Reciting Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq and An-Nas before sleep is a beautiful part of the sunnah.
When the Prophet (peace be upon him) went to bed he would cup his hands together, recite Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq and An-Nas, blow into his palms and then wipe them over his body; he did this three times. This practice is a beautiful way to pass the night under the protection of Allah.
What does the hadith say?
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا الْمُفَضَّلُ، عَنْ عُقَيْلٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ إِذَا أَوَى إِلَى فِرَاشِهِ كُلَّ لَيْلَةٍ جَمَعَ كَفَّيْهِ ثُمَّ نَفَثَ فِيهِمَا فَقَرَأَ فِيهِمَا {قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ} وَ{قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ الْفَلَقِ} وَ{قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ النَّاسِ} ثُمَّ يَمْسَحُ بِهِمَا مَا اسْتَطَاعَ مِنْ جَسَدِهِ يَبْدَأُ بِهِمَا عَلَى رَأْسِهِ وَوَجْهِهِ وَمَا أَقْبَلَ مِنْ جَسَدِهِ يَفْعَلُ ذَلِكَ ثَلاَثَ مَرَّاتٍ.
Narrated 'Aisha: Whenever the Prophet (ﷺ) went to bed every night, he used to cup his hands together and blow over it after reciting Surat Al-Ikhlas, Surat Al-Falaq and Surat An-Nas, and then rub his hands over whatever parts of his body he was able to rub, starting with his head, face and front of his body. He used to do that three times
Text: Sahih al-Bukhari, hadith no. 5017. Grade: sahih (hadiths in al-Bukhari and Muslim are accepted as sahih).
What is the hadith source of this sunnah?
This sunnah rests on the following hadiths. The reference gives the collection, chapter and number where the hadith appears.
- al-Bukhari, Book of Supplications, 12 (hadith no. 6319)
- Abu Dawud, Book of Good Manners, 97, 98 (hadith no. 5056)
How this page was prepared: sources and verification method.
More sunnahs in Sleep Etiquette
As a table with references: Sleep Etiquette sunnahs.
- Lying on the Right Side: Lying on the right side with the right hand under the cheek is a sunnah of sleep.
- Praising Allah on Waking: The first thing to do with eyes that open to a new life each morning is to praise Allah.
- Shaking Out the Bed: Shaking out the bed before sleeping is a sunnah of caution that the Prophet advised.
- Waking for Tahajjud: Waking from sleep for the night prayer is the deepest form of nearness to Allah.
- Qaylulah — The Midday Rest: A short sleep after the noon prayer is the sunnah that gives strength for night worship.