Reciting Three Surah (Chapters) Before Bed

عَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا قَالَتْ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِذَا أَوَى إِلَى فِرَاشِهِ نَفَثَ فِي كَفَّيْهِ بِقُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ وَبِالْمُعَوِّذَتَيْنِ جَمِيعًا ثُمَّ يَمْسَحُ بِهِمَا وَجْهَهُ وَمَا بَلَغَتْ يَدَاهُ مِنْ جَسَدِهِ قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ فَلَمَّا اشْتَكَى كَانَ يَأْمُرُنِي أَنْ أَفْعَلَ ذَلِكَ بِهِ 

Narrated `Aisha: Whenever Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) went to bed, he used to recite Surat-al-Ikhlas, Surat-al-Falaq and Surat-an- Nas and then blow on his palms and pass them over his face and those parts of his body that his hands could reach. And when he fell ill, he used to order me to do like that for him. 

Grade: Sahih 

Source: Sahih al-Bukhari 5748 

(Hadith translation taken from http://sunnah.com/bukhari/76/63) 

Lessons: 

1.  Rasulullah (ﷺ) taught that in a Muslim’s actions, there is adab (etiquette) to be observed. This includes when one goes to bed. 

2.  Among the adab before going to bed is reciting the the surah al-Ikhlas, al-Falaq and an-Nas and then blowing on the palms and passing them over the face and those parts of the body that the hands can reach.  

3.  It is permissible to recite these surah for other people and have them pass their own hands over their bodies, as in the case of children and the sick, for example.

4.  These three surah are recited three times each and become protection from evil creatures. 

إقراء قل هو الله أحد , والمعوذتين حين تمسي و حين تصبح , ثلاث مرات تكفيك من كل شيء 

"Recite Surat Al-Ikhlas and Al- Mu'awwidhatain (Surat Al-Falaq and Surat An-Nas) three times at dawn and dusk. It will suffice you in all respects." 

Grade: Sahih 

Source: Abu Dawud and at-Tirmizi

http://sunnah.com/riyadussaliheen/16/49 

Let’s practice the sunnah of Rasulullah (ﷺ) before going to bed by reciting these three surah.