The 5 BEST Duas for Sleep Protection: Quran & Hadith

It's late at night, you're exhausted and you're about to put your head down on the pillow. Are there any supplications, or duas, you can recite to help protect you during sleep?

As Muslims we look to the Holy Quran, our source of truth, and Hadith from the times of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). In each of these sources, there are recommendations as to what we can recite to promote peace and tranquility before we hit the hay.

1. Ayat-ul Kursi 📖

Allahu laaa ilaaha illaa huwal haiyul qai-yoom; laa taakhuzuhoo sinatunw wa laa nawm; lahoo maa fissamaawaati wa maa fil ard; man zallazee yashfa'u indahooo illaa be iznih; ya'lamu maa baina aideehim wa maa khalfahum; wa laa yuheetoona beshai 'immin 'ilmihee illa be maa shaaaa; wasi'a kursiyyuhus samaa waati wal arda wa la ya'ooduho hifzuhumaa; wa huwal aliyyul 'azeem [The Throne Verse (2:255)]

Translation: "Allah! There is no god but He - the Living, the Self-subsisting, Eternal. No slumber can seize Him nor Sleep. His are all things in the heavens and on earth. Who is there that can intercede in His presence except as he permitteth? He knoweth what (appeareth to His creatures As) Before or After or Behind them. Nor shall they compass aught of His knowledge except as He willeth. His throne doth extend over the heavens and on earth, and He feeleth no fatigue in guarding and preserving them, For He is the Most High, the Supreme (in glory)."

This verse is often recited for protection because it describes Allah's almighty sovereignty, knowledge, and power. The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) mentioned in a Hadith recorded by Bukhari that whoever recites this verse will be protected by Allah until the morning.

2. Last two verses of Surah Al-Baqarah 📖

Amana alrrasoolu bima onzila ilayhi min rabbihi waalmuminoona kullun amana biAllahi wamalaikatihi wakutubihi warusulihi la nufarriqu bayna ahadin min rusulihi waqaloo samiAAna waataAAna ghufranaka rabbana wailayka almaseeru. La yukallifu Allahu nafsan illa wusAAaha laha ma kasabat waAAalayha ma iktasabat rabbana la tuakhithna in naseena aw akhtana rabbana wala tahmil AAalayna isran kama hamaltahu AAala allatheena min qablina rabbana wala tuhammilna ma la taqata lana bihi waoAAfu AAanna waighfir lana wairhamna anta mawlana faonsurna AAala alqawmi alkafireena [Quran 2:285-286]

Translation: "The Messenger has believed in what was revealed to him from his Lord, and [so have] the believers. All of them have believed in Allah and His angels and His books and His messengers, [saying], "We make no distinction between any of His messengers." And they say, "We hear and we obey. [We seek] Your forgiveness, our Lord, and to You is the [final] destination. Allah does not charge a soul except [with that within] its capacity. It will have [the consequence of] what [good] it has gained, and it will bear [the consequence of] what [evil] it has earned. "Our Lord, do not impose blame upon us if we have forgotten or erred. Our Lord, and lay not upon us a burden like that which You laid upon those before us. Our Lord, and burden us not with that which we have no ability to bear. And pardon us; and forgive us; and have mercy upon us. You are our protector, so give us victory over the disbelieving people."

Reciting these verses declare the faith and we seek God's rahmah (mercy). It also acknowledges that God doesn't burden a soul with more than it can take.

Abd al-Rahman b. Yazid said:

I asked Abu Mas’ud while he was making circumambulation of the Ka’bah (about the recitation of some verses from the Qur’an). He said: The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said: If anyone recited two verses from the last of Surah al-Baqarah at night, they will be sufficient for him.

This hadith was graded as Sahih (authentic) by Al-Albani.

3. Surah Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq, and An-Nas 📖

Surah Al-Ikhlas Transliteration: "Qul Huwallahu Ahad, Allahus Samad. Lam yalid, wa lam yulad. Wa lam yakullahu kufuwan ahad."

Surah Al-Falaq Transliteration: "Qul a'udhu bi rabbil-falaq. Min sharri ma khalaq. Wa min sharri ghasiqin idha waqab. Wa min sharrin-naffathati fil-'uqad. Wa min sharri hasidin idha hasad."

Surah An-Nas Transliteration: "Qul a'udhu bi rabbin-nas. Malikin-nas. Ilahin-nas. Min sharril-waswasil-khannas. Alladhee yuwaswisu fee sudoorin-nas. Minal-jinnati wan-nas."

Surah An-Nas Translation: "Say, I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind. The King of mankind. The God of mankind. From the evil of the whisperer who withdraws. Who whispers [evil] into the breasts of mankind. From among the jinn and mankind."

These three Surahs are known as "Al-Mu'awwidhat" or "the protectors". Al-Ikhlas affirms the oneness of Allah, while Al-Falaq and An-Nas are both prayers for protection from various forms of harm. The Prophet (peace be upon him) would recite these Surahs and blow them over himself for protection, as recorded in authenticated Hadiths by Bukhari and Muslim.

4. Dua before sleep (Hadith in Al-Bukhari)  📖

Transliteration: "Bismika Allahumma ahya wa amutu."

Translation: "In Your name, O Allah, I live and die."

This simple but powerful supplication says that our life and death is in the hands of Allah and so we place our trust in him before we sleep.

5. Dua for waking up (Hadith in Al-Bukhari) 📖

Transliteration: "Alhamdulillah alladhee ahyana ba'da ma amatana wa ilayhin-nushoor."

Translation: "Praise be to Allah, who gave us life after making us die (sleep is a form of death), and to Him is the resurrection."

Although technically not a dua for before bed, this is one to remember to recite immediately upon waking, as waking up is considered to be a minor resurrection. This supplication gives thanks and expresses gratitude to God for restoring life. It also serves as a reminder for our deaths, when we will no longer be woken up in this world.