Authentic, sourced adhkar

Adhkar before sleep with references

About the virtue and timing of these adhkar:

When the Prophet ﷺ went to bed he would remember his Lord and entrust his affairs to Him, so that his last waking moments were tawhid, istighfar and asking protection for body and soul.

The bedtime sunnahs include reading Ayat al-Kursi and the protective surahs, the dua “Bismika Rabbi wada‘tu janbi”, and the combined tasbih of 33, 33 and 34.

These adhkar bring peace of mind, protection from disturbing dreams and relief from the day’s worries, with a step-by-step counter to complete the tasbih fully.

Adhkar texts with references (4 adhkar):

Repeat: 1 time

بِاسْمِكَ رَبِّي وَضَعْتُ جَنْبِي، وَبِكَ أَرْفَعُهُ، فَإِنْ أَمْسَكْتَ نَفْسِي فَارْحَمْهَا، وَإِنْ أَرْسَلْتَهَا فَاحْفَظْهَا بِمَا تَحْفَظُ بِهِ عِبَادَكَ الصَّالِحِينَ.

In Your name, my Lord, I lie down on my side and by You I rise. If You take my soul, have mercy on it; and if You send it back, protect it as You protect Your righteous servants.

Source: Sahih al-Bukhari (6320) and Muslim (2714)Entrusting one’s soul to Allah before sleep.

Repeat: 1 time

اللَّهُمَّ خَلَقْتَ نَفْسِي وَأَنْتَ تَوَفَّاهَا، لَكَ مَمَاتُهَا وَمَحْيَاهَا، إِنْ أَحْيَيْتَهَا فَاحْفَظْهَا، وَإِنْ أَمَتَّهَا فَاغْفِرْ لَهَا، اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ العَافِيَةَ.

O Allah, You created my soul and You take it back; its death and its life belong to You. If You keep it alive, protect it; and if You cause it to die, forgive it. O Allah, I ask You for well-being.

Source: Sahih Muslim (2712)A bedtime supplication of submission to Allah’s decree.

Repeat: 1 time

آيَةُ الكُرْسِيِّ: ﴿اللَّهُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الحَيُّ القَيُّومُ لَا تَأْخُذُهُ سِنَةٌ وَلَا نَوْمٌ لَهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الأَرْضِ مَنْ ذَا الَّذِي يَشْفَعُ عِنْدَهُ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِ يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ وَلَا يُحِيطُونَ بِشَيْءٍ مِنْ عِلْمِهِ إِلَّا بِمَا شَاءَ وَسِعَ كُرْسِيُّهُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضَ وَلَا يَئُودُهُ حِفْظُهُمَا وَهُوَ العَلِيُّ العَظِيمُ﴾.

Ayat al-Kursi: Allah — there is no god but Him, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of all. Neither drowsiness nor sleep overtakes Him. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and on earth. Who can intercede with Him except by His permission? He knows what is before them and what is behind them, and they encompass nothing of His knowledge except what He wills. His Kursi extends over the heavens and the earth, and preserving them does not tire Him. He is the Most High, the Magnificent. (al-Baqarah 2:255)

Source: Surah al-Baqarah: 255 / Sahih al-Bukhari (2311)Virtue: “A guardian from Allah will remain with you, and no devil will come near you until morning.”Recited at bedtime for protection from Satan.

Repeat: 100 times

تسبيح النوم: سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ (33)، وَالحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ (33)، وَاللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ (34).

Bedtime tasbih: SubhanAllah (33), Alhamdulillah (33) and Allahu Akbar (34).

Stages of this combined dhikr:

سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ0 / 33

الحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ33

اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ34

Source: Sahih al-Bukhari (3705) and Muslim (2727)Virtue: “It is better for you both than a servant.”The Prophet’s ﷺ advice to Fatimah and Ali, may Allah be pleased with them, at bedtime.

Frequently asked questions about Adhkar before sleep with references:

What is the bedtime tasbih and how is it counted?

It is the Prophet’s ﷺ advice to Ali and Fatimah, may Allah be pleased with them: SubhanAllah (33), Alhamdulillah (33) and Allahu Akbar (34), 100 in total.

What is the virtue of reading Ayat al-Kursi before sleep?

The Prophet ﷺ said that whoever reads it when going to bed will have a guardian from Allah with him, and no devil will come near him until morning.