Dua Before Sleeping
“Bismika Allahumma amutu wa ahya” is an authentic dua from the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ, recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari 6324, 6312. Read it below in Arabic with transliteration and an English translation, and learn when to say it.
بِاسْمِكَ اللَّهُمَّ أَمُوتُ وَأَحْيَا
Transliteration: Bismika Allahumma amutu wa ahya.
Translation: In Your name, O Allah, I die and I live.
Source: Sahih al-Bukhari 6324, 6312
When to recite
When lying down in bed to sleep.
About this dua
Narrated by Hudhayfah ibn al-Yaman: when the Prophet ﷺ intended to sleep he would say these words. In the narration of Sahih al-Bukhari 6312 the wording is “Bismika amutu wa ahya” (without “Allahumma”); both are authentic. Sleep is described in the Quran as a kind of death (39:42), which is why the dua speaks of dying and living.
Other wording and related dhikr
Also said when lying down, with the right hand under the cheek
اللَّهُمَّ قِنِي عَذَابَكَ يَوْمَ تَبْعَثُ عِبَادَكَ
Allahumma qini 'adhabaka yawma tab'athu 'ibadak.
O Allah, protect me from Your punishment on the Day You resurrect Your servants.
Source: Sunan Abi Dawud 5045 (graded sahih by al-Albani)
Source and authenticity
- Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 6324, 6312
- Grading: Recorded in the Sahih collections of al-Bukhari and/or Muslim, the most authentic books of hadith.
- Read the source: Sahih al-Bukhari 6324 · Sahih al-Bukhari 6312
The English translation is our own, kept close to the Arabic. Hadith numbers follow the standard numbering used on sunnah.com.
Related duas
More in Duas for Sleeping and Waking Up · All duas