Dua before sleeping, and the Sunnah bedtime routine
The dua before sleeping can be as short as “Bismika Allahumma amutu wa ahya”, and the Sunnah gives a full bedtime routine: wudu, the three Quls, Ayat al-Kursi and a few short du‘as. Here they are with Arabic, transliteration and meaning, plus the du‘a for waking up.
Last updated: 4 October 2026
The dua before sleeping
The shortest, and easiest for children
بِاسْمِكَ اللَّهُمَّ أَمُوتُ وَأَحْيَا
Bismika Allahumma amutu wa ahya.
“In Your name, O Allah, I die and I live.”
Source: Sahih al-Bukhari. Arabic text: Hisn al-Muslimبِاسْمِكَ رَبِّي وَضَعْتُ جَنْبِي، وَبِكَ أَرْفَعُهُ، فَإِن أَمْسَكْتَ نَفْسِي فارْحَمْهَا، وَإِنْ أَرْسَلْتَهَا فَاحْفَظْهَا، بِمَا تَحْفَظُ بِهِ عِبَادَكَ الصَّالِحِينَ
“In Your name, my Lord, I lay down my side, and by You I raise it. If You take my soul, have mercy on it; and if You return it, protect it as You protect Your righteous servants.”
Source: Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim. Arabic text: Hisn al-MuslimThree times, with the right hand under the cheek
اللَّهُمَّ قِنِي عَذَابَكَ يَوْمَ تَبْعَثُ عِبَادَكَ
Allahumma qini ‘adhabaka yawma tab‘athu ‘ibadak.
“O Allah, protect me from Your punishment on the Day You resurrect Your servants.”
Source: Sunan Abi Dawud and Jami‘ at-Tirmidhi (graded sahih). Arabic text: Hisn al-MuslimThe last words before sleep
اللَّهُمَّ أَسْلَمْتُ نَفْسِي إِلَيْكَ، وَفَوَّضْتُ أَمْرِي إِلَيْكَ، وَوَجَّهْتُ وَجْهِي إِلَيْكَ، وَأَلْجَأْتُ ظَهْرِي إِلَيْكَ، رَغْبَةً وَرَهْبَةً إِلَيْكَ، لاَ مَلْجَأَ وَلاَ مَنْجَا مِنْكَ إِلاَّ إِلَيْكَ، آمَنْتُ بِكِتَابِكَ الَّذِي أَنْزَلْتَ، وَبِنَبِيِّكَ الَّذِي أَرْسَلْتَ
“O Allah, I submit myself to You, entrust my affairs to You, turn my face to You and rely on You, out of hope in You and fear of You. There is no refuge or escape from You except to You. I believe in Your Book which You revealed and Your Prophet whom You sent.”
The Prophet ﷺ said: if you die that night, you die upon the fitrah (Sahih al-Bukhari 247).
Source: Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim. Arabic text: Hisn al-MuslimThe bedtime routine from the Sunnah
- Make wudu, as the Prophet ﷺ advised (Sahih al-Bukhari 247).
- Dust off the bed three times, as he ﷺ instructed (Sahih al-Bukhari 6320).
- Lie on your right side.
- Blow into cupped hands, recite Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq and An-Nas, and wipe over as much of the body as you can, three times (Sahih al-Bukhari 5017).
- Recite Ayat al-Kursi (Sahih al-Bukhari 2311) and the last two verses of Al-Baqarah (Sahih al-Bukhari 5009).
- Say SubhanAllah 33 times, Alhamdulillah 33 times and Allahu Akbar 34 times (Sahih al-Bukhari 3705).
- Say one of the du‘as below as you go to sleep.
Many people also recite Surah Al-Mulk and Surah As-Sajdah at night, and the last two verses of Al-Baqarah, which “suffice” the one who recites them.
The dua when you wake up
الْحَمْدُ للَّهِ الَّذِي أَحْيَانَا بَعْدَ مَا أَمَاتَنَا، وَإِلَيْهِ النُّشُورُ
Alhamdu lillahil-ladhi ahyana ba‘da ma amatana wa ilayhin-nushur.
“All praise is for Allah who gave us life after He caused us to die, and to Him is the return.”
Source: Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim. Arabic text: Hisn al-MuslimBedtime duas with children
Saying “Bismika Allahumma amutu wa ahya” together every night is one of the easiest ways for a young child to learn their first du‘a. Add the three Quls once they know them. See duas for kids and the morning version of these remembrances in morning and evening adhkar. All topics are in our daily duas collection.
Frequently asked questions
What is the shortest dua before sleeping?
“Bismika Allahumma amutu wa ahya” (In Your name, O Allah, I die and I live). It is reported in Sahih al-Bukhari, and it is easy for young children to learn.
What do I say when I wake up?
“Alhamdu lillahil-ladhi ahyana ba‘da ma amatana wa ilayhin-nushur” (All praise is for Allah who gave us life after causing us to die, and to Him is the return), from Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim.
Which surahs are recited before sleeping?
The three Quls with blowing into the hands, Ayat al-Kursi, the last two verses of Al-Baqarah, and many recite Surah Al-Mulk and Surah As-Sajdah, as the Prophet ﷺ did (Jami‘ at-Tirmidhi 2892).
Teach your child their first duas
Three free one-to-one Islamic studies or Qaida lessons in UK time.