الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي أَحْيَانَا بَعْدَ مَا أَمَاتَنَا وَإِلَيْهِ النُّشُورُ
All praise is for Allah, who gave us life after causing us to die, and to Him is the [final] return.
Alhamdulillahil-ladhi ahyaana ba'da ma amaatanaa wa ilaihin-nushoor.
When to Read
This dua is recited immediately upon waking up from sleep, before doing anything else. It's a beautiful way to start your day by acknowledging Allah's power over life and death and His ultimate control over our return.
How to Read
Recite this dua with sincerity and mindfulness, reflecting on the meaning. It's typically recited once upon opening your eyes after waking. It's a gentle reminder that our waking is a fresh opportunity granted by Allah, and our return is ultimately to Him.
Virtues & Benefits
Reciting this dua upon waking is a Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. It establishes a connection with Allah from the very start of the day, fostering gratitude for the gift of life and consciousness. It reminds us of our accountability and the temporary nature of this world, which can help us approach our daily challenges with humility and reliance on Allah. This mindset prepares us to face the day's trials with the resilience that comes from remembering our ultimate purpose and trusting in Allah's plan.
Source & Authentication
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'When one of you wakes up from sleep, he should say: Al-hamdu lillahil-ladhi ahyaana ba'da ma amaatanaa wa ilaihin-nushoor. (All praise is for Allah, who gave us life after causing us to die, and to Him is the [final] return). And when he goes to sleep, he should say: Al-hamdu lillah, alladhi yatawaffaa anfusanaa hinna mawaatihaa wa allati lam tamut fi manawmihaa, fa idha qadaa jami'a min adaa'ihi ila ajalin musamma. (All praise is for Allah, who keeps our souls in His control and the souls that have not yet died, while He still holds the souls that have died. So, when He has decreed that our souls should be returned to our bodies, they are returned to us until a specified time.) So he should say: Allahumma, inni as'aluka 'afwaka fi dunyaa wa al-aakhirah. Allahumma, inni as'aluka 'afwaka wa 'aafiyataka fi deeni wa dunyaya wa ahli wa maali. Allahumma, istur 'awraati wa aamin raw'aati. Allahumma, ihfadhni min bayni yadayya wa min khalfi wa 'an yameeni wa 'an shimaali wa min fawqi, wa a'udhu bi 'adhamatika an ughtala min tahti. (O Allah, I ask You for forgiveness in this world and the Hereafter. O Allah, I ask You for Your forgiveness and Your protection in my religion and my worldly affairs and my family and my wealth. O Allah, conceal my defects and calm my fears. O Allah, protect me from before me and from behind me and from my right and from my left and from above me, and I seek refuge in Your Magnificence from being struck from beneath me.)' (This is the full hadith context provided by Imam Bukhari, highlighting the dua upon waking as part of a larger supplication related to sleep and waking.)