Sunnats and Aadaab of Sleeping – Part 4

1. One should recite the following before retiring to bed:

a)  Tasbeeh-e-Faatimi i.e. 33 times Subhaanallah, 33 times Alhamdulillah, and 34 times Allahu Akbar.

عن علي رضي الله عنه أن فاطمة رضي الله عنها أتت النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم تشكو إليه ما تلقى في يدها من الرحى وبلغها أنه جاءه رقيق فلم تصادفه فذكرت ذلك لعائشة فلما جاء أخبرته عائشة قال فجاءنا وقد أخذنا مضاجعنا فذهبنا نقوم فقال على مكانكما فجاء فقعد بيني وبينها حتى وجدت برد قدميه على بطني فقال ألا أدلكما على خير مما سألتما إذا أخذتما مضاجعكما أو أويتما إلى فراشكما فسبحا ثلاثا وثلاثين واحمدا ثلاثا وثلاثين وكبرا أربعا وثلاثين فهو خير لكما من خادم. و في رواية: قال علي : فما تركته منذ سمعته من رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قيل له : ولا ليلة صفين ؟ قال : ولا ليلة صفين. (البخاري رقم 5361)

Hadhrat Ali (Radhiallahu Anhu) reports that on one occasion Hadhrat Faatimah (Radhiallahu Anha) went to the house of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) to complain about the difficulty she was experiencing while using the handmill. The news reached her that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) had received some slaves (so she had thought that she would request Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) for a slave to assist her in her daily chores). However, (upon reaching the home) she did not find Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) present, hence she informed Hadhrat Aaisha (Radhiallahu Anha) of her reason for coming. When Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) reached home, Hadhrat Aaisha (Radhiallahu Anha) informed him regarding the request of Hadhrat Faatima (Radhiallahu Anha). Subsequently, Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) then came to our home at the time we were retiring to bed. (Upon seeing him) we intended to wake up (out of respect for him), but Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) told us to remain as we were. He then came and sat between us until I could feel the coolness of his feet on my stomach (i.e. due to being seated so close to us in between, his mubaarak feet touched the side of my body). He then said: “Should I not show you something better than what you had requested (i.e. better than me giving you a slave to assist you in your daily chores)? Before retiring to bed, then recite Subhaanallah 33 times, Alhamdulillah 33 times and Allahu Akbar 34 times, for certainly this is better for you (in assisting you in your daily chores) than acquiring a slave. (According to another narration) Hadhrat Ali (Radhiallahu Anhu) further said: “I did not leave out this practice from the time I heard it from Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam).” Someone present asked: “Not even on the night of Siffeen (i.e. the night of the battle of Siffeen)?” He replied: “Not even on the night of Siffeen.”    

 

b) Aayatul Kursi

عن أبي أمامة رضي الله عنه قال قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم من قرأ آية الكرسي دبر كل صلاة لم يمنعه من دخول الجنة إلا أن يموت  رواه النسائي والطبراني بأسانيد أحدها صحيح  وقال شيخنا أبو الحسن هو على شرط البخاري وابن حبان في كتاب الصلاة وصححه (الترغيب رقم 2468)  و في رواية ضعيفة عن علي رضي الله عنه قال : سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم على أعواد المنبر يقول : من قرأ آية الكرسي في دبر كل صلاة لم يمنعه من دخول الجنة إلا الموت ومن قرأها حين يأخذ مضجعه آمنه الله على داره ودار جاره وأهل دويرات حوله. )رواه البيهقي في شعب الإيمان رقم 2395)

Hadhrat Abu Umaamah (Radhiallahu Anhu) reports that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: “Whoever recites Aayatul Kursi after every Fardh salaah, nothing prevents him from entering Paradise except death. (In another Hadith reported by Hadhrat Ali (Radhiallahu Anhu)) The one who recites Aayatul kursi at night when retiring to bed, Allah Ta’ala will protect his home, the homes of his neighbours, and the homes of the people around him. 

 

c) The three Quls

عن عائشة: " أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم كان إذا أوى إلى فراشه كل ليلة جمع كفيه، ثم نفث فيهما فقرأ فيهما: قل هو الله أحد وقل أعوذ برب الفلق وقل أعوذ برب الناس، ثم يمسح بهما ما استطاع من جسده، يبدأ بهما على رأسه ووجهه وما أقبل من جسده يفعل ذلك ثلاث مرات (بخاري رقم 5017)

Hadhrat Aaisha (Radhiallahu Anha) reports that whenever Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) would retire to bed every night, he would recite Surah Ikhlaas, Surah Falaq and Surah Naas and thereafter blow on his both palms. Subsequently, he would rub his palms upon his entire body. He would commence rubbing his palms on his head, face and the front portion of his body. He would repeat this action three times. 

 

d) The last two verses of Surah Baqarah.

عن أبي مسعود الأنصاري البدري عقبة بن عمرو رضي الله عنه قال قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: الآيتان من آخر سورة البقرة ، من قرأ بهما في ليلة كفتاه. (بخاري رقم 5040)

Hadhrat Abu Mas’ood Ansaari (Radhiallahu Anhu) reports that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: “The last two verses of Surah Baqarah are such that whoever recites them at night, it will suffice him (some say that it will suffice him from the harm and evil of everything, others say it will suffice him from reciting anything else during the night or from waking up for tahajjud).