Dua at Bedtime and at the time of waking up

Text and Translation

Before Sleep

Imam al-Sadiq (a.s.) said that whoever repeats the following doxology three times before going to bed will be released of his sins as he was on the day his mother gave birth to him:

اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ الَّذِيْ عَلَا فَقَهَرَ

ALHAMDO LILLAAHIL LAZEE A'LAA FAQAHARA

All praise be to Allah, Who is exalted, thus has He subdued,

وَالْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ الَّذِيْ بَطَنَ فَخَبَرَ

WAL HAMDO LILLAAHIL LAZEE BATANA FAKHABARA

and all praise be to Allah, Who is hidden, thus is He aware,

وَالْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ الَّذِيْ مَلَكَ فَقَدَرَ

WAL HAMDO LILLAAHIL LAZEE MALAKA FAQADARA

and all praise be to Allah, Who owns, thus has He power,

وَالْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ الَّذِيْ يُحْيِي الْمَوْتٰى

WAL HAMDO LILLAAHIL LAZEE YUHYIL MAWTAA

and all praise be to Allah, Who gives life to the dead,

وَ يُمِيْتُ الْاَحْيَاۤءَ

WA YUMEETUL AHYAA-A

and causes the living to die,

وَ هُوَ عَلٰى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيْرٌ

WA HOWA ALAA KULLE SHAY-IN QADEER

and He has power over all things.

The Prophet's Bedtime Dua

Imam al-Sadiq (a.s.) said that whenever the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) went to sleep, he would recite Ayat al-Kursi and then say:

بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ اٰمَنْتُ بِاللّٰهِ وَ كَفَرْتُ بِالطَّاغُوْتِ

BISMIL LAAHE AAMANTO BILLAAHE WA KAFARTO BIT TAAGHOOT

In the Name of Allah, I believe in Allah and I disavow the false deity;

اَللّٰهُمَّ احْفَظْنِيْ فِيْ مَنَامِيْ وَ فِيْ يَقَظَتِيْ

ALLAAHUMMAH FAZNEE FEE MANAAMEE WA FEE YAQAZATEE

O Allah, safeguard me in my sleep and in my waking.

Eleven Refuges

al-Mufazzal ibn Umar reported that Imam al-Sadiq (a.s.) told him: if possible, do not go to bed at night before praying for the protection of the following eleven things — though you may use them whenever you wish:

اَعُوْذُ بِعِزَّةِ اللّٰهِ

AOOZO BE-IZZATIL LAAH

I seek refuge in the might of Allah,

وَ اَعُوْذُ بِقُدْرَةِ اللّٰهِ

WA AOOZO BE-QUDRATIL LAAH

and I seek refuge in the power of Allah,

وَ اَعُوْذُ بِجَلَالِ اللّٰهِ

WA AOOZO BE-JALAALIL LAAH

and I seek refuge in the majesty of Allah,

وَ اَعُوْذُ بِسُلْطَانِ اللّٰهِ

WA AOOZO BE-SULTAANIL LAAH

and I seek refuge in the authority of Allah,

وَ اَعُوْذُ بِجَمَالِ اللّٰهِ

WA AOOZO BE-JAMAALIL LAAH

and I seek refuge in the beauty of Allah,

وَ اَعُوْذُ بِدَفْعِ اللّٰهِ

WA AOOZO BE-DAF-I'L LAAH

and I seek refuge in the repelling power of Allah,

وَ اَعُوْذُ بِمَنْعِ اللّٰهِ

WA AOOZO BE-MAN-I'L LAAH

and I seek refuge in the withholding power of Allah,

وَ اَعُوْذُ بِجَمْعِ اللّٰهِ

WA AOOZO BE-JAM-I'L LAAH

and I seek refuge in the gathering power of Allah,

وَ اَعُوْذُ بِمُلْكِ اللّٰهِ

WA AOOZO BE-MULKIL LAAH

and I seek refuge in the dominion of Allah,

وَ اَعُوْذُ بِوَجْهِ اللّٰهِ

WA AOOZO BE-WAJHIL LAAH

and I seek refuge in the Countenance of Allah,

وَ اَعُوْذُ بِرَسُوْلِ اللّٰهِ صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ اٰلِهٖ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ وَ بَرَاَ وَ ذَرَاَ

WA AOOZO BE-RASOOLIL LAAHE SALLAL LAAHO ALAYHE WA AALEHI MIN SHARRE MAA KHALAQA WA BARA-A WA ZARA-A

and I seek refuge in the Messenger of Allah — Allah's blessings be upon him and his Household — from the evil of what He has created, brought into being, and made manifest.

Surahs before sleep

Imam al-Sadiq (a.s.) said that whoever repeats [Surah al-Tawhid](A116) one hundred times before sleep, Allah will forgive him the sins of fifty years; and that whoever recites [Surah al-Kafirun](A113) and [Surah al-Tawhid](A116) before sleep [is likewise rewarded].

To Wake for Night Prayer

Imam al-Sadiq (a.s.) reported the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) as saying that whoever intends to rise for night worship may say the following before sleep, and Allah will order an angel to awaken him at the time he intends:

اَللّٰهُمَّ لَا تُؤْمِنِّيْ مَكْرَكَ وَ لَا تُنْسِنِيْ ذِكْرَكَ وَ لَا تَجْعَلْنِيْ مِنَ الْغَافِلِيْنَ

ALLAAHUMMA LAA TU-MINNEE MAKRAKA WA LAA TUNSINEE ZIKRAKA WA LAA TAJ-ALNEE MINAL GHAAFILEEN

O Allah, do not let me feel secure from Your plan, do not let me forget Your remembrance, and do not make me one of the heedless.

اَقُوْمُ سَاعَةَ كَذَا وَ كَذَا

AQOOMO SAA-A'TA KAZAA WA KAZAA

(Mention the hour) I shall rise at such-and-such an hour.

On Waking at Night

Imam al-Sadiq (a.s.) said that when one wakes at night, he may say the following, whereupon Allah will say, "My servant has spoken the truth and has thanked Me":

سُبْحَانَ اللّٰهِ رَبِّ النَّبِيِّيْنَ وَ اِلٰهِ الْمُرْسَلِيْنَ وَ رَبِّ الْمُسْتَضْعَفِيْنَ

SUBHAANAL LAAHE RABBIN NABIYYEENA WA ELAAHIL MURSALEENA WA RABBIL MUSTAZ-A'FEEN

Glory be to Allah, Lord of the Prophets, God of the Messengers, and Lord of the oppressed,

وَالْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ الَّذِيْ يُحْيِي الْمَوْتٰى وَ هُوَ عَلٰى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيْرٌ

WAL HAMDO LILLAAHIL LAZEE YUHYIL MAWTAA WA HOWA ALAA KULLE SHAY-IN QADEER