بِاسْمِكَ رَبِّ وَضَعْتُ جَنْبِي، وَبِكَ أَرْفَعُهُ، إِنْ أَمْسَكْتَ نَفْسِي فَارْحَمْهَا، وَإِنْ أَرْسَلْتَهَا فَاحْفَظْهَا بِمَا تَحْفَظُ بِهِ عِبَادَكَ الصَّالِحِينَ
In Your name, my Lord, I lie down and in Your name I rise. If You should take my soul, then have mercy upon it. And if You should return 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 fahfadh-ha bima tahfathu bihi 'ibadakas-salihin.
When to Read
This dua is recited when you are about to go to sleep, after you have settled down and are preparing to rest for the night. It's a beautiful way to connect with Allah before drifting off, acknowledging His dominion over your life and death.
How to Read
Recite this dua with sincerity and awareness of its meaning. Visualize Allah's power and mercy as you speak the words. It's best recited after performing Isha prayer and before lying down to sleep, ideally after making wudu if possible, as the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ recommended purification before sleep.
Virtues & Benefits
This dua encompasses a profound recognition of Allah's ultimate control over our lives. By asking for mercy if our soul is taken, and protection if it is returned, we acknowledge our complete dependence on Him. It also highlights the importance of seeking Allah's protection for our souls, a reminder that our very existence is a trust from Him. This practice cultivates humility and deepens our reliance on the Almighty before entering a state of unconsciousness.
Source & Authentication
‘Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported that when the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ went to bed every night, he would hold his palms together, then blow upon them, and recite: ‘Say: He Allah, the One the Absolute. Allah, the Self-Sufficient Master, Whom all creatures need. He begets not, nor is He begotten. And there is none comparable to Him.’ (Surah Al-Ikhlas). He would then do this three times for each. And when he went to bed he would say: ‘Bismika Rabbi wada'tu janbi, wa bika arfa'uhu. In amsakta nafsi farhamha, wa in arsaltaha fahfadh-ha bima tahfathu bihi 'ibadakas-salihin.’ (In Your name, my Lord, I lie down and in Your name I rise. If You should take my soul, then have mercy upon it. And if You should return it, then protect it with what You protect Your righteous servants.)