The bedtime Sunnah combines recitation, bodily calm and trust. It fits into a few focused minutes and needs no added ritual.

Key takeaways

  • Recite Ayat al-Kursi.
  • Recite the final three surahs and wipe three times.
  • Read the final two verses of al-Baqarah at night.

The three final surahs

Aishah reported that the Prophet cupped his hands, lightly blew after reciting al-Ikhlas, al-Falaq and an-Nas, then wiped what he could of his body, beginning with the head and front, three times.

Ayat al-Kursi and al-Baqarah

Bukhari records Ayat al-Kursi at bedtime and the sufficiency of the final two verses of al-Baqarah at night. Read from the Mushaf until memorised accurately.

Practical sleep care

Reduce late caffeine, dim screens, keep a regular schedule and seek care for persistent insomnia or breathing problems. These measures accompany remembrance.

Health and safety note

Ruqyah and remembrance may accompany appropriate medical or psychological care. Never stop prescribed treatment without the prescribing professional. Seek urgent help for severe or dangerous symptoms.

Verified references

The Arabic text of each verse or hadith appears first, followed by a concise explanation, directly on the page.

  1. Qur’anQur’an 2:255Ayat al-Kursi
    Arabic verse text

    ٱللَّهُ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ٱلْحَىُّ ٱلْقَيُّومُ ۚ لَا تَأْخُذُهُۥ سِنَةٌ وَلَا نَوْمٌ ۚ لَّهُۥ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۗ مَن ذَا ٱلَّذِى يَشْفَعُ عِندَهُۥٓ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِۦ ۚ يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ ۖ وَلَا يُحِيطُونَ بِشَىْءٍ مِّنْ عِلْمِهِۦٓ إِلَّا بِمَا شَآءَ ۚ وَسِعَ كُرْسِيُّهُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ ۖ وَلَا يَـُٔودُهُۥ حِفْظُهُمَا ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَلِىُّ ٱلْعَظِيمُ

    Qur’an 2:255
    Key teaching

    Ayat al-Kursi affirms Allah’s life, knowledge, authority and perfect preservation.

  2. Qur’anQur’an 2:285–286The closing verses of al-Baqarah
    Arabic verse text

    ءَامَنَ ٱلرَّسُولُ بِمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْهِ مِن رَّبِّهِۦ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ ۚ كُلٌّ ءَامَنَ بِٱللَّهِ وَمَلَـٰٓئِكَتِهِۦ وَكُتُبِهِۦ وَرُسُلِهِۦ لَا نُفَرِّقُ بَيْنَ أَحَدٍ مِّن رُّسُلِهِۦ ۚ وَقَالُوا سَمِعْنَا وَأَطَعْنَا ۖ غُفْرَانَكَ رَبَّنَا وَإِلَيْكَ ٱلْمَصِيرُ ۝ لَا يُكَلِّفُ ٱللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا ۚ لَهَا مَا كَسَبَتْ وَعَلَيْهَا مَا ٱكْتَسَبَتْ ۗ رَبَّنَا لَا تُؤَاخِذْنَآ إِن نَّسِينَآ أَوْ أَخْطَأْنَا ۚ رَبَّنَا وَلَا تَحْمِلْ عَلَيْنَآ إِصْرًا كَمَا حَمَلْتَهُۥ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِنَا ۚ رَبَّنَا وَلَا تُحَمِّلْنَا مَا لَا طَاقَةَ لَنَا بِهِۦ ۖ وَٱعْفُ عَنَّا وَٱغْفِرْ لَنَا وَٱرْحَمْنَآ ۚ أَنتَ مَوْلَىٰنَا فَٱنصُرْنَا عَلَى ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ

    Qur’an 2:285–286
    Key teaching

    The closing verses of al-Baqarah combine faith, obedience, forgiveness and supplication.

  3. HadithSahih al-Bukhari 2311Ayat al-Kursi before sleep

    Narrator: أبو هريرة رضي الله عنه

    Relevant passage from the hadith

    قَالَ: إِذَا أَوَيْتَ إِلَى فِرَاشِكَ فَاقْرَأْ آيَةَ الْكُرْسِيِّ مِنْ أَوَّلِهَا حَتَّى تَخْتِمَ، فَإِنَّكَ لَنْ يَزَالَ عَلَيْكَ مِنَ اللَّهِ حَافِظٌ، وَلَا يَقْرَبَكَ شَيْطَانٌ حَتَّى تُصْبِحَ. فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ: «أَمَا إِنَّهُ قَدْ صَدَقَكَ وَهُوَ كَذُوبٌ».

    Sahih al-Bukhari 2311
    Key teaching

    This is the relevant passage from the longer report establishing Ayat al-Kursi at bedtime.

  4. HadithSahih al-Bukhari 5009The final two verses of al-Baqarah at night

    Narrator: أبو مسعود الأنصاري رضي الله عنه

    Arabic hadith text

    عَنْ أَبِي مَسْعُودٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ: «مَنْ قَرَأَ بِالْآيَتَيْنِ مِنْ آخِرِ سُورَةِ الْبَقَرَةِ فِي لَيْلَةٍ كَفَتَاهُ».

    Sahih al-Bukhari 5009
    Key teaching

    The report establishes the sufficiency of the final two verses of al-Baqarah when read at night.

  5. HadithSahih al-Bukhari 5017The final three surahs before sleep

    Narrator: عائشة رضي الله عنها

    Arabic hadith text

    عَنْ عَائِشَةَ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ 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 ثَلَاثَ مَرَّاتٍ.

    Sahih al-Bukhari 5017
    Key teaching

    Aishah describes the Prophet’s nightly recitation of the final three surahs and wiping over the body.

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