Homework Assignment #4
(Remembering Allah before Sleep)

by Rami Mahmoud Elsawah

We created the heavens and the earth and all between them in Six Days, nor did any sense of weariness touch Us.Bear, then, with patience, all that they say, and celebrate the praises of thy Lord, before the rising of the sun and before (its) setting. And during part of the night, (also,) celebrate His praises, and (so likewise) after the postures of adoration. (Surat Qaf 38-40)

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Insha Allah, the next four assignments will focus on remembering Allah; in the morning, in the evening, when we rise, and when we sleep. These things while they may seem small, clean out the heart and help us resist shaytaan. As you will see, insha Allah, reciting ayatul Kursi or saying "Subhan Allah" "Alhamdullilah", & "Allahu Akbar" will make all the difference in the struggle to get up for fajr and the struggle to get through the many tasks of your day.

In particular, remembering Allah before sleeping is quite important. Sleep after all, is a daily death. Our souls return to Allah subhanna wa taala every night and there is no guarantee that it will be returned to bring us to life the next day. How important do you think it is then that we meet Allah subhanna wa taala after having given Him rememberance and thanks?

Insha Allah this week's assignment is to keep the rememberance of Allah before you sleep. I will put specific adhkaar for specific things you might want; for instance if you have trouble waking up for fajr, if you have arduous days, if you have nightmares from shaytaan etc. Many of these go together (such as warding off shaytaan, having nightmares, and getting up for fajr). Btw, most of these can be found in "Fortification of the Muslim" which you can find online by any seacrh engine. I chose to post the full hadtihs so that you can gain the perspective of how/when these supplications were taught to us.

IF YOU HAVE ARDUOUS DAYS

Sahih Bukhari
Volume 7, Book 64, Number 274:

Narrated Ali:

Fatima went to the Prophet complaining about the bad effect of the stone hand-mill on her hand. She heard that the Prophet had received a few slave girls. But (when she came there) she did not find him, so she mentioned her problem to 'Aisha. When the Prophet came, 'Aisha informed him about that. 'Ali added, "So the Prophet came to us when we had gone to bed. We wanted to get up (on his arrival) but he said, 'Stay where you are." Then he came and sat between me and her and I felt the coldness of his feet on my abdomen. He said, "Shall I direct you to something better than what you have requested? When you go to bed say 'Subhan Allah' thirty-three times, 'Alhamdulillah' thirty three times, and Allahu Akbar' thirty four times, for that is better for you than a servant."

NIGHTMARES AND EVIL

(Protection from Shaytaan)
Sahih Bukhari
Volume 3, Book 38, Number 505t:

Narrated Abu Huraira:

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."

(Nightmares)
Abu Dawud
Book 51, Number 51.4.9:

Yahya related to me from Malik that Yahya ibn Said said that he had heard that Khalid ibn al-Walid said to the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, "I have nightmares." The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said to him, "Say, 'I seek refuge with the complete words of Allah from His anger and His punishment and the evil of His slaves, and from the evil suggestions of the shayatin and from their being present (at death).' "

Audhu bi kalimati' llahi't-tammati min ghadabihi wa iqabihi wa sharri ibadihi wa min hamazati' sh-shayatin wa an yahdurun.

(Evil things)
Book 51, Number 51.4.11:

Yahya related to me from Malik from Suhayl ibn Abi Salih from his father from Abu Hurayra that a man of the Aslam tribe said, "I did not sleep last night." The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said to him, "For what reason?" He said, "A scorpion bit me." The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Had you said in the evening, 'I seek refuge with the complete words of Allah from the evil of what He has created, 'it would not have happened."

Audhu bi kalimati'llahi't-tammati min sharri ma khalaq .

MEETING ALLAH & YOUR DEATH

(Dying on Fitrah)
Sahih Bukhari
Volume 8, Book 75, Number 327:

Narrated Al-Bara' bin 'Azib:

When Allah's Apostle went to bed, he used to sleep on his right side and then say,

"All-ahumma aslamtu nafsi ilaika, wa wajjahtu wajhi ilaika, wa fawadtu Amri ilaika, wa alja'tu zahri ilaika, raghbatan wa rahbatan ilaika. La Malja'a wa la manja minka illa ilaika. Amantu bikitabika al-ladhi anzalta wa nabiyyika al-ladhi arsalta! Allah's Apostle said, "Whoever recites these words (before going to bed) and dies the same night, he will die on the Islamic religion (as a Muslim)."

‘O Allaah, I submit my soul unto You, and I entrust my affair unto You, and I turn my face towards You, and I totally rely on You, in hope and fear of You. Verily there is no refuge nor safe haven from You except with You. I believe in Your Book which You have revealed and in Your Prophet whom You have sent.’

(Refuge from Punishment)
Abu Dawud
Book 41, Number 5027:

Narrated Hafsah, Ummul Mu'minin:

When the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) wanted to go to sleep, he put his right hand under his cheek and would then say three times:

O Allah, guard me from Thy punishment on the day when Thou raisest up Thy servants.

(Author's note on next Hadith: Try, if you can, to position your bed so that while sleeping on your right side you would be facing the Qiblah. It's Feng Shui Muslim Style.)
Abu Dawud
Book 41, Number 5026:

Narrated Umm Salamah, Ummul Mu'minin:

Some relative of Umm Salamah said: The bed of the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) was set as a man is laid in his grave; the mosque was towards his head.

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