Introduction:
This blog is going to discuss the dua and Zikr a Muslim should say before going to sleep. Prophet Mohammad was keen on reciting zikr before sleep. He constantly mentioned Allah even before sleeping. Dua and zikr protect us from Satan until we wake up, and repeating dua before sleep has great benefits, including protecting oneself from the evil of Satan and the other evil creatures, and making a Muslim feel reassured.
The Muslim etiquette of going to bed:
أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى اللهُ عليه وسلم قَالَ:”إِذَا أَتَيْتَ مَضْجَعَكَ فَتَوَضَّأْ وُضُوءَكَ لِلصَّلَاةِ ثُمَّ اضْطَجِعْ عَلَى شِقِّكَ الْأَيْمَنِ وقُلْ: اللَّهُمَّ أَسْلَمْتُ نَفْسِي إِلَيْكَ، وَفَوَّضْتُ أَمْرِي إِلَيْكَ، وَأَلْجَأْتُ ظَهْرِي إِلَيْكَ رَغْبَةً وَرَهْبَةً إِلَيْكَ، لَا مَلْجَأَ وَلَا مَنْجَا مِنْكَ إِلَّا إِلَيْكَ، آمَنْتُ بِكِتَابِكَ الَّذِي أَنْزَلْتَ، وَبِنَبِيِّكَ الَّذِي أَرْسَلْتَ، فَإِنْ مُتَّ مُتَّ عَلَى الْفِطْرَةِ فاجْعَلْهُنَّ آخِرَ مَا تَقُولُ
When you come to your bed, perform your ablution for the salah. Then lie on your right side and say. O God. I have surrendered my soul to You, and I have entrusted my affairs to You, and I have turned my back to You out of desire and fear for You. None escaped from You except to You. I believe in your book which You sent down, and in Your prophet whom You sent. So if a Muslim dies, they will die on the right path. Let them be the last thing you say.” Remember to say your testimony before you sleep.
The Muslim etiquette of being in bed:
“إِذَا أَوَى أَحَدُكُمْ إِلَى فِرَاشِهِ فَلْيَنْفُضْ فِرَاشَهُ بِدَاخِلَةِ إِزَارِهِ، فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَدْرِي مَا خَلَفَهُ عَلَيْهِ”
Second: Dusting the bed before lying on itand saying “In the name of Allah. The Prophet said: “When you go to bed, dust your bed. For you do not know what has lain in it before you..” Third: “The Prophet said: when you lie down, put your right hand under your right cheek. then say: O Allah, protect me from torment on the day of resurrection.
What a Muslim should read before sleeping:
Reading some surahs and zikr before sleeping, then: blowing gently in your cupped two hands and reciting surah al-Ikhlas, al-Falaq and surah al-Nas. Whenever prophet Mohammad went to bed every night, he would cup his hands and read the three surahs above. After that he would rub as much as he could of his body, head and face. He would do this three times. Prophet Mohammad would read the last two verses from surah al-Baqara. Prophet Mohammad said:
«مَنْ قَرَأَ بِالْآيَتَيْنِ مِنْ آخِرِ سُورَةِ الْبَقَرَةِ فِي لَيْلَةٍ كَفَتَاهُ»
“Whoever reads the last two verses of surah al-Baqara, they would sufficiently protect them all night long.”
The translation of the last two ayat of al-Baqara:
“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.” (285)
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 Allahumma 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. (286)
More Zikr before sleeping:
“إِذَا أَوَيْتَ إِلَى فِرَاشِكَ فَاقْرَأْ آيَةَ الْكُرْسِيِّ، لَنْ يَزَالَ عَلَيْكَ مِنْ اللَّهِ حَافِظٌ، وَلَا يَقْرَبُكَ شَيْطَانٌ حَتَّى تُصْبِحَ”
Sixth: reciting ayat of al-Kursee. “Prophet Mohammad said “When you go to bed, read ayat of al-Kursee, there will be a guard on you all night long till the morning”. ٍSeventh: Say “Subhanallah” thirty-three times; “Alhamdulillah” thirty-three times; and “Allahu Akbar” thirty-four times.
“بِاسْمِكَ رَبِّـي وَضَعْـتُ جَنْـبي، وَبِكَ أَرْفَعُـه، فَإِن أَمْسَـكْتَ نَفْسـي فارْحَـمْها ، وَإِنْ أَرْسَلْتَـها فاحْفَظْـها بِمـا تَحْفَـظُ بِه عِبـادَكَ الصّـالِحـين”
Eighth: Say: “In Your name, Oh Allah I have put my side down and in Your Name I rise. If You held my soul (by my death) have mercy on it. If You send me back to life, protect it with what You protect Your good obedient servants.” Moreover, read the two ayat (285 – 286) from surat al-Baqara.
The favor of Zikr before sleeping :
Their favor: The prophet said: “When you go to bed, say: “Allahumma, lord of the seven heavens, and all that they shelter; the seven earths and all that they support; the devils and all those whom they mislead, be my neighbour and protector from all Your creatures, lest one of them should harm or hurt me. You are, my Lord, The Best Neighbour and Protector. There is no god except You.” The prophet also said: “Allahumma I ask Your refuge with your perfect words from the anger and the evil of Your servants; and the whispers of the devils and their attendance.”
