"What dua should I read before sleeping?"
Say: 'Allahumma bismika amutu wa ahya' as you close your eyes. Before that: the three Quls (Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq, An-Nas) × 3 with blowing on palms and wiping over your body, then Ayatul Kursi once. Also recommended: 'Allahu Akbar' × 34, 'Alhamdulillah' × 33, 'Subhanallah' × 33 (the tasbeeh of Fatima RA — better than a servant for energy and rest).
اللَّهُمَّ بِاسْمِكَ أَمُوتُ وَأَحْيَا
Allahumma bismika amutu wa ahya
"O Allah, in Your name I die and I live."
Sahih Bukhari 6312 — the primary sleep dua. Sleep is a minor death; you place your soul with Allah and He returns it at fajr.
اللَّهُمَّ أَسْلَمْتُ نَفْسِي إِلَيْكَ وَفَوَّضْتُ أَمْرِي إِلَيْكَ
Allahumma aslamtu nafsi ilayk, wa fawwadtu amri ilayk
"O Allah, I submit myself to You, and I entrust my matter to You."
Sahih Bukhari 247 — said when lying down. The complete surrender of the day's burdens.
سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ أَسْتَغْفِرُكَ وَأَتُوبُ إِلَيْكَ
Subhanak Allahumma wa bihamdika, la ilaha illa anta, astaghfiruka wa atubu ilayk
"Glory be to You, O Allah, and I praise You. There is no god but You. I seek Your forgiveness and repent to You."
Sahih al-Jami' — said before sleeping as expiation for sins of the day. Closes the day with tawbah.
The Prophet ﷺ also recommended: the Tasbeeh of Fatima RA before sleeping — Subhanallah × 33, Alhamdulillah × 33, Allahu Akbar × 34. He taught this to his daughter when she asked for a servant to help with tiredness. He said: "This is better for you than a servant."
Key Statistics
"Sleep is the brother of death. Whoever sleeps in a state of wudu, his soul is taken in purity and returned in purity."
The primary sleep dua from Sahih Bukhari: 'Allahumma bismika amutu wa ahya' (O Allah, in Your name I die and I live). Also from Sahih Bukhari: 'Allahumma aslamtu nafsi ilayk, wa fawwadtu amri ilayk' — O Allah, I submit myself to You, and I entrust my matter to You.
Multiple authentic duas: (1) 'Allahumma bismika amutu wa ahya.' (2) 'Subhanak Allahumma wa bihamdika, la ilaha illa ant, astaghfiruka wa atubu ilayk' (said before sleeping as expiation for the day). (3) Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq, An-Nas × 3, blowing on palms. (4) Ayatul Kursi. All are in Sahih sources.
Complete duas library with audio, transliteration, and translation.
Open Duas →Free to download · No account required to start