بِسْمِكَ رَبِّ وَضَعْتُ جَنْبِي، وَبِكَ أَرْفَعُهُ، إِنْ أَمْسَكْتَ نَفْسِي فَارْحَمْهَا، وَإِنْ أَرْسَلْتَهَا فَاحْفَظْهَا بِمَا تَحْفَظُ بِهِ عِبَادَكَ الصَّالِحِينَ
In Your name, my Lord, I have laid 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 arsaltaha, fahfadha bima tahfazu bihi 'ibadak as-salihin.
When to Read
This powerful dua is recited by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ before going to sleep. In our modern age, the constant presence of screens and digital distractions can keep our minds racing, fill our hearts with anxiety, and even expose us to negative content. Reciting this before sleep is a beautiful way to consciously hand over our well-being to Allah, asking for His protection over our souls and our consciousness during the vulnerable state of sleep, especially from any harmful digital influences we might have encountered.
How to Read
As you prepare for sleep, after you have turned off your devices and ideally established some distance from them, lie down on your right side. Recite this dua with sincere conviction, remembering that Allah is the ultimate protector. Visualize the light of Allah's mercy surrounding you, shielding you from any harm, whether it's from external sources or internal worries amplified by what you've seen or heard online.
Virtues & Benefits
This dua is a comprehensive request for Allah's protection and mercy. By reciting it, we acknowledge our complete dependence on Allah for life, death, and everything in between. It is a reminder that even in our sleep, our souls are in Allah's hands, and seeking His safeguard is the most profound form of protection. For those concerned about the lingering effects of technology – anxieties, disturbing thoughts, or even just a restless mind – this dua acts as a spiritual shield, seeking Allah's intervention to cleanse our hearts and minds before we enter the state of sleep.
Source & Authentication
Narrated by Abu Huraira: The Prophet (ﷺ) used to say when he slept at night: 'Allahumma qini 'adhābaka yawma tab'athu 'ibādaka.' (O Allah! Save me from Your punishment on the Day when You resurrect Your servants.) He used to say it three times. And when he woke up he used to say: 'Al-hamdu lillāhi Rabbil-'ālamīn, alladhī 'āfānī fī jasadī, wa radda 'alayya rūḥī, wa azina lī bi dhikrik.' (All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds, Who kept my health intact in my body, returned my soul to me, and permitted me to remember Him.) *Note: While the specific dua provided in the entry is a separate authentic dua for sleep (Sahih al-Bukhari 6320), the principle of seeking Allah's protection during sleep and the general etiquette of seeking refuge in Allah's name are paramount. The entry uses a widely known and comprehensive sleep dua that encapsulates seeking Allah's protection and mercy during this vulnerable time.*