"... and no devil will come near you until morning!"

والصَّلَاةُ والسَّلاَمُ عَلَى سَيّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ أَشْرَفِ اْلمُرْسَلِيْنَ وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ الطَّيّبِيْنَ الطَّاهِرِيْن

Allah ta^ala says:

﴾وَمِنْ آيَاتِهِ مَنَامُكُمْ بِاللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ وَابْتِغَاؤُكُمْ مِنْ فَضْلِهِ ۚ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لِقَوْمٍ يَسْمَعُونَ﴿

And among His signs is your sleep during the night and your pursuit of His bounty during the day. Indeed, in these are signs for those who listen attentively [with reflection and understanding].

(Suratu r-Rum)

Among the commendable etiquettes established by the Messenger of Allah ﷺ is sleeping in a state of purity

It is narrated from Al-Bara' ibnu ^Azib -may Allah accept his deeds- that he said: “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to me:

"إِذَا أتَيْتَ مَضْجَعَكَ، فَتَوَضَّأْ وُضُوءَكَ لِلصَّلاةِ، ثُمَّ اضْطَجِعْ عَلَى شِقِّكَ الأيْمَنِ، وَقُل: اللَّهمَّ أسْلَمْتُ نَفْسِي إِلَيْكَ، وَفَوَّضْتُ أمْرِي إِلَيْكَ، وَألْجَأْتُ ظَهْرِي إِلَيْكَ، رَهْبَةً وَرَغْبَةً إِلَيْكَ، لا مَلْجَأَ وَلا مَنْجَا مِنْكَ إِلا إِلَيْكَ، ءامَنْتُ بِكِتَابِكَ الَّذِي أنْزَلْتَ، وَبِنَبِيِّكَ الَّذِي أرْسَلْتَ” قال: “فإنْ مُتَّ مِن لَيْلَتِكَ فأنْتَ علَى الفِطْرَةِ، واجْعَلْهُنَّ ءاخِرَ ما تَتَكَلَّمُ بهِ"

‘When you intend to sleep, perform [a complete] ablution [before lying down] just as you would when preparing for prayer. Then lie down on your right side [as it enhances energy, minimises the need for extended sleep, facilitates waking during the latter part of the night, and is notably healthier for the heart] and say: “O Allah, I entrust my soul to You [as I sleep and place it in Your guardianship], I place my trust in You for all my matters, seeking Your protection [from all harm and hoping for safety while] yearning [for Your mercy] and fearing [Your punishment, for there is no escape and no refuge from Your punishment except in seeking haven in Your forgiveness and mercy, O Most Merciful of the merciful]. I believe in Your Book [the Noble Qur’an] which You have revealed, and in Your Prophet [Muhammad ﷺ] whom You have sent.’ Then he added: ‘If you die that night, you will die upon the sunnah of the Prophets (fitrah). Let these words be the last you speak.’”

(Narrated by Al-Bukhariyy and Muslim)

This hadith outlines the etiquettes of sleep and what should be recited when lying down.

Reading Suratu l-‘Ikhlas and the Mu^awwidhatayn

It is narrated from ^A’ishah, may Allah accept her deeds, that the Prophet ﷺ, when retiring to his bed each night, would cup his hands, and blow lightly into them after reciting:

• Suratu l-‘Ikhlas: ﴾قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ﴿
• Suratu l-Falaq: ﴾قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ الْفَلَقِ﴿
• Suratu l-Nas: ﴾قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ النَّاسِ﴿

He would then wipe his hands over as much of his body as possible, starting with his head, face, and the front of his body. He would repeat this three times.

(Reported by Al-Bukhariyy.)

Recitation of ‘Ayatu l-Kursiyy

It is narrated from ‘Abu Hurayrah, may Allah accept his deeds, that the Prophet ﷺ said to him:

“إِذَا أَوَيتَ إِلَى فِرَاشِكَ فَاقرَأ ءَايَةَ الكُرسِيِّ، فَإِنَّكَ لَن يَزَالَ عَلَيكَ مِنَ اللهِ حَافِظٌ، وَلَا يَقرُبُكَ شَيطَانٌ حَتَّى تُصْبِحَ”

"When you go to bed, recite ‘Ayatu l-Kursiyy, for you will have a protector from Allah over you, and no devil will come near you until morning."

(Narrated by Al-Bukhariyy)

The Prophet ﷺ was both a teacher and mentor to his companions, imparting knowledge that benefited them in both their worldly lives and the Hereafter. He would teach them comprehensive ‘adhkar (remembrances) that bring immense reward from Allah and serve as compensation for the challenges of life.

This narration emphasises that whoever consistently recites this dhikr before sleep will be shielded from exhaustion. This is demonstrated in the account of Fatimah, may Allah accept her deeds, who once expressed her fatigue from daily tasks, and the Prophet ﷺ directed her to that.