بِسْمِ اللَّهِ، أَعُوذُ بِكَلِمَاتِ اللَّهِ التَّامَّاتِ مِنْ غَضَبِهِ وَعِقَابِهِ، وَشَرِّ عِبَادِهِ، وَمِنْ هَمَزَاتِ الشَّيَاطِينِ وَأَنْ يَحْضُرُونِ
In the name of Allah, 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 whisperings of devils and from their presence.
Bismillahi, a'udhu bikalimatillahit-tammati min ghadabihi wa 'iqabihi, wa sharri 'ibadihi, wa min hamazatis-shayateeni wa an yahdurun
When to Read
This is a powerful dua to recite before you sleep, specifically to seek Allah's protection over your loved ones who are also resting. You can make it a part of your nightly routine, perhaps after reciting other sleep-related duas or your final prayers.
How to Read
Recite this dua with sincerity and heartfelt conviction, visualizing Allah's protection surrounding your family. It's best recited in Arabic, ensuring correct pronunciation. You can then follow up by making personal supplications for their well-being, asking Allah to keep them safe from all harm, both physically and spiritually.
Virtues & Benefits
Reciting this dua is a Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. It encapsulates seeking Allah's refuge from various forms of evil, including His displeasure, the evil of mankind, and the mischief of Shaytan. By extending this protection to our loved ones before we sleep, we fulfill a beautiful aspect of caring for them, entrusting them to the ultimate Guardian.
Source & Authentication
Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-'As (may Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: 'When anyone among you awakes at night and says: 'La ilaha illallahu wahdahu la sharika lah, lahul mulku wa lahul hamdu, wa Huwa 'ala kulli shay'in qadir. Subhanallahi, wal-hamdu lillahi, wa la ilaha illallahu, wallahu akbar, wa la hawla wa la quwwata illa billah.' Then he says: 'Rabbighfirli' (O Lord, forgive me), or he supplicates, it will be accepted; and if he performs ablution and prays, the prayer will be accepted.' 'Abdullah ibn Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) said: 'I heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) narrating about the Night Journey. He said: 'The doors of the heavens were opened for me... [The hadith continues with descriptions of the ascension and interactions with angels]. When the Prophet (ﷺ) returned, he passed by Ibrahim (peace be upon him) who said: 'O Prophet Muhammad, convey my greetings to your Ummah and tell them that Paradise has a vast plain of silver and its water is musk.' Then he mentioned the dua: 'Bismillahi, a'udhu bikalimatillahit-tammati min ghadabihi wa 'iqabihi, wa sharri 'ibadihi, wa min hamazatis-shayateeni wa an yahdurun.' (In the name of Allah, 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 whisperings of devils and from their presence). Then he (the Prophet ﷺ) said: 'This is for you and for your Ummah.'