Sunnah’s of the Nights

1. If after Isha one does not have anything important to do like any Religious or any other

commitments then one should go early to bed and avoid useless talk and gatherings. Going

to bed early assists one in waking up early for worship as well as waking up fresher for the

new day in order to work or to carry out daily tasks.

2. Recite: Bismillah بِسْمِ الِّ (In the name of Allah) before closing the doors of the house,

before covering utensils with food in them, switch off or turn off fires, light etc (Bukhari)

If one cannot find anything with which to cover the utensil then one should place a stick

across the top of the utensil. (Muslim-Vol.2, pg.170)

3. To discuss with family members matters pertaining to Islam like stories of the Sahaba’s or

reminders that will help increase Imaan (faith). Or to simply talk about matters that please

them without getting into useless talk. (Tirmidhi)

4. Children who are aged nine or ten years of age should be separated from females in one

room and males in another. (Mishkaat)

5. Apply Surma (Kohl) in each eye three times (Mishkaat)

6. To lay or spread the bed oneself (Muslim)

7. Before climbing into bed, dust the bed thrice with the corner of your clothes. (Bukhari,

Muslim, Abu Dawood, Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah)

8. Recite ‘Bismillah’ when removing clothing as it is a cover and protection

from Jinn and Shaythaan.

9. To make Miswaak before retiring to bed even if one has already made it for Isha salaat.

(Kitabut Tahaarah and Sunnats)

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10. To use a pillow to rest ones head on (Muslim)

11. Rasulallah rested at sometime or another on the following:

1. A mat made from palm leaves.

2. A chatai (straw mat)

3. A mat made from cloth

4. On the ground

5. On a wooden bed

6. On a bed

7. On skin and hide (Zaadul Ma’ad, Nashrut Tib)

Note: To sleep on any of the above with the intention of Sunnah shall merit reward inshallah.

18. To sleep in a state of Wudhu, (Attargheeb, Abu Dawood)

19. It is prohibited to sleep on ones stomach as Shaythaan sleeps on his stomach (Tirmidhi-

Vol.2, pg.105, Abu Dawood-Vol.2, pg.331)

20. It is also prohibited to sleep on the back with the one leg on top of the other (Muslim)

Note: If there is no fear of exposing ones private parts then it is permissible to sleep in this

manner but one should be very careful.

21. To sleep on the right side, facing towards the Qiblah (Shamaa’ile Tirmidhi, Abu

Dawood-Vol.2, pg.332)

22. To sleep on the right facing the Qibla with the right hand underneath the head like a

pillow and with the knees slightly bent (Like in the recovery position). (Bukhari)

23. Surah Waaqi’a should be read before sleeping as it saves one from hunger and poverty

(Attargheeb)

24. Recite Surah Mulk before sleeping for protection from grave punishment:

The Prophet said, ‘Surah al Mulk is the protector from the torment of the grave ‘

(Sahihul Jamiea 1/680, Hakim 2/498 & Nasai)

Jabir said it was the custom of the Prophet not to go to sleep until he had read

Tabarakalladhi Biyadihil Mulk and Alif Laam Meem Tanzeel. (Ahmad, Tirmidhi and

Darami)

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25. When one goes to bed then do the following: ‘When retiring to his bed every night, the

Prophet would hold his palms together, spit (A form of spitting comprising mainly of air

with little spittle) in them, recite the last three chapters (Al-Ikhlaas, Al-Falaq, An-Naas) of the

Quran and then wipe over his entire body as much as possible with his hands, beginning with

his head and face and then all parts of the body, he would do this 3 times.’ (Tirmidhi)

26. Whoever reads the following when he lies down to sleep will have a guardian from Allah

remain with him and Satan will not be able to come near him until he rises in the morning:

اللهُ لَ إلَِهَ إلِّ هُوَ الْحَيّ الْقَيوّمُ لَ تأَخُْذُهُ سِنةٌَ وَلَ"

نوَْمٌ لَهُ مَا فِي السّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْرَْضِ مَنْ ذَا

الّذِي يشَْفَعُ عِندَْهُ إلِّ بإِذِْنهِ يعَْلَمُ مَا بيَنَْ أيَدِْيهِمْ

وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ وَلَ يحُِيطُونَ بشَِيْءٍ مِنْ عِلْمِهِ إلِّ بمَِا

شَاءَ وَسِعَ كرُْسِيهُّ السّمَاوَاتِ وَالْرَْضَ وَلَ يئَوُدُهُ

."حِفْظُهُمَا وَهُوَ الْعَلِيّ الْعَظِيمُ

Allaahu laa 'ilaaha 'illaa Huwal-Hayyul-Qayyoom, laa ta'khuthuhu sinatun wa laa nawm, lahu

maa fis-samaawaati wa maa fil-'ardh, man thal-lathee yashfa'u 'indahu 'illaa bi'ithnihi, ya'lamu

maa bayna 'aydeehim wa maa khalfahum, wa laa yuheetoona bishay'im-min 'ilmihi 'illaa

bimaa shaa'a, wasi'a kursiyyuhus-samaawaati wal'ardha, wa laa ya'ooduhu hifdhuhumaa, wa

Huwal- 'Aliyyul- 'Adheem.

Allah! There is no God but He, the Ever Living, the One Who sustains and protects all that

exists. Neither slumber nor sleep overtakes Him. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens

and whatever is on the earth. Who is he that can intercede with Him except with His

Permission? He knows what happens to them in this world, and what will happen to them in

the Hereafter. And they will never encompass anything of His Knowledge except that which

He wills. His Throne extends over the heavens and the earth, and He feels no fatigue in

guarding and preserving them. And He is the Most High, the Most Great. (Al-Bukhari)

27. The Prophet said: ‘Whoever reads this when he lies down to sleep will have a

guardian from Allah remain with him and Satan will not be able to come near him until he

rises in the morning:

آمَنَ الرّسُولُ بمَِا أنُزِْلَ إلَِيهِْ مِنْ رَبهِّ وَالْمُؤْمِنوُنَ"

كلُّ آمَنَ باِللهِ وَمَلَئكِتَهِ وَكتُبُهِ وَرُسُلِهِ لَ نفَُرّقُ

بيَنَْ أحَدٍ مِنْ رُسُلِهِ وَقَالُوا سَمِعْناَ وَأطَعْناَ

غُفْرَانكَ رَبنّاَ وَإلَِيكَْ الْمَصِيرُ ۞ لَ يكُلَّفُ اللهُ نفَْسًا

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إلِّ وُسْعَهَا لَهَا مَا كسَبتَْ وَعَلَيهَْا مَا اكتْسَبتَْ رَبنّاَ

لَ تؤَُاخِذْناَ إنِْ نسَِيناَ أوَْ أخَْطَأنْاَ رَبنّاَ وَلَ تحَْمِلْ

عَلَينْاَ إصِْرًا كمَا حَمَلْتهَُ عَلَى الّذِينَ مِنْ قَبلِْناَ رَبنّاَ

وَلَ تحَُمّلْناَ مَا لَ طَاقَةَ لَناَ بهِ وَاعْفُ عَناّ وَاغْفِرْ لَناَ

وَارْحَمْناَ أنَتَْ مَوْلَناَ فَانصُْرْناَ عَلَى الْقَوْمِ

الْكاَفِرِينَ " [Al-Baqarah: 285-286]

'Aamanar-Rasoolu bimaa 'unzila mir-Rabbihi walmu'minoon, kullun 'aamana billaahi wa

malaa'ikatihi wa Kutubihi wa Rusulihi, laa nufarriqu bayna 'ahadim-mir-Rusulihi, wa qaaloo

sami'naa wa 'ata'naa ghufraanaka Rabbanaa wa 'ilaykal-maseer. Laa yukallifullaahu nafsan

'illaa wus'ahaa, lahaa maa kasabat wa 'alayhaa mak-tasabat, Rabbanaa laa tu'aakhithnaa 'in

naseenaa 'aw 'akhta'naa, Rabbanaa wa laa tahmil 'alaynaa 'isran kamaa hamaltahu 'alallatheena

min qablinaa, Rabbanaa wa laa tuhammilnaa maa laa taaqata lanaa bihi, wa'fu

'annaa, waghfir lanaa warhamnaa, 'Anta Mawlaanaa fansurnaa 'alal-qawmil-kaafireen.

The Messenger believes in what has been send down to him from his Lord, and so do the

believers. Each one believes in Allah, His Angels, His Books, and His Messengers. They

say: "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 return." Allah burdens not

a person beyond what he can bear. He gets reward for that (good) which he has earned, and

he is punished for that (evil) which he has earned. Our Lord! Punish us not if we forget or fall

into error. Our Lord! Lay not on us a burden like that which You did lay on those before us.

Our Lord! Put not on us a burden greater than we have strength to bear. Pardon us and

grant us forgiveness. Have mercy on us. You are our Protector, and help us against the

disbelieving people. (Muslim 1/554)

28. Also reciting the last ten verses in Surah Baqarah at night is said to ward away

Shaythaan and calamities, illnesses, worries from ones home so ones whole family is

protected that night. Those 10 verses are: The first four ayah’s of Surah Baqarah; Ayat ul

Kursi and the two verses following it and the last three verses of the Surah.

29. ‘If one of you rises from his bed and then returns to it he should dust it with the edge of

his garment three times for he does not know what has occurred in his absence and when he

lies down he should supplicate:

باِسْمِكَ رَبيّ وَضَعْتُ جَنبْيِ، وَبكَِ أرَْفَعُهُ، فَإنِْ

أمَْسَكتَْ نفَْسِي فَارْحَمْهَا، وَإنِْ أرَْسَلْتهَا

."فَاحْفَظْهَا، بمَِا تحَْفَظُ بهِ عِباَدَكَ الصّالِحِينَ

Bismika Rabbee wadha'tu janbee, wa bika 'arfa'uhu, fa'in 'amsakta nafsee farhamhaa, wa 'in

'arsaltahaa fahfadhhaa, bimaa tahfadhu bihi 'ibaadakas-saaliheen.

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‘In Your name my Lord, I lie down and in Your name I rise, so if You should take my soul

then have mercy upon it, and if You should return my soul then protect it in the manner You

do so with Your righteous servants.’ (Al-Bukhari 1 1/ 126 and Muslim 4/2084)

30. The Prophet would place his right hand under his cheek when about to sleep

and supplicate:

."اللّهُمّ قِنيِ عَذَابكَ يوَْمَ تبَعَْثُ عِباَدَكَ"

Allaahumma qinee 'athaabaka yawma tab'athu 'ibaadaka. (Three times).

‘O Allah, protect me from Your punishment on the day Your servants are resurrected.’ (Abu

Dawud 4/311)

31. Also read this dua:

."باِسْمِكَ اللّهُمّ أمَُوتُ وَأحَْياَ"

Bismikal-lahumma amootu wa-ahya.

‘In Your name O Allah, I live and die.’ (Muslim 4/ 2083)

32. Recite the following Asthaghfaar three times:

Asthaghfirullah halladhee laa ilaaha ilallahuwal hayyul qayyumu wa athubu ilay

I seek forgiveness from Allah besides whom there is none worthy of worship, the living, the

sustainer of life and to Him i repent. (Tirmidhi-Vol.2, pg.177)

33. ‘Shall I not direct you both (The Prophet was addressing Ali and Fatimah- May Allah

be pleased with them) when they approached him for a servant) to something better than a

servant? When you go to bed say:

Subhaanallah. (Thirty-three times)

Alhamdulillah. (Thirty-three times)

Allaahu Akbar. (Thirty-four times)

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…for that is indeed better for you both than a servant.’ (Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Dawood,

Tirmidhi)

Also read Kalimah Tayyaba afterwards:

34. Before you go to bed perform Wudu as you would for prayer, then lie down on your right

side and recite:

اللّهُمّ أسَْلَمْتُ نفَْسِي إلَِيكَْ، وَفَوّضْتُ أمَْرِي"

إلَِيكَْ، وَوَجّهْتُ وَجْهِي إلَِيكَْ، وَألَْجَأتُْ ظَهْرِي

إلَِيكَْ، رَغْبةًَ وَرَهْبةًَ إلَِيكَْ، لَ مَلْجَأ وَلّ مَنجَْا مِنكَْ إلِّ

."إلَِيكَْ، آمَنتُْ بكِتِاَبكَِ وَبنِبَيِكَّ الّذِي أرَْسَلْتَ

Allahumma aslamtu nafsee ilayk, wafawwadtu amree ilayk, wawajjahtu wajhee ilayk, waalja/

tu thahree ilayk, raghbatan warahbatan ilayk, la maljaa wala manja minka illa ilayk,

amantu bikitabikal-lathee anzalt, wabinabiyyikal-lathee arsalt.

‘O Allah, I submit my soul unto You, and I entrust my affair unto You, and I turn my face

towards You, and I totally rely on You, in hope and fear of You. Verily there is neither refuge

nor safe haven from You except with You. I believe in Your Book which You have revealed

and in Your Prophet whom You have sent.’

The Prophet said: "Whoever says this and dies in his sleep has died in a state of the

natural monotheism (Fitrah)." (Al-Bukhari, Muslim 4/2081)

Fitrah: the religion of Islam, the way of Ibraheem.

35. To recite Bismillah 21 times is said to save ones home from theft and the evil effects of

Shaythaan and sudden death. (Amal al-Yowm Wal Laylah, p 30)

36. Recite durood whilst falling asleep. (Amal al-Yowm Wal Laylah, p 30)

37. Dhikr is a cleanser (purifier) of the heart. (Baihaqi)

38. The remembrance of Allah just when one is about to sleep shall be a means of that

person achieving high stages in Jannah. (Attargheeb)

….When you go to bed, glorify Him and praise Him and magnify Him one hundred

times: that will be one hundred on the tongue and a thousand in the scales. Who among you

does 2500 sayi’aat (bad deeds) in one day?’ They said: ‘How could we not count (our sins)?’

He said: ‘The Shaytaan comes to any one of you whilst he is praying and says, Remember

this, remember that, until he finishes his prayer and does not do (this Dhikr), or he comes to

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him when he is lying down and makes him sleepy, until he falls asleep (without doing this

Dhikr).’” (Sunan al-Tirmidhi, 3332)

39. Rasulallah has stated that whosoever goes to bed in a state of purity (i.e. Wudhu)

and such a person remembers Almighty Allah until he falls asleep then, whatever dua such a

person makes (whether pertaining to this world or the next) while asleep and turning side to

side, such dua’s shall certainly be granted to him by Almighty Allah. (Mishkaat)

40. To keep the prayer mat near ones head or besides bed before sleeping (Nisaa’i)

41. Precaution should be taken that children do not notice marital relations between husband

and wife (Mishkaat)

42. At the time of difficulty when sleeping: Zaid bin Thaabit complained to

Rasulallah of not being able to go to sleep at times and Rasulallah advised him to

recite the following dua:

اللّهُمّ غَارَتِ النّجُومُ وَهَدَأَتِ الْعُيُونُ وَأَنْتَ حَيّ قَيّومٌ * لَ تَأْخُذُكَ سِنَةٌ وَلَ نَوْمٌ يَا حَيّ

يَا قَيّومُ أَهْدِئْ لَيْلِي وَأَنِمْ عَيْنِي

Allahummah ghaarithinnujumu wa hadaathil uyoonu wa antha hayyun qayyumulla tha’

khudhu ka sinathuwalaa nawmun yaa hayyun yaa qayyoomu a’hde’ laylee wa anim ‘aynee

Oh Allah the stars have sunk in and the eyes have become tranquil and quite and You are

alive and ever lasting neither does sleep overcome You. Oh the living and ever lasting one

make my night my tranquil and give my eyes sleep. (Ibn Sunni, Hisnul Hasin)

43. If afraid to go to sleep or feeling lonely or depressed then recite:

أعَُوذُ بكِلَِمَاتِ اللهِ التاّمّاتِ مِنْ غَضَبهِ وَعِقَابهِ،"

وَشَرّ عِباَدِهِ، وَمِنْ هَمَزَاتِ الشّياَطِينِ وَأنَْ

."يحَْضُرُونِ

'A'oothu bikalimaatil-laahit-taammaati min ghadhabihi wa 'iqaabihi, wa sharri 'ibaadihi, wa

min hamazaatish-shayaateeni wa 'an yahdhuroon.

I seek refuge in the Perfect Words of Allah from His anger and His punishment, from the evil

of His slaves and from the taunts of devils and from their presence. (Abu Dawud 4/12, At-

Tirmithi 3/171)

44. This is to be recited if you turn over in bed during the night:

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لَ إلَِهَ إلِّ اللهُ الْوَاحِدُ اقَْهّارُ، رَبّ السّمَاوَاتِ"

."وَالْرَْضِ وَمَا بيَنْهَُمَا الْعَزِيزُ الْغَفّارُ

Laa 'ilaaha 'illallaahul-Waahidul-Qahhaaru, Rabbus-samaawaati wal'ardhi wa maa

baynahumal-'Azeezul-Ghaffaaru.

There is none worthy of worship but Allah, the One, the Victorious, Lord of the heavens and

the earth and all that is between them, the All-Mighty, the All-Forgiving. (See An-Nasa'i,

'Amalul-Yawm wal-Laylah, and Ibn As-Sunni)

45. If after sleeping one experience a pleasant dream then when ones eyes open then say:

“Alhamdulillah” – All Praise be to Allah, then the pleasant dream should only

be revealed to trustworthy learned ones so that the dream can be interpreted correctly.

46. If one experiences an unpleasant dream then one should spittle (A form of spitting

comprising mainly of air with little spit) three times on the left side and then recite three times:

“Audhobillaahi Minashaythaanirajeem”.

I seek refuge with Allah from the evil of shaythan

Also change one’s position to the other side and sleep. (Muslim-Vol.2, chapter of dreams)

47. The dream should NOT be revealed to anyone then it will bring no harm to the person

(Bukhari, Muslim)

48. To have water and Miswaak ready in advance for Wudhu (Muslim)

49. To sleep with the intention of getting up for Tahajjud (Nisaa’i)

50. To read Tahajjud salaat before Subho Sadiq (Dawn) (Mishkaat)

51. Rasulallah read long rak’ahs which caused swelling of his blessed feet. Whilst

reciting Qur’an in Salaah Rasulallah used to cry excessively and this caused a wheezing

sound coming from his blessed chest as if a pot was being boiled. This is due to the fear

Rasulallah had of Almighty Allah.

52. It is recommended to start the night vigil with two short rakats, because of the hadith of

Abu Hurraira that the Prophet Muhammad said, “It you get up for night prayer, start

with two short rakats.” [Muslim, Ahmad, Abu Dawud]

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53. Abu Hurraira reports that the Messenger of Allah was asked, “What prayer is

most virtuous, after the obligatory prayers?” He said, “Prayer in the depths of the night.”

(Muslim, Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, Nisaa’i, Ibn Majah)

Note: For Tahajjud one should read at least 2 Rak’ahs upto 12 rak’ahs. This is Sunnah.

However there is no limit for (Nafil) voluntary worship. One may also do a lot of Dhikrullah as

well as recitation of the Qur’an.

The dua's at the time of Tahajjud are very readily accepted by Almighty Allah and one shskbola.tumblr.comouldskbola.tumblr.com

cry and repent to Allah during this time. If one cannot cry due to the hardness of ones heart

due major sins then one should at least make a face as if one is crying.

Just as a mother tends to her baby quickly and promptly when it cries then in the same way

Allah tends to his servant quicker when his servant is crying and sincere.

We should try and pray Tahajjud every night as it is one of the best and most rewarding Nafil

prayers one can possible pray and makes it possible for a person to gain the top ranks of

Jannah (Heaven). If we can’t pray everyday then we should at least pray as much as we can.

Ibn Mas’ud was asked, ‘I cannot pray at night.’ He said, ‘Your sins have prevented

you.’

If one is overcome by sleep then it is best to sleep but one should always ensure that one

does not miss Fajr. Men should do their best to attend Fajr with Jamaat as this is huge

reward and women get the same reward for praying at home.