتِ اللَّهِ التَّامَّاتِ مِنْ غَضَبِهِ وَعِقَابِهِ، وَشَرِّ عِبَادِهِ، وَمِنْ هَمَزَاتِ الشَّيَاطِينِ وَأَنْ يَحْضُرُونِ.
I seek refuge in the perfect words of Allah from His anger and His punishment, and from the evil of His servants, and from the promptings of devils and from their being present.
A'udhu bikalimatillahit-tammati min ghadabihi wa 'iqabihi, wa sharri 'ibadihi, wa min hamazatis-shayateeni wa an yahdurun.
When to Read
This dua is specifically recommended to be recited when you wake up from a bad dream, before you speak to anyone about it. It's a powerful way to immediately seek Allah's protection and neutralize any potential harm from the dream.
How to Read
Upon waking from a disturbing dream, immediately turn to your left (if possible) and recite this dua three times. It's also advised to spit lightly to your left three times, and not to mention the dream to anyone. This practice, taught by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, is a way to transform a potentially distressing experience into an act of seeking refuge in Allah.
Virtues & Benefits
Reciting this dua upon waking from a bad dream offers immediate protection from any potential negative impact the dream might have. It's a practical application of seeking Allah's refuge, turning potential fear or anxiety into a source of strength and connection with the Divine. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ stated concerning this dua: 'He who recites this three times in the morning, it will suffice him against all afflictions for that day. And he who recites it in the evening, it will suffice him for the night.' (Sunan Abi Dawud 3892). Though this hadith refers to morning recitation, the principle of seeking refuge in Allah's perfect words applies directly to neutralizing the harm of a bad dream.
Source & Authentication
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 'When any one of you sees a dream that he likes, he should know that it is from Allah, and he should praise Allah and narrate it to others. If he sees a dream that he dislikes, which is from Shaitan, he should seek refuge in Allah from its evil and not narrate it to anyone, for it will not harm him.' (Sahih al-Bukhari 6985). Furthermore, concerning seeking refuge from bad dreams, another narration states: The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: '...If any one of you sees a thing he dislikes, he should stand up and perform prayer and recite the words of Allah: 'Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of the dawn' (Surah Al-Falaq) and 'Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind' (Surah An-Nas). These two Surahs are for seeking refuge.' (Sunan Abi Dawud 3890, Sahih Muslim 2703). And the specific dua recommended is: 'A'udhu bikalimatillahit-tammati min ghadabihi wa 'iqabihi, wa sharri 'ibadihi, wa min hamazatis-shayateeni wa an yahdurun.' (Sunan Abi Dawud 3893).