Everyday intentions
Niyyah for sleeping: a good intention
I sleep to rest my body, so I can wake for Fajr and do good tomorrow.
A good niyyah for sleeping
Rest is not wasted time. With the intention of waking for Fajr and having the strength for the day’s good, sleep itself is counted by intention (Sahih al-Bukhari 1).
Hand your day back to Allah. The Prophet ﷺ taught a dua for lying down that entrusts your affairs to Allah (Sahih al-Bukhari 6311).
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Habits that go with it
Small sunnahs around the act.
- Make wudu before bed, as the same hadith teaches (Sahih al-Bukhari 6311).
- Recite Ayat al-Kursi in bed: a guardian from Allah stays with you through the night (Sahih al-Bukhari 2311).
Allahumma aslamtu nafsi ilayk
((اللَّهُمَّ أَسْلَمْتُ نَفْسِي إِلَيْكَ، وَفَوَّضْتُ أَمْرِي إِلَيْكَ، وَوَجَّهْتُ وَجْهِي إِلَيْكَ، وَأَلْجَأْتُ ظَهْرِي إِلَيْكَ، رَغْبَةً وَرَهْبَةً إِلَيْكَ، لاَ مَلْجَأَ وَلاَ مَنْجَا مِنْكَ إِلاَّ إِلَيْكَ، آمَنْتُ بِكِتَابِكَ الَّذِي أَنْزَلْتَ، وَبِنَبِيِّكَ الَّذِي أَرْسَلْتَ)).
Allahumma aslamtu nafsi ilayk, wa fawwadtu amri ilayk, wa wajjahtu wajhi ilayk, wa alja’tu zahri ilayk, raghbatan wa rahbatan ilayk, la malja’a wa la manja minka illa ilayk. Amantu bikitabikal-ladhi anzalt, wa binabiyyikal-ladhi arsalt.
O Allah, I have submitted myself to You, entrusted my affairs to You, turned my face to You and put my back in Your keeping, in hope of You and in awe of You. There is no refuge and no escape from You except to You. I believe in Your Book that You sent down and in Your Prophet whom You sent.
The Prophet ﷺ said: make wudu, lie on your right side and make these your last words; if you die that night, you die upon the natural way.
A card for the niyyah for sleeping
“I sleep to rest my body, so I can wake for Fajr and do good tomorrow.”
