Supplications, known as Du'a in Islam, hold immense significance as these are considered a direct means of communication between a believer and Allah. Du'a is an act of worship that reflects the believer's humility, dependence on Allah, and recognition of His sovereignty. It is a way to express needs, seek guidance, forgiveness, and blessings, and to draw closer to Allah.
Today, in our series of posts regarding supplications attributed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, we share a beautiful supplication and set of instructions given by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ regarding what a believer should do before going to sleep. It encourages a practice that not only prepares one physically and spiritually for sleep but also aligns the believer's heart and mind with faith in Allah.
This Hadith is mentioned in Sahi al-Bukhārī (Book 80 Invocations / كتاب الدعوات / Chapter 6: To sleep with ablution / بَابُ إِذَا بَاتَ طَاهِرًا ) as Hadith 6311.
Note: This version is commonly referenced in various collections, including Sahih Muslim. The supplication is part of the Prophet’s nightly routine before sleep, emphasizing reliance on Allah for both life and death.
Let us read the Hadith as Narrated by Al-Bara bin `Azib:
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said to me, "When you want to go to bed, perform ablution as you do for prayer, then lie down on your right side and say: "O Allah, I submit my face (myself) to You, and I entrust my affairs to You, and I turn my back to You (for support), out of desire (for Your reward) and fear (of Your punishment) of You. There is no refuge and no escape from You except to You. I believe in Your Book which You have revealed and in Your Prophet whom You have sent." If you should die then (after reciting this) you will die on the religion of Islam (i.e., as a Muslim); so let these words be the last you say (before going to bed)" While I was memorizing it, I said, "Wa birasulika al-ladhi arsalta (in Your Apostle whom You have sent).' The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "No, but say: Wa binabiyyika al-ladhi arsalta (in Your Prophet whom You have sent).
Arabic Text:
حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، حَدَّثَنَا مُعْتَمِرٌ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ مَنْصُورًا، عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ عُبَيْدَةَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي الْبَرَاءُ بْنُ عَازِبٍ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِذَا أَتَيْتَ مَضْجَعَكَ فَتَوَضَّأْ وَضُوءَكَ لِلصَّلاَةِ، ثُمَّ اضْطَجِعْ عَلَى شِقِّكَ الأَيْمَنِ، وَقُلِ اللَّهُمَّ أَسْلَمْتُ وَجْهِي إِلَيْكَ، وَفَوَّضْتُ أَمْرِي إِلَيْكَ، وَأَلْجَأْتُ ظَهْرِي إِلَيْكَ، رَغْبَةً وَرَهْبَةً إِلَيْكَ، لاَ مَلْجَأَ وَلاَ مَنْجَا مِنْكَ إِلاَّ إِلَيْكَ، آمَنْتُ بِكِتَابِكَ الَّذِي أَنْزَلْتَ، وَبِنَبِيِّكَ الَّذِي أَرْسَلْتَ. فَإِنْ مُتَّ مُتَّ عَلَى الْفِطْرَةِ، فَاجْعَلْهُنَّ آخِرَ مَا تَقُولُ ". فَقُلْتُ أَسْتَذْكِرُهُنَّ وَبِرَسُولِكَ الَّذِي أَرْسَلْتَ. قَالَ " لاَ، وَبِنَبِيِّكَ الَّذِي أَرْسَلْتَ ".
[Romanized: 'Allahumma aslamtu wajhi ilaika, wa fawwadtu 'amri ilaika wa alja'tu dhahri ilaika, raghbatan wa rahbatan ilaika, la malja'a wa la manja minka illa ilaika. Amantu bikitabik al-ladhi anzalta wa binabiyyika al-ladhi arsalta'.]
Let’s explore the pre-supplication actions desired by Prophet Muhammad ﷺ:
- Performing Wudu Before Sleep:
- Spiritual Cleanliness: The Prophet (peace be upon him) instructs the believer to perform Wudu (ablution) before going to bed, which is the same Wudu one performs before prayer. This act of purification symbolizes spiritual cleanliness and prepares the soul for rest, aligning it with a state of purity before meeting Allah, whether in sleep or in death.
- Protection: Wudu is known to protect a believer from evil influences during sleep, as it puts one in a state of ritual purity.
- Lying on the Right Side:
- Following the Sunnah: Lying on the right side is a Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). This practice is not just a physical posture but a symbol of aligning oneself with the Prophet's way in all aspects of life.
- Health Benefits: While the primary reason is spiritual, modern studies have suggested that sleeping on the right side may have health benefits, including aiding in digestion and reducing pressure on the heart.
- Submission to Allah: The supplication begins with a declaration of complete submission to Allah: "I have submitted my face (i.e., myself) to You." This reflects a believer’s total surrender and trust in Allah, acknowledging that everything is in His control.
- Entrusting Affairs to Allah: By saying "I have entrusted my affairs to You," the believer acknowledges that all matters, whether big or small, are under Allah’s control, and one must rely on Him alone.
- Seeking Refuge in Allah: The phrase "There is no refuge and no escape from You except with You" highlights the understanding that only Allah can provide true refuge and protection, and that one cannot escape from His power or decree.
- Affirmation of Faith: The believer affirms their faith in Allah’s revelation and His Prophet, reinforcing the core tenets of Islamic belief just before sleep.
- Dying Upon the Fitrah:
- Natural State of Belief: The Prophet (peace be upon him) assures that if one dies after reciting this supplication, they will die upon the Fitrah, which is the natural state of belief in Allah. This emphasizes the importance of ending the day with a heart full of faith, ensuring that the last thoughts and words before sleep are dedicated to Allah.
- Making it the Last Words:
- Mindful Sleeping: The instruction to make these words the last before sleep ensures that a believer's day ends in a state of remembrance and submission to Allah. It sets a mindful and spiritual tone for the night, guarding the believer's heart and mind even in their unconscious state.
This Hadith provides a comprehensive guide to a nightly routine that purifies, aligns, and secures the believer's heart and mind before sleep. By performing Wudu, lying on the right side, and reciting this profound supplication, a Muslim is reminded of their complete reliance on Allah, their faith in His guidance, and their alignment with the prophetic way of life. The ultimate wisdom lies in ending the day in a state of purity, submission, and remembrance of Allah, ensuring that if one were to die in their sleep, they would meet Allah in a state of pure faith.
The purpose of sharing these supplications is to provide our readers formats that are prophetic and none can be better than these supplication in perfect words for our revered Prophet Muhammad ﷺ used to supplicate in these very words. We should try to memories these supplications or at least keep these by our bedside to read before sleeping.
May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door.
وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ
(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”
That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.
May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.
Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.
Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.
You may refer to our reference: page: Supplications attributed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ for more prophetic supplications
For more hadiths on varying subjects, refer to our reference page: Sunnah and Hadith of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to know more about Hadiths and Sunnah of Prophet of Allah. You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.
Photo | Source of Hadith | This supplication also appear in Sahi Muslim as Hadith 2710a
Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references as given above. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors. If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.
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