Duas for Sleeping and Waking – Remembrance of Allah Before Rest

The Peace Found in Nightly Remembrance Duas

There’s something deeply human about the moment we set everything aside and prepare to sleep. The lights dim, the world falls silent, and what’s left is a conversation between the heart and its Creator.

In those moments, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) guided us to make dhikr — remembrance — the final act of our day. It transforms ordinary rest into an act of worship, filling the night with safety, gratitude, and forgiveness.

Sleep is more than physical rest. It is a reminder that life itself is fragile; every night we surrender our souls, and every morning Allah (SWT) grants them back.

As the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

“Whenever he lay down for sleep at night, he would place his right hand under his right cheek and say:
اللَّهُمَّ بِاسْمِكَ أَمُوتُ وَأَحْيَا
Allahumma bismika amutu wa ahya
O Allah, with Your name I die and I live.”

And upon waking:
الْـحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ الَّذِي أَحْيَانَا بَعْدَ مَا أَمَاتَنَا وَإِلَيْهِ النُّشُور
Al-hamdu lillahil-ladhee ahyana ba’da ma amatana wa ilayhin-nushoor
All praise is due to Allah, who gave us life after causing us to die, and to Him is the resurrection.
(Hadith – Al-Bukhari)

These brief words carry oceans of meaning. They remind us that no moment is too small for remembrance, and that the soul is safest when it sleeps in the name of Allah.

The Spiritual Benefits of Nightly Duas

Duas Before Sleeping – Surrendering to Allah’s Care

اللَّهُمَّ بِاسْمِكَ أَمُوتُ وَأَحْيَا
Allahumma bismika amutu wa ahya
O Allah, with Your name I die and I live.

This simple du’a is a declaration of dependence on Allah. When you whisper it before your eyes close, you’re acknowledging that your life and your rest both belong to Him.

Even our most ordinary actions — like sleeping — can become worship when done consciously. For the believer, nothing is wasted when done with remembrance.

Duas for Peaceful Sleep – When Nightmares Disturb You

Khalid ibn al-Walid once told the Prophet (peace be upon him):

“I have nightmares.”

The Prophet replied:

“Say, I seek refuge in the perfect words of Allah from His anger, His punishment, the evil of His servants, and from the whisperings of the devils and their presence (at death).”
(Hadith – Tirmidhi & Abu Dawud)

Recite this when fear or anxiety disturbs your rest:

قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِكَلِمَاتِ اللَّهِ التَّامَّةِ مِنْ غَضَبِهِ وَعِقَابِهِ وَشَرِّ عِبَادِهِ وَمِنْ هَمَزَاتِ الشَّيَاطِينِ وَأَنْ يَحْضُرُونِ
Qul a‘udhu bi kalimati’llahi’t-tammati min ghadabihi wa ‘iqabihi wa sharri ‘ibadihi wa min hamazati’sh-shayatin wa an yahdurun.
I seek refuge in the perfect words of Allah from His anger and punishment, from the evil of His servants, and from the whisperings and presence of devils.

This du’a is both protection and reassurance — a way to hand over your fears to the One who controls all peace.

Dua for Difficulty Sleeping – When the Heart Won’t Settle

Some nights, sleep escapes us no matter how tired we are. At those moments, remember Allah’s greatness:

لا إِلـهَ إِلاّ اللهُ الـواحِدُ القَهّـار رَبُّ السَّـمواتِ وَالأرْضِ وَما بَيْـنَهـما العَزيـزُ الغَـفّار
Lā ilāha illallāhul-Wāḥidul-Qahhār. Rabbus-samāwāti wal-arḍi wa mā baynahuma al-ʿAzīzul-Ghaffār.
There is no god but Allah, the One, the Victorious, Lord of the heavens and the earth and all that is between them, the Almighty, the All-Forgiving.

By declaring His oneness, the restless heart finds rest. It replaces anxiety with awe and invites sleep as a gift from the Most Merciful.

Du’a for Forgiveness – The Master of Istighfar

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

“Whoever recites this du’a during the day with full belief and dies before evening will enter Paradise; and whoever recites it at night and dies before morning will enter Paradise.”
(Hadith – Al-Bukhari)

This du’a, known as Sayyidul Istighfar, is the most complete form of seeking forgiveness:

اللّٰهُمَّ أَنْتَ رَبِّي، لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ، خَلَقْتَنِيْ وَأَنَا عَبْدُكَ، وَأَنَا عَلَى عَهْدِكَ وَوَعْدِكَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُ، أَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا صَنَعْتُ، أَبُوءُ لَكَ بِنِعْمَتِكَ عَلَىَّ وَأَبُوءُ لَكَ بِذَنْبِيْ، فَاغْفِرْ لِيْ، فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوْبَ إِلَّاأَنْتَ.
Allahumma anta rabbi la ilaha illa anta, khalaqtani wa ana ‘abduk, wa ana ‘ala ‘ahdika wa wa‘dika ma istata‘t, a‘udhu bika min sharri ma sana‘t, aboo’u laka bini‘matika ‘alayya wa aboo’u bithanbi, faghfir li fa innahu la yaghfiru dhunuba illa ant.
O Allah, You are my Lord. There is no true god except You. You created me and I am Your servant. I hold to Your covenant as best I can. I seek refuge in You from the evil I have done. I acknowledge Your blessings upon me and I confess my sins. Forgive me, for none forgives sins except You.

Reciting this du’a before sleeping wipes away the heaviness of the day and opens the door to divine mercy.

Du’a for Protection from Harm – Safety in Every Breath

“Whoever says in the morning and evening:
‘In the name of Allah, with Whose Name nothing on earth or in heaven can harm, and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing,’
nothing will harm him.”
(Hadith – Tirmidhi)

بِسْمِ اللهِ الَّذِي لَا يَضُرُّ مَعَ اسْمِهِ شَيْءٌ فِي الأَرْضِ وَلَا فِي السَّمَاءِ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ العَلِيمُ
Bismillahil-ladhi la yadurru ma‘as-mihi shay’un fil-ard wa la fis-sama’i, wa Huwas-Sami‘ul-‘Alim.
In the name of Allah, with Whose name nothing in the earth or heavens can cause harm, and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.

Say it three times before sleeping — it’s like locking your heart in the fortress of His protection.

Du’a for Morning and Evening – A Declaration of Contentment

“There is no Muslim who says in the morning and evening:
‘I am pleased with Allah as my Lord, with Islam as my religion, and with Muhammad as my Prophet,’
except that Allah will please him on the Day of Resurrection.”
(Hadith – Ibn Majah)

رَضِيتُ بِاللَّهِ رَبًّا وَبِالإِسْلاَمِ دِينًا وَبِمُحَمَّدٍ نَبِيًّا
Radhītu billāhi Rabban wa bil-Islāmi dīnan wa bi-Muḥammadin nabiyyan.
I am pleased with Allah as my Lord, with Islam as my religion, and with Muhammad (peace be upon him) as my Prophet.

Contentment is one of faith’s greatest gifts. Reciting this du’a daily brings the heart back to certainty and peace.

Du’a Upon Waking Up – Gratitude for Another Day

When you wake, begin your morning with the same words the Prophet (peace be upon him) used:

الْـحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ الَّذِي أَحْيَانَا بَعْدَ مَا أَمَاتَنَا وَإِلَيْهِ النُّشُور
Al-hamdu lillahil-ladhee ahyana ba’da ma amatana wa ilayhin-nushoor.
All praise is due to Allah, who gave us life after causing us to die, and to Him is the resurrection.

Each sunrise is proof of Allah’s mercy — a new opportunity to repent, to serve, and to be grateful.

How Your Remembrance Helps You

For every believer, remembrance (dhikr) is like oxygen for the soul. It brings light where there was heaviness and turns every breath into worship. When you remember Allah before sleeping, you’re not just earning reward — you’re transforming your rest into peace and your mornings into purpose.

• It strengthens tawakkul (trust in Allah).
• It protects the heart from fear and despair.
• It earns ongoing reward, even while you sleep.

Just as giving charity purifies wealth, remembrance purifies time.

Why Remember Allah at Night – Because Tomorrow Isn’t Promised

The Prophet (peace be upon him) reminded us that no soul knows when its final night will come. Remembering Allah before sleep ensures that, whether we wake again or not, we rest in a state of faith.

“Keep your tongue moist with the remembrance of Allah.” (Hadith – Tirmidhi)

Each du’a is an act of love — a whisper that connects us to the One who never sleeps.

Share Your Reward – Be Part of a Living Sadaqah

If this reminder benefits you, share it with someone else tonight. Every time another believer recites these du’as because of you, their reward flows to your account — even as you sleep.

“Whoever guides someone to goodness will have a reward like one who did it.” (Muslim)

That’s the beauty of faith: it multiplies through sharing.

FAQs – Du’as for Sleeping and Waking

1. Can I recite these du’as in English?
Yes. The reward is greater in Arabic, but if you don’t know the Arabic yet, say them in English until you learn. Allah knows what’s in your heart.

2. What if I forget one du’a at night?
There’s no sin in forgetting. Simply make dhikr — say SubhanAllah, Alhamdulillah, Allahu Akbar — and renew the habit the next night.

3. Are these du’as only for adults?
No. The Prophet (peace be upon him) taught children to say them too. Teach your children so remembrance becomes a family habit.

4. Can I recite them after Fajr or before Isha instead?
They’re recommended at bedtime and upon waking, but remembrance at any time brings reward.

5. What’s the best way to remember all these du’as?
Start small — one du’a a week. Place reminders by your bedside or use an app. With consistency, they’ll become part of your nightly rhythm.