إِذَا أَوَى أَحَدُكُمْ إِلَى فِرَاشِهِ، فَلْيَأْخُذْ طَرَفَ ثَوْبِهِ، ثُمَّ لْيَقُلْ: بِاسْمِكَ رَبِّ وَضَعْتُ جَنْبِي، وَبِكَ أَرْفَعُهُ، إِنْ أَمْسَكْتَ نَفْسِي فَارْحَمْهَا، وَإِنْ أَرْسَلْتَهَا فَاحْفَظْهَا، بِمَا تَحْفَظُ بِهِ عِبَادَكَ الصَّالِحِينَ
When any of you goes to bed, he should hold the hem of his garment and say: 'In Your name, my Lord, I lie down. In Your name I rise. If You take my soul, have mercy on it, and if You keep it (safe), protect it with what You protect Your righteous servants.'
Idha aawa ahadukum ila firashihi, falyakhudh tharafa thawbihi, thumma layaqul: Bismika Rabbi wada'tu janbi, wa bika arfa'uhu. In amsakta nafsi fa-rhamha, wa in arsaltaha fa-hfazha, bima tahfazu bihi 'ibadakas-salihin.
When to Read
This dua is specifically recommended to be recited before sleeping at night. It's a way to entrust your soul and your well-being to Allah during the period of sleep, seeking His protection throughout the night and into the coming day.
How to Read
Recite this dua after you have settled down in your bed, just before you intend to sleep. It is a personal supplication, so recite it with sincerity and a heart full of reliance on Allah. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught us to hold the hem of our garment while reciting this, though the primary focus should be on the words and their meaning.
Virtues & Benefits
Reciting this dua before sleep is a profound act of Tawakkul (reliance on Allah). By entrusting your soul to Allah, you are seeking His divine protection against any harm or misfortune that might befall you during your sleep or the following day. It's a beautiful affirmation of our dependence on Him for life, death, and everything in between, asking for His mercy and preservation just as He preserves His righteous servants.
Source & Authentication
Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet (ﷺ) used to say when he went to bed: 'O Allah, Lord of the seven heavens and all that they overhang, Lord of the seven earths and all that they bear, Lord of the Devils and all whom they lead astray, Lord of the winds and all that they toss about! I pray to You to grant me the goodness of this night and the goodness of what follows it, and I seek refuge in You from the evil of this night and the evil of what follows it. O Allah, I seek refuge in You from laziness and from evil old age. O Allah, I seek refuge in You from punishment in the Fire and punishment in the grave.' When he awoke, he would say: 'Praise be to Allah, Who has restored my soul to me and granted me well-being.' (Sahih Muslim 2710). The specific dua requested is found in Sahih al-Bukhari 7393.