Surahs to Recite Before Sleeping: The Prophet’s ﷺ Night Routine
After a hard day’s work, there’s nothing better than climbing into a comfy bed. But before you doze off, there is a short routine the Prophet ﷺ did every single night: three surahs to recite before sleeping, blown into the hands and wiped over the body. The surahs are short, and I’d like to think many of us already know them by heart.
At a glance
- Source: Sahih al-Bukhari 5017 (also Sahih al-Bukhari 5748)
- Narrated by: ‘Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her)
- Grade: Sahih (al-Bukhari)
- Topic: The Prophet’s ﷺ bedtime sunnah
- Practise it: Every night: cup your hands, blow into them, recite the three Quls, wipe over your body, three times
The hadith
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
Every night, when the Prophet ﷺ went to bed, he would cup his hands together, blow into them, and recite into them “Qul huwa Allahu ahad”, “Qul a’udhu bi-rabbil-falaq” and “Qul a’udhu bi-rabbin-nas”. Then he would wipe as much of his body as he could with them, starting with his head, his face and the front of his body. He did this three times.
Sahih al-Bukhari 5017 · Narrated by ‘Aishah · Translation adapted from Sunnah.com
When the Prophet ﷺ fell ill, he asked ‘Aishah to do the same for him (Sahih al-Bukhari 5748).
Step by step
- Cup your hands together.
- Blow lightly into them.
- Recite Surah al-Ikhlas, Surah al-Falaq and Surah an-Nas.
- Wipe your hands over as much of your body as you can, starting with your head, your face and the front of your body.
- Do this three times.
In the Arabic of the hadith, blowing into the hands is mentioned before reciting; the order above follows the Arabic.
The three surahs in Arabic and English
Surah al-Ikhlas (112)
قُلْ هُوَ ٱللَّهُ أَحَدٌ
ٱللَّهُ ٱلصَّمَدُ
لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ
وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُۥ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌۢ
Say, “He is Allāh, [who is] One, Allāh, the Eternal Refuge. He neither begets nor is born, Nor is there to Him any equivalent.”
Surah al-Ikhlas 112:1–4 · Translation: Saheeh International (Quran.com)
Surah al-Falaq (113)
قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ ٱلْفَلَقِ
مِن شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ
وَمِن شَرِّ غَاسِقٍ إِذَا وَقَبَ
وَمِن شَرِّ ٱلنَّفَّـٰثَـٰتِ فِى ٱلْعُقَدِ
وَمِن شَرِّ حَاسِدٍ إِذَا حَسَدَ
Say, “I seek refuge in the Lord of daybreak From the evil of that which He created And from the evil of darkness when it settles And from the evil of the blowers in knots And from the evil of an envier when he envies.”
Surah al-Falaq 113:1–5 · Translation: Saheeh International (Quran.com)
Surah an-Nas (114)
قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ ٱلنَّاسِ
مَلِكِ ٱلنَّاسِ
إِلَـٰهِ ٱلنَّاسِ
مِن شَرِّ ٱلْوَسْوَاسِ ٱلْخَنَّاسِ
ٱلَّذِى يُوَسْوِسُ فِى صُدُورِ ٱلنَّاسِ
مِنَ ٱلْجِنَّةِ وَٱلنَّاسِ
Say, “I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind, The Sovereign of mankind, The God of mankind, From the evil of the retreating whisperer – Who whispers [evil] into the breasts of mankind – From among the jinn and mankind”.
Surah an-Nas 114:1–6 · Translation: Saheeh International (Quran.com)
More for your bedtime routine
Two more authentic practices fit well with the three Quls. In Sahih al-Bukhari 5010, the Prophet ﷺ confirmed that whoever recites Ayatul Kursi on going to bed has a guardian from Allah until the morning. And the last two verses of Surah Al-Baqarah suffice the one who recites them at night.
How to practise it
- Make it the last thing you do. Lie down, then recite, blow and wipe, three times.
- Do it with your children. The surahs are short, and children learn quickly by copying.
- When someone is ill, you can do it for them, as ‘Aishah did for the Prophet ﷺ.
- Pair it with a dua for protection such as Bismillahilladhi la yadurru in the evening.
Key lessons
- The Prophet ﷺ did this every night.
- Cup the hands, blow into them and recite the three Quls.
- Wipe over as much of the body as you can, starting with the head and face.
- Repeat it three times.
- When he was ill, ‘Aishah did it for him.
Questions people ask
Which surahs should I recite before sleeping?
Surah al-Ikhlas, Surah al-Falaq and Surah an-Nas, as in Sahih al-Bukhari 5017. Many people also recite Ayatul Kursi (Sahih al-Bukhari 5010).
How many times should I recite the three Quls before sleep?
The Prophet ﷺ did the whole routine three times: recite into the hands and wipe over the body.
Can someone do it for a sick person?
Yes. When the Prophet ﷺ was ill, ‘Aishah did it for him (Sahih al-Bukhari 5748).
May Allah protect you and your family through every night. Tonight, try it once: cup your hands, recite, wipe, three times.
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