The Blessed Nighttime Practices of our Beloved Prophet (ﷺ)

Asalamu Alaikum dear brothers and sisters, I wanted to share some beautiful Sunnah from our beloved Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) about how he used to prepare for sleep, so we can follow his blessed example. First, before going to bed, he would perform wudu just like when preparing for prayer, then lie on his right side and say a heartfelt dua entrusting himself fully to Allah. This dua reminds us to rely on Allah’s protection and believe in the Qur’an and His Messenger. By doing this, if we pass away that night, we die with true faith. Also, the Prophet (ﷺ) used to protect himself from the whispers of Shaytan by reciting Surah Ikhlas, Al-Falaq, and An-Nas before sleeping. He would blow into his palms and wipe over his body starting from his head, doing this three times. Another practice is shaking out the bed sheets before sleeping to cleanse any unseen impurities, saying a short supplication asking Allah’s protection over our soul through the night. Before sleeping, the Prophet (ﷺ) encouraged saying Subhanallah, Alhamdulillah, and Allahu Akbar thirty times each as a form of dhikr to keep our hearts connected to Allah. He also preferred to sleep on his right side, placing his hand under his cheek and saying: "O Allah, in Your name I die and I live." Upon waking, he praised Allah for returning him to life after sleep. It was discouraged to sleep on the stomach, as the Prophet (ﷺ) mentioned that this position is how the people of Hell lie. Reciting Ayat al-Kursi before sleeping is another blessed habit. It is narrated that if you recite it fully at night, Allah will appoint a guardian to protect you from Shaytan until morning. Lastly, reading the last two verses of Surah Al-Baqarah before sleeping is highly rewarding and sufficient for protection through the night. May Allah make it easy for us to follow these Sunnah and grant us peace and blessings in our rest. Ameen.