In the name of Allah, the compassionate, the merciful. All praises and adoration belong to Allah, the lord of the worlds. May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon the noblest of mankind Muhammad (SAW), his house hold, and his companions and upon those who follow the truth till the day of judgement amen.

Indeed, the best of speech is the Book of Allah and the best guidance is the guidance of Muhammad (SAW), and the worst matters (in religion) are the newly innovated ones, and every innovation is misguidance, and every misguidance leads to hellfire.
One of the most important aspects of the deen is dhikr, remembrance of Allah. Numerous verses in the Qur’an and a good amount of hadith, have shown the importance of dhikr, as well as the enormous reward associated with performing this religious obligation.
Allah (SWT) says: “And those who remember Allah more often, male and female, Allah has prepared for them forgiveness and an enormous reward” (Surah Ahzab:35)

Then it is quite unfortunate that majority of Muslims are not making the best use of dhikr in their daily lives. Dhikr is meant to be performed at every giving opportunity, it was reported from Mujahid (may Allah have mercy on him), who said “One cannot be of those who remember Allah very often, either male or female, until such person remembers Allah while standing, sitting and while reclining”.

The Prophet (SAW) had thought us so many forms of dhikr and du’a` (prayer) for every aspect of our daily lives. Hence, we do have dhikr/du’a` for sleeping, waking up, morning and evening, going out, coming back home, riding a car, putting on new clothes and the list is endless.

Thus, it becomes imperative for us Muslims to learn these prayers and remembrance, understand their meaning and purposes, and learn when and how to say them. Ibn Qayyum (may Allah be pleased with him) said : “ The best form of dhikr and most useful, is that which the heart agrees with what the tongue is reciting, and it is among the adhkaar of the Prophet (SAW), and the one who performs the dhikr, can confirm its meaning and its purpose.”

Therefore, has Allah (SWT) will permit me, I would like to share some selected dhikr/du’a` of the prophet (SAW), explaining its meaning and purpose, majorly from the book “Fiqhu-l-ad’iyati wa-l-adhkaari ‘amalu-l-yawmi wa laylah” The understanding of prayers and rememberance (of Allah) daily and nightly responsibilities (part three) by Abdul Rasaq ibn Abdul Muhsin Albadr (May Allah forgive him and bless him abundantly amen).

This book contains 319 dhikr/du’a`, I would only select some of them, and I pray it would be of immense benefit to the readers amen. Any error found herein must have been from me, and I seek Allah’s forgiveness as I look towards His accepting this as an act of Ibadah. Indeed Allah is the oft forgiving most merciful.

Remembrance before Sleep

Indeed, from the blessed reports, is what the Prophet (SAW) usually keeps to whenever he lays on his bed to sleep at night, and what has been established in the two authentic books (Bukhari and Muslim), which reported from the mother of the believers, Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) that whenever the Prophet (SAW) lays on his bed to sleep every night, he joins his hands together and then blows into them then recites: (Surah Al-Ikhlas), (Surah Al-Falaq) and (Surah An-Naas), then he wipes his body with his hands, starting from his head and face and whatever part in front of his body. He does this three times” ( Sahih Bukhari 5017; Sahih Muslim, 2192)

Indeed, this is a very magnificent form of seeking refuge, and it is a means of protection for man, it protects him, by the permission of Allah (SWT), from any form of harm while he is asleep. Or from evil, or harm by vermin, or insects that can kill. Mainly, when man is asleep, he is usually oblivious of whatever comes to him, and all that happens to him, hence, if he occupies himself whenever he retires to his bed with this great section of the Qur’an and powerful protection, he would be protected by the permission of Allah (SWT). This would suffice him, and he would be safeguarded, and the protection from Allah will not depart him until daybreak. Thus this establishes the importance that a Muslim should observe the recitation of these section of the Qur’an every night whenever he retires to bed, so as to be protected and be able to realize true protection (from Allah).

Indeed, the Prophet (SAW) adheres to these recitations strongly, and he never abandons reciting them each and every night. And what gives more credence to this great adherence of the prophet (SAW) is what was reported in the hadith that Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her): “Whenever the Prophet (SAW) suffers (from an ailement), he would instruct that I perform (the recitations) for him”. (Sahih Bukhari, 5747).

It is also established in another authentic tradition, reported from Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her): “that the Prophet (SAW) usually blows over his person when he was sick with his hands in which (the recited chapters have been recited into). But when he became unable to do that, I would blow into it with the recitations, and would use his blessed hands to wipe over his person”. (Sahih Bukhari 5751)

This shows that the Prophet (SAW) still adheres to this practice even with the severity of his sickness, so the Prophet (SAW) would recite these chapters, then blows into his blessed hands, and then instruct Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) to use his hands to wipe over his body, due to the fact that he himself could not, as a result of his sickness.

Understanding statements in the hadith

The statement of Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) in the hadith which is: “When he retires to his bed” this means, whenever he returns to his bed, climbs and lies on it. Also, the word “Ma`awy” also represents a place where a person seeks refuge, a lodge or a room. And her statement (may Allah be pleased with her): “every night” indicates the evidence of the adherence of the Prophet (SAW) in making these recitations each and every night.

Her statement “joins his palms” that is: Putting his hands together, connecting one to the other and both hands open towards his face so as to blow into them. And her statement “then blow/spit into them” that is, into his two hands, and spitting here is similar to blowing, it is blowing air containing a little bit of saliva.

Her statement: “then he wipes with his two hands over his body as much as he can” in this statement is the evidence that it is sunnah to wipe over the body with the hands after these recitations. Her statement: “He starts with his head and face and what comes after in front of his body” this explains that the sunnah is for a Muslim to start from the topmost of his body, thus he starts with his head and face and what follows in the front, then ends it with the back of his body.

It should be understood that the sunnah is to carry out this procedure, three times, emulating the Prophet (SAW).

A brief explanation of the three chapters of the Qur’an to be recited

The first chapter (surah ikhlas) from among the three chapters (of the Qur’an) mentions the attribute of Allah, majestic in his affairs, not only that, it made the attribute faithful and sincere (to Allah alone), for this reason, this chapter is named that chapter of Sincerity (Ikhlaas), for it contains the sincere proclamation of the learned of the oneness of Allah the mighty and the most high, and if someone is to be asked, who is Allah? Then, this chapter suffices as an appropriate response and reply. Therefore, "Al`ahadu" is “The One”, singular and unique in his perfection and might, and to him belongs the most beautiful names, perfect and highest attributes and his mighty divinely activities which there is no equal or similitude.


'As-Samad": This refers to the one in which all the demand and needs are directed to, the one in which the people of the world, the high and the low (in status) are in need of desperately. They ask him their needs and request their provisions from him; for he is the mighty, the perfect in all his attributes and quality, and part of his being perfect, he says “He begets not nor was he begotten” for he is self sufficient, “And there is none like unto him” not in his names, or his attributes, or his ways, he is the mighty the most high.

As for the other two chapters, in them is the seeking refuge in Allah the powerful and mighty, from all forms of evil, and forms of disease and pestilence.

The chapter “Al Falaq” contains seeking refuge in Allah (SWT) “The Lord of daybreak” that is, “Al Falaq” can be translated to mean, the one who splits the seed and the date-stone and the one who brings forth the daybreak.“From whatever evil he created” this statement, consist all what Allah has created from mankind to jinn and animals, therefore one seeks refuge in the creator of these things, from the evil that can be found in them. Thereafter, the next verse points towards specifics after mentioning the general, thus it reads “And from the evil of the night, when it darkens” that is, from the evil that occurs at night, when men are asleep, and whereby lots and lots of evil spirit and dangerous animals abound, “And from the evil of those who practice witchcraft when they blow in the knots” this means: the sorcerers/witches those who practice magic by blowing into knots. “And from the evil of the envier when he envies” The word “Al-Haasid” is someone who envies others, he wishes for the blessings of another (the one he envies) to diminish, this also can refer to the evil-eyed person, for his evil eye only emanates from a kind of envy. Thus this chapter comprises of seeking refuge (in Allah) from evil, general types, and specific ones.
Surah An-Nas contains seeking refuge in the lord of mankind, their king and God, from Shaitan the accursed one, who happens to be the root of all evils, the spreader of evil, and the founder of its manifestation and circulation.

Thus, liberated is a Muslim who keeps to reciting these 3 chapters of the Qur’an each and every night whenever he returns to his bed (to sleep), based on the description of the Prophet (SAW), so as to attain Allah’s full protection, sleeping peacefully and in tranquility. And success is by Allah (SWT).

My dear brothers and sisters, doing this would not take more than 5 minutes tops, sometimes we do worry about being cursed or being afflicted with an evil eye, just doing this every night protects you and for the fact that the Prophet (SAW), did this every night, even when he was sick, shows how important it is, he (SAW) was sent as a guide, an example for us to follow. So what is stopping you and me? Why not start tonight? I believe when we make this dhikr, and reflect on the meaning, and the importance attached to it by the Prophet (SAW), we would never want to stop performing this wonderful dhikr every night before we sleep. May Allah (SWT) protect us amen.

To be continued...


Surah Al-Ikhlas


Transliteration
Qul huwa llahu ahad
Allahu-s- samad
Lam yalid walam yoolad
Walam yakun lahu kufuwan ahad

Translation (Muhsin Khan)

Say (O Muhammad (Peace be upon him)): "He is Allah, (the) One.
"Allah-us-Samad (The Self-Sufficient Master, Whom all creatures need, He neither eats nor drinks).
"He begets not, nor was He begotten;
"And there is none co-equal or comparable unto Him."



Surah Al-Falaq



Transliteration

Qul a’oodhu birabbi-l-falaq
Min sharri ma khalaq
Wamin sharri ghasiqin idhaa waqab
Wamin sharri-n-naffathati fee-l-‘uqad
Wamin sharri hasidin idhaa hasad

Translation (Muhsin Khan)
Say: "I seek refuge with (Allah) the Lord of the daybreak,
"From the evil of what He has created;
"And from the evil of the darkening (night) as it comes with its darkness; (or the moon as it sets or goes away).
"And from the evil of the witchcrafts when they blow in the knots,
"And from the evil of the envier when he envies."



Surah An-Nas


Transliteration

Qul a’oodhu birabbi-n-naas
Maliki-n-naas
Ilahi-n- naas
Min sharri-l-waswasi-l-khannaas
Alladhee yuwaswisu fee sudoori-n-naas
Mina-l-jinnati wannaas

Translation (Muhsin Khan)
Say: "I seek refuge with (Allah) the Lord of mankind,
"The King of mankind,
"The Ilah (God) of mankind,
"From the evil of the whisperer (devil who whispers evil in the hearts of men) who withdraws (from his whispering in one's heart after one remembers Allah),
"Who whispers in the breasts of mankind,
"Of jinns and men."

Please am waiting

rildwanullahi:
Please am waiting

I'm sorry for the delay, i intend to post once a week on this thread in sha Allah, please bear with me.

Continuation...

Among the remembrance before sleep

Indeed, among the powerful adhkaar which Muslims are encouraged to keep upon each and every night whenever he/she retires to bed is the recitation of the Ayata-l-Kursiy, which is a great ayah in the glorious Qur’an. Indeed, there happens to be a report in the sunnah which points to its virtue., and that whoever recites it, whenever he retirees to bed, then verily, a guard from Allah will not depart from him, and shaitan will not come close to him till morning.

Narrated Abu Huraira:

[b]Allah's Apostle deputed me to keep Sadaqat (al-Fitr) of Ramadan. A comer came and started taking handfuls of the foodstuff (of the Sadaqa) (stealthily). I took hold of him and said, "By Allah, I will take you to Allah's Apostle." He said, "I am needy and have many dependents, and I am in great need." I released him, and in the morning Allah's Apostle asked me, "What did your prisoner do yesterday?" I said, "O Allah's Apostle! The person complained of being needy and of having many dependents, so, I pitied him and let him go." Allah's Apostle said, "Indeed, he told you a lie and he will be coming again." I believed that he would show up again as Allah's Apostle had told me that he would return. So, I waited for him watchfully. When he (showed up and) started stealing handfuls of foodstuff, I caught hold of him again and said, "I will definitely take you to Allah's Apostle. He said, "Leave me, for I am very needy and have many dependents. I promise I will not come back again." I pitied him and let him go.

In the morning Allah's Apostle asked me, "What did your prisoner do." I replied, "O Allah's Apostle! He complained of his great need and of too many dependents, so I took pity on him and set him free." Allah's Apostle said, "Verily, he told you a lie and he will return." I waited for him attentively for the third time, and when he (came and) started stealing handfuls of the foodstuff, I caught hold of him and said, "I will surely take you to Allah's Apostle as it is the third time you promise not to return, yet you break your promise and come." He said, "(Forgive me and) I will teach you some words with which Allah will benefit you." I asked, "What are they?" He replied, "Whenever you go to bed, recite "Ayat-al-Kursi"-- 'Allahu la ilaha illa huwa-l-Haiy-ul Qaiyum' till you finish the whole verse. (If you do so), Allah will appoint a guard for you who will stay with you and no satan will come near you till morning. “So, I released him. In the morning, Allah's Apostle asked, "What did your prisoner do yesterday?" I replied, "He claimed that he would teach me some words by which Allah will benefit me, so I let him go." Allah's Apostle asked, "What are they?" I replied, "He said to me, 'Whenever you go to bed, recite Ayat-al-Kursi from the beginning to the end ---- Allahu la ilaha illa huwa-lHaiy-ul-Qaiyum----.' He further said to me, '(If you do so), Allah will appoint a guard for you who will stay with you, and no satan will come near you till morning.' (Abu Huraira or another sub-narrator) added that they (the companions) were very keen to do good deeds. The Prophet said, "He really spoke the truth, although he is an absolute liar. Do you know whom you were talking to, these three nights, O Abu Huraira?" Abu Huraira said, "No." He said, "It was Satan." [/b](Sahih Bukhari 2311)

In this hadith is the virtue of this glorious ayah, and its great use, its powerful effect in guarding against shaitan and a protection from his evil. Indeed, one who recites it when about to sleep would be protected and it would be sufficient, for shaitan will not come close to him till morning. This is due to the fact that this noble ayah consists of the oneness of Allah and his glorification, his exaltation, and the declaration of his oneness in perfection and grandeur. What is established for the one who recites it is protection and sufficiency. Consequently, this ayah consist of five (5) names from the beautiful names of Allah, also, it consist of more than twenty (20) attributes of Allah.

The ayah begins with the mention of Allah’s oneness in his divinity (being God who is worthy of worship), and the falsehood of other claims to divinity, thereafter, it mentions the perfect attributes of Allah, which can never extinct, then the mention of Him being eternal, glory be to Him, and being eternal means: His self-existence and His upholding the day-to-day running of the affairs of His creation. The ayah also mentions His being free from any form of defect, or shortcomings, such as slumber or sleep. Then the ayah went on to declare the extent of His kingdom, glory be to Him, that whatsoever is in the heavens and the earth, are His slaves, and are under His power and authority. Then the ayah mentions that among the evidences of His greatness, is that no one among His creation has the authority to intercede in His presence, glory be to Him, except after he has been given permission, and also, in this ayah, is the fact that the attribute of knowledge belongs to Allah, glory be to Him, and that His knowledge, glory be to Him, encompasses all what is known, hence, He knows what is to be, what will be, and what will not be, and if (something is) to be, He knows how it will be. In this ayah also is the declaration of the greatness of Allah glory be to Him, by mentioning the greatness of His creations, thus, if His throne, which is a creation among His creations, extends (through) the heavens and earth, then how great and majestic is the creator the Lord of Majesty. The ayah also contains the declaration of the greatness of His power, glory be to him, for part of His perfection in His power, is that He never gets burdened, that is, the guardianship of the heavens and the earth does not burden Him. Thereafter, the ayah ends with the mentioning of two of Allah’s mighty names, and they are; “Al-‘aliyu and Al-‘azeem”. In this two names is establishing the highness of Allah, glory be to Him, in His being, in His power and His force. Also the established fact of His greatness, glory be to Him, with faith that, to Him belong all the meanings and definitions of greatness and majesty, and that no one deserves to be exalted or proclaim to be great or majestic, except Him (Allah).

The glorious ayah consists of lofty meanings and deep evidences, and concepts of faith which points to its greatness and magnificence. It is established from the Prophet (SAW) that this ayah is the greatest ayah in the glorious Qur’an as it is in the authentic (hadith), “that the prophet (SAW) said to Ubayy ibn K’ab: O Aba Al-Mundhir, do you know which ayah in Allah’s book that is the greatest? He (Ubayy) then said: Allah and His messenger knows best, he then repeated the question again, then Ubayy said: it is Ayatu-l-Kursiy, he (the Prophet) then said: may knowledge be pleasant for you O Aba Al-Mundhir” that is, may knowledge be easy for you. (Sahih Muslim 810)

Ayatu-l-Kursiy (The verse of the throne)



Transliteration

Allahu la ilaha illahuwa alhayyu alqayyoomu la ta/khuthuhu sinatun wala nawmun lahu ma fee-s-samawati wama fee-l-ardi man tha llathee yashfaAAu ‘indahu illa bi-ithnihi ya’Alamu ma bayna aydeehim wama khalfahum wala yuheetoona bishay-in min-‘ilmihi illa bima sha a wasi’a kursiyyuhu-s-samawati wal-arda wala yaooduhu hifthuhuma wahuwa-l-‘aliyyu-l-‘atheem

Translation (Muhsin Khan)

Allah! La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He), the Ever Living, the One Who sustains and protects all that exists. Neither slumber, nor sleep overtake Him. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on earth. Who is he that can intercede with Him except with His Permission? He knows what happens to them (His creatures) in this world, and what will happen to them in the Hereafter . And they will never compass anything of His Knowledge except that which He wills. His Kursi extends over the heavens and the earth, and He feels no fatigue in guarding and preserving them. And He is the Most High, the Most Great. [This Verse 2:255 is called Ayat-ul-Kursi.]

To be continued...In Sha Allah

In the Name of Allah the Merciful,

Please bear with me for my inconsistencies in posting, May Allah put our affairs right ameen...

….Continuation

Of things that are desirable for a Muslim to recite when going to sleep is Surat Al Kafirun and making it the last Surah to recite before sleep because it is an acquittal of polytheism.

Imam Ahmad reported in his Musnad on the authority of Farwah ibn Nawfal Al Ashja`y from his father (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: "The Prophet (peace be upon him) gave me the daughter of Um Salamah and said: "You are my wet nurse. He said: I went for a long time then I came to him. He (the Messenger) said: What did the slave girl do? He said: She is at her mother. He asked: Why did you come? I said: I came to learn what to say upon sleeping. He (the Messenger) said: Recite Surat Al Kafrun upon your sleep because it is an acquittal of polytheism." [Al Musnad (5/456) and Al Albany (may Allah bestow mercy upon his soul) graded it as authentic in Sahih At-Targhib (No. 604)].

The Hadith shows the virtue of this Surah and the virtue of reciting it before going to sleep. It also exhorts Muslims to sleep after reciting it in order that the last words a person utters would be the declaration of monotheism which is an acquittal of polytheism. No doubt that whoever recites it, understands its meaning, and acts according to its teachings has acquitted himself from apparent and hidden polytheism. Some of the Pious Predecessors used to call it: "Al Muqashqishah." It is said: So and so Qashqasha i.e., was cured of his disease because the Ayah acquits a person from polytheism.

The Ayah along with Surat Al Ikhlas are called the two Surahs of Ikhlas because they contain the two types of monotheism: the scientific and the practical. The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to recite these Ayahs in the two Rak`ahs of the Fajr Salah, beginning with them the actions of the day. He also used to recite them in the supererogatory Salah of Al Maghrib to conclude the actions of the day. And He used to recite them in Witr Salah (prayer of odd number Rak`ahs) to conclude the actions of the night. We have previously mentioned that the Prophet (peace be upon him) used to recite Surat Al Ikhlas upon going to sleep. The Hadith of Nawfal exhorts Muslims to recite Surat Al Kafirun upon going to sleep in order to conclude the action of the whole day.

http://www.alssunnahnet.com/en/articles.aspx?article_no=2067



Transliteration
Qul ya ayyuha alkafiroon
La a'abudu ma ta'abudoon
Wala antum 'aabidoona maa'abud
Wala ana 'aabidun ma'aabadtum
Wala antum 'aabidoona maa 'aabud
Lakum deenukum waliya deen

Translation (Muhsin Khan)

Say (O Muhammad (Peace be upon him)to these Mushrikun and Kafirun): "O Al-Kafirun (disbelievers in Allah, in His Oneness, in His Angels, in His Books, in His Messengers, in the Day of Resurrection, and in Al-Qadar, etc.)!
"I worship not that which you worship,
"Nor will you worship that which I worship.
"And I shall not worship that which you are worshipping.
"Nor will you worship that which I worship.
"To you be your religion, and to me my religion (Islamic Monotheism)."

Thus far, we have looked at the supplications of the Prophet (SAW) when he retires to bed to sleep and how he (SAW) would not miss doing it for anything, even when he (SAW) was ill. The recitations herein are expected to be memorized, they are short and simple, and these activities would not take more than 10 minutes maximum. If you haven’t started, I plead with you to start this night, you just can’t grasp the extent of the benefit until you start, and then you start getting used to it and the benefits will come. Just make a conscious effort to try it this night and Allah (SWT) would make it easy for you by His Grace and Mercy.

To be Continued...

Remembrance before sleep and on waking up from sleep

And indeed, amongst the powerful remembrance which the Prophet (SAW) performed regularly, while going to sleep and while he arose from sleep, is what was reported by AL-Bukhari in his authentic collection, an hadith from Hudhaifah bin Al-Yamaan (RA), he said: Whenever the Prophet (SAW) wants to sleep, he would say : “In your name O Allah I die and I live” and when he rises from his sleep he would say: “ All praise is due to Allah who has given us life after he had made us to die, and to him is our return”. In another transmission: “when he returns to his bed” that is: when he lays on it, and in another narration: whenever he took to his lodge. All of which are having the same meaning.


Transliteration

Bismika Allahuma amuutu wa aahyaa


Transliteration

Alhamdulillah aladhiy `ahyaanaa b’ada maa `amaatnaa wa `ilayhi An-nushuur

The Statement: “Bi Ismika Allahumma” this means, In your name O Allah, the ‘Ba’ here is used for asking for assistance or help, and the meaning here is seeking help from (Allah), seeking His protection, hoping for protection, peace and forgiveness from Allah.

The Statement: “Amuutu wa `ahaya” this means: “I make mention of your name in my present state, and by the mentioning of your name, I become alive, and by your name, I die.” This point to the fact that a Muslim cannot do without the remembrance of his Lord even for just a second, when he wants to sleep, and when he wakes from sleep, and in all of his affairs. So therefore, when he goes to sleep, he ends his activities with the remembrance of Allah, and with this remembrance of Allah he lives, and on it he dies, and on it he would be raised up on the Day of Judgment.

And in the Statement:”Bi Ismika Allahumma `ahamutu” while wanting to go to sleep points to the evidence that sleep, is also called death and dying, even if life is present, and from that, Allah’s (SWT) states in the Qur’an “It is Allah Who takes away the souls at the time of their death, and those that die not during their sleep. He keeps those (souls) for which He has ordained death and sends the rest for a term appointed. Verily, in this are signs for a people who think deeply.” (Q 39:42). For this reason, he (SAW) said at the end of the hadith, while getting up from sleep, “All praise is to Allah who gave us life after we were made to die” pointing to sleep that is peculiar to man. So sleep is similar to death; because motion seizes, and conscious perception is lost, and for these reasons, he is no longer responsible for his actions, until he wakes up from his sleep.

Sleep is one of the biggest ayaat(signs) of Allah (SWT), it points to the perfection of the creator, His glory, greatness, and the right to his oneness in worship. He, glory be to Him, is the ever living who never dies, he never slumbers nor sleep. Allah (SWT) says: “And among His Signs is the sleep that you take by night and by day, and your seeking of His Bounty. Verily, in that are indeed signs for a people who listen. “(Q30:23). Also, sleep is a form of Allah’s Rahmah (Mercy) whereby He made for His slave a period for them to rest and relax therein, like Allah (SWT) says: “It is out of His Mercy that He has put for you night and day, that you may rest therein (i.e. during the night) and that you may seek of His Bounty (i.e. during the day), and in order that you may be grateful.” (Q28:73).

There is indeed great benefit in sleep; it reminds us of death, which is the end of every man, and the possession of every living thing except the ever living (Allah) who never dies. And in waking up from sleep, points to the decree of Allah, glory be to Him, raising the bodies after death, giving life after death, for this reason, He (SAW) would say while waking up from sleep: “All praise is due to Allah, who gave us life after causing us to die, and to Him is our final return”

“An-Nushur” means the resurrection on the Day of Judgment, the life after death. Waking up from sleep is used to represent the proof of resurrection after death on the Day of Judgment; the day man would stand in front of the Lord of the worlds. Hence, it is established in “Al-`adab Al-Mufrad” hadith of Al-Baraa` ibn ‘aazib, who said: whenever the Prophet (SAW) wants to sleep, he puts his hand under his right cheek and says: O Allah, save me from your punishment on the day you resurrect your slaves.”




Transliteration

Allahuma qiyniy ‘adhaabaka yawma tab’athu ‘ibaadaka

And the statement: “All praise is due to Allah, who gave us life after causing us to die” in this, is the praise of Allah for these great blessings and immense grace for life after death, which is, waking up from sleep. And what is known about the condition of man when he sleeps, is that, he is devoid of benefiting from life, and being able to perform worship, but when he wakes up, this restrictions are gone, therefore, he praises and gives thanks to Allah (the high, the sublime), for these blessings, giving thanks to Him, for this honour and gift (of life).

There is a beautiful connection and link between the meaning of this remembrance above and what is reported by the two Sheikhs, Bukhari and Muslim, a hadith by Abu Hurayrah (ra) who said: the Prophet (SAW) said: “when anyone of you wants to go to sleep, he should dust his bed with the inner part of his lower garment, for he does not know what has been left behind on it, then he should say: “In the name of my Lord, I lay my side, and by His name, I would rise, if you take my soul, have mercy on it, but if you return it back, protect it, with the protection given to your righteous slaves.


Transliteration

Bi Ismika rabbiy wadha’atu janbiy, wabika irfa’uhu, fain amsakta nafsiy farhamuhaa, wa in irsaltahaa fahfadhhaa bimaa tahfadhu bihi ‘ibadaka As-saalihiyyna

Another narration similar to this, is what was reported by Muslim in his authentic collection, on the authority of Abdullah Ibn Umar (ra), He commanded a man that whenever he wants to sleep should say: “ O Allah, you created my soul, and you cause it to die, to you belongs the dead and the living of it, if you cause it to live, protect it, but if you cause it to die, forgive it, O Allah, I ask from you good health.” So the man said to him, did you hear this from Umar? He answered: from the one better than Umar, from the messenger of Allah (SAW).


Transliteration

Allahuma innaka kalaqta nfsiy wa anta tawaffaa haa laka mamatuhaa wa mahyaa haa, in ahyaytahaa fahfazhhaa, wa in amatahaa fagfir lahaa. Allahuma inniyy asaluka al-‘aafiyyah

These narrations, shows clear evidence that the soul of man, belongs to Allah glorified be his name, He created it from nothing and created it when it was not existing, and He, if and when He wills, can take it during the sleep of man and thus by morning he is amongst the dead, and if He wills, he returns it, and thus man would remain alive. For this reason, he said: “to you belongs the death and living of it” meaning: that this is in your hands, and under your control, and no one aside from you can decree over it, for you are the one who cause life and death, and you have power over everything.

Therefore, it is prescribed for Muslims in this position to ask Allah, his Lord for protection if it is written that he lives, and he asks for mercy and forgiveness if death is written for him. In another narration, the hadith of Abu Hurayrah, who said: “if you withhold my soul, have mercy on it, and if you return it, protect it with the protection given to your righteous slaves” and in the hadith of Ibn Umar, he said: “If you cause it to live, protect it, and if you cause it to die, forgive it”

As it is necessary on the Muslim to remember his state and his end, while he goes to bed, so also it is necessary for him to remember Allah’s blessings on him of what has passed, in regards to food, drinks, shelter, good and sound health, thus, he shows gratitude for these blessings.
Therefore it is established in Sahih Muslim, on the authority of Anas bin Maalik (ra), that the messenger of Allah (SAW), whenever he retires to his bed, he would say: “All praise and thanks is due to Allah who fed us, and gave us to drink, and suffice us and sheltered us, how many are there who have none to suffice them or shelter them.


Transliteration

Alhamdulillahi Aladhiyy at’amanaa wa saqaanaa wa kafaanaa wa awaanaa, fakam miman la kaafiya lahu wa la muawiyi

Hence, it is important to note that whenever a Muslim retires to his bed, he should remember two matters: his past days, and thus, he praises and shows gratitude to Allah for what had been given to him, in terms of good and sound health, food and drinks, shelter and other things. He should also remember what is to come, and this would be between two things; it is either his soul would be taken and so he will asks for forgiveness and mercy, or he is given more time before his death, and he asks Allah to protect his soul, with such protection given to righteous slaves.

This concludes the aspect of dhikr said before sleep, and what is said after waking up from sleep, May Allah (SWT) make it easy for us to put them into practice ameen.

Next is the remembrance said after the compulsory prayers in sha Allah