بِاسْمِكَ 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 take my soul, then have mercy on it. And if You keep it (alive), then protect it with what You protect Your righteous servants with.
Bismika Rabbi wadha'tu janbi, wa bika arfa'uhu. In amsakta nafsi farhamha, wa in arsaltaha fahfadhha bima tahfadhhu bihi 'ibadakas-salihin.
When to Read
This powerful dua is recited just before you drift off to sleep. It's the perfect way to transition from your day's activities to a state of peace, acknowledging Allah's ultimate control over your life and death, even in sleep. It’s a beautiful practice that turns a simple act like lying down into an act of worship, keeping your heart connected to Allah as you fall asleep.
How to Read
Recite this dua with sincerity and presence of mind. As you say 'Bismika Rabbi wadha'tu janbi' (In Your name, my Lord, I lay down my side), you can place your right hand under your cheek. When you say 'wa bika arfa'uhu' (and in Your name I raise it), you prepare to lift your head. Focus on the meaning: acknowledging Allah's power over your sleep and your waking, and entrusting your soul to His mercy.
Virtues & Benefits
Reciting this dua connects your sleep to remembrance of Allah, ensuring your last conscious moments are spent in His worship. It fosters a deep sense of reliance on Allah (tawakkul), as you acknowledge that even your life during sleep is in His hands. This practice purifies the heart and mind before rest, and it's a beautiful way to seek Allah's protection throughout the night, recognizing His guardianship over His righteous servants.
Source & Authentication
Narrated Abu Hurairah: The Prophet (ﷺ) used to say when he went to bed: 'O Allah, Lord of the seven heavens and of all that they overshadow, our Lord and Lord of all things, the Knower of that which is hidden and that which is apparent, the Most Merciful, the Most Kind, He is the Master of all things, so is there any good to be found in us, and is there any protection against disbelief? O Allah, we seek refuge in Thee from disbelief and the punishment of the grave. And when you rise from your bed, you should say: 'Praise be to Allah Who has returned my soul to me and granted me well-being.' And if he abstains from saying that, it means he has died the death (of the grave). Also, when you go to your bed, say: 'O Allah, Creator of the heavens and the earth, Who knows the hidden and the apparent, Lord of everything and its Sovereign, I seek refuge in Thee from the evil of this self and from the evil of the devil and his traps, and from spending the night or committing evil against any Muslim.' And if you go to sleep, say: 'O Allah, it is with Your name that I die and live.' And when you wake up, say: 'Praise be to Allah Who has brought us to life after causing us to die, and to Him is the final return.' (Sahih al-Bukhari 6320, Muslim 2711)