Rasulullah (ﷺ) Ritual When Going To Sleep

وَعَنْ عَائِشَةَ: أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ كَانَ إِذَا أَوَى إِلَى فِرَاشِهِ كُلَّ لَيْلَةٍ جَمَعَ كَفَّيْهِ ثُمَّ نَفَثَ فِيهِمَا فَقَرَأَ فيهمَا (قل هُوَ الله أحد) و (قل أعوذ بِرَبّ الفلق) و (قل أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ النَّاسِ) ثُمَّ يَمْسَحُ بِهِمَا مَا اسْتَطَاعَ مِنْ جَسَدِهِ يَبْدَأُ بِهِمَا عَلَى رَأْسِهِ وَوَجْهِهِ وَمَا أَقْبَلَ مِنْ جَسَدِهِ يَفْعَلُ ذَلِكَ ثَلَاث مَرَّات

From ‘Aishah who narrated that every night when the Prophet (ﷺ) went to bed, he would bring together the palms of his hands, breath unto them and recite ‘Qul huwallahu ahad (Suratul Ikhlas)’, ‘Qul a’uzhubirabbil falaq (Suratul Falaq)’, and ‘Qul a’uzhubirabbin naas (Suratun Naas)’. He would then rub them onto what parts of his body he was able to reach, beginning from his head, his face and the front part of his body. He did this three times. 

Narrated in Sahih Bukhari

Grade: sahih (authentic)

Reflections:

1. Rasulullah (ﷺ) showed his followers the etiquette of day-to-day living, including when going to bed.

2. Among the rituals when going to bed are reciting al-Muawwizaat (the Protectors) unto the palms and thence rubbing them over the body as far as one can reach.

3. Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani stated in his book Fathul Bari that what is meant by al-Muawwizaat are the three chapters of al-Ikhlas, al-Falaq and an-Naas.

4. Among the benefits of reciting al-Muawwizat are protection from djinn, devils, black magic, was-was (worry or hesitancy) and other forms of harm, including sickness:

عَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ كَانَ إِذَا اشْتَكَى يَقْرَأُ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ بِالْمُعَوِّذَاتِ وَيَنْفُثُ فَلَمَّا اشْتَدَّ وَجَعُهُ كُنْتُ أَقْرَأُ عَلَيْهِ وَأَمْسَحُ بِيَدِهِ رَجَاءَ بَرَكَتِهَا

From ‘Aishah who narrated that when the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) fell sick, he would recite al-Muawwizaat over himself and blow. When his sickness became worse, I would recite (the verses) for him and take his hand to rub over himself, hoping for its blessings.

Narrated in Sahih Bukhari

Grade: sahih (authentic)

Let’s recite al-Muawwizaat every night prior to sleeping.