أَذْكَارُ النَّوْمِ

Your day is ending. Before sleeping, the Prophet ﷺ used to say:

بِاسْمِكَ اللَّهُمَّ أَمُوتُ وَأَحْيَا

In Latin letters: bismika llaahumma amuutu wa aḥyaa.

The meaning: "In Your name, O Allah, I die and I live."

Source: Bukhari 6312 (the same hadith as the waking-up dua).

Do you remember? Sleep is a little like death, and waking up like coming back to life. In the evening we say "I die" (I fall asleep); in the morning we say "He gave us life again" (I wake up). The two duas go together, like evening and morning.

The three surahs. Every night, the Prophet ﷺ would cup his hands together, blow into them while reciting Al-Ikhlas (112), Al-Falaq (113) and An-Nas (114), then wipe his hands over his body, starting with his head and face. He did this three times (Bukhari 5017). If you took the course "My first surahs", you already know them!

Sleeping on the right side. The Prophet ﷺ advised lying down on the right side (Bukhari 247).

The tip to remember it: bismika = "in Your name"; amuutu = "I fall asleep"; aḥyaa = "I wake up". Say it as you switch off the light: light off, dua said!

Review: all the duas of your day. • On waking: الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي أَحْيَانَا بَعْدَ مَا أَمَاتَنَا وَإِلَيْهِ النُّشُورُ • Before eating: بِسْمِ اللَّهِ; after: الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ • Going out: بِسْمِ اللَّهِ، تَوَكَّلْتُ عَلَى اللَّهِ، وَلَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ • Entering the mosque: اللَّهُمَّ افْتَحْ لِي أَبْوَابَ رَحْمَتِكَ • Travelling: سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي سَخَّرَ لَنَا هٰذَا… • Thanking someone: جَزَاكَ اللَّهُ خَيْرًا • Before sleeping: بِاسْمِكَ اللَّهُمَّ أَمُوتُ وَأَحْيَا

Well done! With these short sentences, your whole day becomes time with Allah.

Understanding the lesson

Explanation This lesson ends the course, so let's look at the whole day at once. In the morning, you thank Allah for waking you up. At the table, you begin with His name. Going out, you rely on Him. At the mosque, you ask for His mercy. On a journey, you glorify Him. With people, you say thank you. And at night, you entrust your sleep to Him. The whole day makes a big circle around remembering Allah.

Sleep itself is a sign of Allah. He says: "And among His signs is your sleep by night and by day" (meaning of part of 30:23). Every night, Allah rests your body so that it gets its strength back.

Before falling asleep, you can also do a little review: what good thing did I do today? Do I need to say sorry to someone? And you can forgive those who upset you, so that you fall asleep with a light heart.

Lessons to draw from it • I end my day with Allah, just as I began it. • Before sleeping, I think of one good thing I did and forgive those who upset me. • I review my duas often, so that I don't forget them. • I say my duas at the right time, even when I am tired: one short sentence is enough.

Key points to remember • Before sleeping: بِاسْمِكَ اللَّهُمَّ أَمُوتُ وَأَحْيَا (Bukhari 6312). • At night, the Prophet ﷺ recited Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq and An-Nas, three times (Bukhari 5017).

The main message From waking up to going to bed, small duas turn my whole day into a moment with Allah.