Sometimes we’re busy all day, we need time to cool off or maybe we just can’t sleep. Let’s look at some of the practices found in the sunnah and from the righteous before bed.

Sunnah acts of preparation

Recite  بِسْمِ اللَّهِ Bismillah before closing the doors of the house, before covering utensils with food in them, switch off or turn off fires, light etc

Use the Miswaak before retiring to bed

Sleep in a state of Wudhu

To sleep on the Right, facing the Qibla with the right hand underneath the head like a pillow and with the knees slightly bent.

Recite the sleeping Dua َ‘Allah Humma Bi-ismika Amooto wa Ahya’
In Your name O Allah, I live and die.

Reflection

Close your eyes, breath in and out deeply several times and think about your day. Good actions against not to so good actions. This period of reflection will help in you identifying areas of improvement and trying again tomorrow.

Quran

Recite some Quran, this can be on your phone:

1. Last two Ayats of Surah Al-Baqarah
2. Surah Al-Mulk – for protection from the punishment of the grave
3. Surah Waaqi’a – saves one from hunger and poverty
4. Ayatul Qudsi – General protection
5. Surah Al-Kāfirūn, Al-Ahad, Al-Falak and An-Nas
6. Surah Al-‘Isrā’
7. Surah Az-Zumar

Recite Surah Fatiha, Surah Ikhlas, Surah Al-Falak and Surah Al-Nas – 3 times then blow on your hands and rub on your whole body.

Awrad

Pray for maghfirah i.e. Istighfar 70x

There are two statements that are light for the tongue to remember, heavy in the Scales and are dear to the Merciful: `Subhan-Allahi wa bihamdihi, Subhan-Allahil-Azhim [Glory be to Allah and His is the praise, (and) Allah, the Greatest is free from imperfection)’

Bukhari and Muslim

Recite 100 times: سُبْحَانَ اللّهِ وَ بِحَمْدِهِ ، سُبْحَانَ اللّهِ الْعَظِيمِ
SubhanAllahi wa biHamdihi, Subhan-Allahil adheem

Recite Darood Shareef 100x

Recite from the names of Allah 100x or read each one, once.

Recite 100 times: لا اِلهَ اِلَّا اللّهُ وَحْدَهُ لا شَرِيكَ لَهُ ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَ لَهُ الْحَمْدُ وَ هُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ 
La illaha ilAllahu, waHdahu la shareeka lahu, lahul Mulku, wa lahul Hamd, wa Huwa ala kulli shaiy’in Qadeer

Whoever says the above one Hundred times, has the reward of freeing ten slaves, a hundred good deeds are recorded for him and a hundred bad deeds are wiped away and he has gained refuge from the devil that day until evening and none shall come with anything better except someone who has done more.

Bukhari and Muslim

Difficulty in sleeping

You can also read the following in English:

At the time of difficulty when sleeping, Zaid bin Thaabit (RA) complained to Rasulallah (ﷺ) of not being able to go to sleep at times and he advised him to recite the following dua:
اللَّهُمَّ غَارَتِ النُّجُومُ وَهَدَأَتِ الْعُيُونُ وَأَنْتَ حَيٌّ قَيُّومٌ * لَا تَأْخُذُكَ سِنَةٌ وَلَا نَوْمٌ يَا حَيُّ يَا قَيُّومُ أَهْدِئْ لَيْلِي وَأَنِمْ عَيْنِي

Allahummah ghaarithinnujumu wa hadaathil uyoonu wa antha hayyun qayyumulla tha’ khudhu ka sinathuwalaa nawmun yaa hayyun yaa qayyoomu a’hde’ laylee wa anim ‘aynee.

Oh Allah the stars have sunk in and the eyes have become tranquil and quite and You are alive and ever lasting neither does sleep overcome You. Oh the living and ever lasting one make my night my tranquil and give my eyes sleep. [Ibn Sunni, Hisnul Hasin]

If afraid to go to sleep or feeling lonely or depressed then recite:
أَعُوذُ بِكَلِمَاتِ اللهِ التَّامَّاتِ مِنْ غَضَبِهِ وَعِقَابِهِ، وَشَرِّ عِبَادِهِ، وَمِنْ هَمَزَاتِ الشَّيَاطِينِ وَأَنْ يَحْضُرُونِ

A’oothu bikalimaatil-laahit-taammaati min ghadhabihi wa ‘iqaabihi, wa sharri ‘ibaadihi, wa min hamazaatish-shayaateeni wa ‘an yahdhuroon. 

I seek refuge in the Perfect Words of Allah from His anger and His punishment, from the evil of His slaves and from the taunts of devils and from their presence. [Abu Dawud and Tirmithi]

Tahhajud

Make an intention to pray tahajjud. The intention must be sincere. If you cannot make a sincere intention, then intend for Fajr.

Abu Hurraira (RA) reports that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was asked, “What prayer is most virtuous, after the obligatory prayers?” He said, “Prayer in the depths of the night.”

[Muslim, Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, Nisaa’i, Ibn Majah]