Adhkar before sleep: preparing for the night

Most people who miss Tahajjud did not lose it at 3am. They lost it at midnight.

Sleep with the intention

The Prophet ﷺ said: "Whoever goes to bed intending to rise and pray in the night, but sleep overcomes him until morning, what he intended is recorded for him, and his sleep is a charity from his Lord." (Sunan an-Nasa'i 1787 — graded authentic by scholars of hadith)

Say it in your heart before you close your eyes. It costs nothing and it changes the night.

Wudu before sleeping

He ﷺ said to al-Bara ibn 'Azib: "When you go to your bed, make wudu as you would for prayer, then lie on your right side." (Sahih al-Bukhari 247; Sahih Muslim 2710)

What to recite

• Ayat al-Kursi (Surah al-Baqarah 2:255) — a protection until morning. (Sahih al-Bukhari 2311)
• Surah al-Ikhlas, al-Falaq, an-Nas — recited into the palms and wiped over the body, three times. (Sahih al-Bukhari 5017)
• The last two verses of Surah al-Baqarah (2:285-286) — "whoever recites them at night, they will suffice him." (Sahih al-Bukhari 5009)
• بِاسْمِكَ اللَّهُمَّ أَمُوتُ وَأَحْيَا — *Bismika Allahumma amutu wa ahya* — "In Your name, O Allah, I die and I live." (Sahih al-Bukhari 6324)

The practical side

Sleeping early is part of the sunnah of the night. The Prophet ﷺ disliked sleeping before Isha and conversation after it. (Sahih al-Bukhari 568) Set the alarm out of reach. Sleep in a way that lets you wake.

If you are unsure

For rulings on your own situation, ask a qualified scholar you trust locally.