سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ وَلاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَاللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ
Glory be to Allah, and praise be to Allah, and there is no god but Allah, and Allah is the Greatest.
Subhan Allah, walhamdulillah, wa la ilaha illallah, wallahu akbar.
When to Read
This dua is specifically for those moments when you wake up suddenly, perhaps from a bad dream or a startling noise. It's a beautiful way to immediately turn your heart and mind back to Allah, acknowledging His perfection, power, and dominion over all things, which can help dispel any lingering fear or unease.
How to Read
When you find yourself waking up suddenly and feeling startled, take a moment to compose yourself. Then, recite this glorification of Allah. It’s about the intention and the sincerity of turning to Him. Even a whispered recitation is meaningful when you're trying to regain calmness and focus on the Divine.
Virtues & Benefits
This practice helps to shift your focus away from any fear or anxiety associated with the sudden awakening and redirects it towards the remembrance of Allah. It’s a reminder of His greatness and control over everything, bringing peace and reassurance. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught this as a way to deal with being startled, highlighting its spiritual benefit in calming the heart and mind.
Source & Authentication
It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: 'When one of you is startled in his sleep, let him say: Subhan Allah, walhamdulillah, wa la ilaha illallah, wallahu akbar. (Glory be to Allah, and praise be to Allah, and there is no god but Allah, and Allah is the Greatest.)' He said: 'Then if he wakes up and is not startled, let him go back to sleep.' (Sunan Abi Dawud 5053, also mentioned in similar wording in Sahih al-Bukhari's Adab al-Mufrad)