From Holy Prophet(saws)
From Lady Fatima(sa)
From Baqiyatus salehat
For Insomnia/ getting sleep

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Holy Prophets(saws) Duas

38. In al-Makarim: When he retired to his bed, he would lie down on his right side and place his right hand under his right cheek, then he would say:
39. Also: He had different types of supplications that he would recite when he laid down to sleep... and when he was about to sleep he would say:
40. Also: He used to recite Ayat al-Kursi before sleeping, saying: Jibrail came to me and said: “O "Muhammad" ! Verily there is a mischievous jinn who deceives you in your sleep so you must recite the Ayat al-Kursi (to ward off his evil).”[iii]

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[i] Makarim al-Akhlaq: 38, al-Mustadrak 5:36[ii] Makarim al-Akhl¡q: 38 [iii] Makarim al-Akhlaq: 38, al-Kafi 2:536

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30] Lady Fatima (sa) supplication while going to bed -Sahifa Fatima (sa)

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[31] Her supplication for preventing nightmares
After that spit thrice on the left.

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From Baqiyatus Salehat for protection

Al-Mufaddal ibn `Umar reported the following: Imam al-Sadiq (`a) said to me: If possible, you should not go to bed at night before you pray for the protection as below:

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Imam Ali Naqi(as) du’a at sleeping When he went to bed or awoke from sleep, he recited this du’a:
arabic? “There is no god but Allah the Alive, the Eternal, and He has power over all things. Glory be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds and the Deity of the messengers. Glory be to Allah, the Lord of the seven heavens and all that which they have, and the Lord of the seven earths and all that which they have, the Lord of the Great Throne, and peace be on the messengers, and praise be to Allah the Lord of the worlds.”

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[19] Lady Fatima (sa) Duas supplication for cure of insomnia
It is narrated from Ali (a.s.) that he said: Fatima (s.a.) complained to the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.) about insomnia. He told her: Recite the following my child:

Imam Jaa'far Sadiq (A.S.) said that when you have difficulty in falling asleep, recite this Duaa:
Sub'haanallaahi Zish-Shaani Daa'imis-Sultwaani Kulla Yawmin Huwa Fish-Shaan.

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Duas when going to Bed - Nafila نــافلــة App
Imam Ali(as) after putting right hand below cheek

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Ayat Sakhara from Imam Ali(as)protection of angels & from shaitan

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Imam Muhammad Baqir (A.S.) said that when you go to sleep put your right hand under your head and recite this Duaa:
Then recite tasbih of Syeda Zahra(sa)

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Hadith #2
2. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad in a marfu’ manner from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s) who has said the following: “When any of you is about to go to your bed you should say,

Hadith #3
3. Humayd ibn Ziyad has narrated from al-Husayn ibn Muhammad from more than one person from Aban ibn ‘Uthman from Yahya ibn al-‘Ala’ from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s) who has said the following: “At bedtime he (abu ‘Abd Allah, recipient of divine supreme covenant) would say,

Hadith #4
4. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Jamil ibn Darraj from Muhammad ibn Marwan who has said the following: “Once Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s) said, ‘Should I tell you about what the Messenger of Allah would say when going to his bed?’ I said, ‘Yes, please do so.’ The Imam said, ‘He would read verse 255 of Chapter two and say,

Hadith #5 5. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from his father from ‘Abd Allah ibn Maymun from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s) who has said the following: “Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s) would say To remain safe from Ehtelaam (emission of semen) recite:,

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Hadith #6
6. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Muhammad ibn Khalid and al-Husayn ibn Sa’Id all from al-Qasim ibn ‘Urwah from Hisham ibn Salim from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s) who has said the following: “ Tasbih of Fatimah al-Zahra’ (a.s) should be said when you are about to go to your bed. It is saying, ‘Allah is greater than can be described, thirty-four times, all praise belongs to Allah, thirty-three times and Allah is free of defects,’ thirty-three times. Recite verse 255 of Chapter two, Chapters 113, 114, ten verses from the beginning of Chapter 37 and ten verses from the end of Chapter 37.’”

Hadith #7
7. It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn Sa’Id from Fadalah ibn Ayyub from Dawud ibn Farqad from his brother that Shahab ibn ‘Abd Rabbihi asked him to ask help from abu ‘Abd Allah, recipient of divine supreme covenant: “Ask the Imam, ‘A woman frightens me in my dream at night.’ The narrator has said that the Imam said, ‘Tell him to take rosary beads ( sabhah ) and say, ‘Allah is greater than can be described, thirty-four times, all praise belongs to Allah, thirty-three times, Allah is free of defects, thirty-three times,’ then say,

Hadith #8
8. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from Mu’awiyah ibn Wahab who has said the following: “One night the son of Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s) came to him and said, ‘Father I want to go to sleep.’ He said son, say, Mu’awiyah has said that each time the name of the Holy Prophet was mentioned, the boy kept saying “The noble and blessed,” and asked the Imam, ‘Can I say, “The noble and blessed?”’ The Imam said, ‘Yes, son, “The noble and blessed.’”

Hadith #10
10. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ‘Uthman ibn ‘Isa from Khalid ibn Najih who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s) has said, ‘Whenever you are about to sleep in your bed say,

Hadith #11
11. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from al-Husayn ibn Sa’Id from al-Nadr ibn Suwayd from al-Qasim ibn Sulayman from Jarrah al-Mada’Ini from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s) who has said the following: “When one of you wakes up during the night and says this ,Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, will say, “My servant has spoken the truth and has thanked Me.’

Hadith #12
12. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Hammad ibn ‘Isa from Hariz from Zurara from abu Ja’far (a.s) who has said the following: “During the night if you wake up say,
‘All praise belongs to Allah, who has returned my spirit to me so I can thank Him and worship Him.’

When you hear the voice of a rooster then say,
When you look at the Horizon


Hadith #13
13. Abu Ali al-Ash’ari has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar and Muhammad ibn Isma’Il from al-Fadl ibn Shadhan all from Safwan ibn Yahya from ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn al-Hajjaj who has said the following: “When Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s) toward the end of night was to wake up he would raise his voice so people of the house could hear him, saying,

Hadith #14
14. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from certain individuals of his people in a marfu ’ manner from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s) who has said the following: “When you are about to sleep say,

Hadith #15
15. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Muhammad ibn Khalid and al-Husayn ibn Sa’Id all from al-Nadr ibn Suwayd from Yahya al-Halabi from abu ‘Usamah who has said the following: “I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s) saying, ‘Whoever recites Chapter 112 of the Holy Quran one hundred times at the time of going to sleep his deeds of the past fifty years will be forgiven.’ Yahya has said that I asked Sama’a about it and he said that abu Basir narrated to him saying, ‘I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s) saying the same thing and said to me, “O abu Muhammad, if you try it you will find it firmly established.’””

Hadith #16
16. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad and Ahmad ibn Muhammad all from Ja’far ibn Muhammad al-Ash’ari from ibn al-Qaddah from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s) who has said the following: “When the Messenger of Allah were about to go to his bed he would say, and when he would wake up he would say, Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s) has said, ‘Whoever recites verse 255 of Chapter two before going to sleep three times, verses 18,19 of Chapter three, verse 54 of Chapter 7 and verses 53-54 of Chapter 41 two devils will be assigned to protect him against the rebellious devils whether they like or dislike it, and with them from Allah there will be thirty angels who praise Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, glorify Him, testify that no one deserves to be worshipped except Allah, say that Allah is greater than can be described, plead before Allah for forgiveness for him until that servant (of Allah) wakes up and he will receive all the reward for it (whatever the angels have said).”’



Hadith #18
18. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from al-Nawfali from al-Sakuni from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s) who has said the following: “The Holy Prophet has said, ‘Whoever likes to wake up at night, at the time of going to sleep should say, Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, will assign an angel to wake him up at that time.’”

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Other Miscellaneous Recommendations

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Ayatullah Jawad Tabrizi ra ( teacher of Aytullah khomeini (ra) ) recommends recitation of foll ayats before sleeping :

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S 18 Kaf 110 , Sura2 Baqara: 285 & 286 ,Sura 5 Maida :1 , Sura 3 Ale Imran: 19 & Sura 14 Ibrahim :27

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Recite "Al-Qayyoomu" (The Everlasting) 156 times to have a sound sleep.

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Recite 100 times "Al-Baaisu" for the increase in wisdom, or 573 times the same for increase in intellectual power. Recite Surah-e-Hashr and S.Az-Zaariyaat (this increases sustenance).

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Recite this Duaa:
"Aoodhu Bikalimaatillaahit Ttammaatil Latee Laa Yujaavizuhunna Barrun Walaa Faajirun Min Sharri Maa Zara'a Wa Min Sharri Maa Bara'a Wa Min Sharri Kulli Daabbatin Huwa Aakhidhun Bi Naasiyatihaa Inna Rabbee Alaa Swiraatum Mustaqeem."

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When you fear you would not be able to wake up at a desired time then recite this Duaa:
"Qul Innamaa Basharun Mislokum Yoohaa Elayya Annamaa Elaahokum Elaahin Waahid, Famankaana Yarjoo Liqaa'a Rabbihee Falya'amal Swaalihan Walaa Yushrik Bee Ibaadatee Rabbihee Ahadaa."

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To have a sound, peaceful and fearless sleep recite:
"Laa Ilaaha Illallaahu Wahdhu Laa Shareeka Lahoo Yuhyee Wa Yumeetu Wa Yumeetu Wa Yuhyee, Wahuwa Hayyun Laa Yamoot."

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Duaa: "Allaahumma Innaka Faradhta Alayya Twaa'atan Aliyyibni Abee Twaalibin, Wal Hasani Wal Husayn Wa Aliyyibnil Husayn, Wa Muhammadibni Aliyyin, Wa Ja'faribi Muhammad, Wa Moosabni Ja'far, Wa Aliyyibni Moosa, Wa Muhammadibni Aliyyin, Wa Aliyyibni Muhammad, Wall Hasanibni Aliyyin, Wal Hujjatul Qaaimi Swalawaatullahi Alayhim Ajma'een."

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Duaa: "Sub'haanallaahi Heena Tumsoona Wa Heena Tusbihoon,, Walahul Hamdu Fis-Samaawaati Wal Ardh, Wa Ashiyyan Wa Heena Tudh'hiroon."
Duaa: "U'eedhu Nafsee Wa Dhurriyyatee Wa Ahlibaytee Wa Maalee Bi Kalimaatillaahit-Tammaati Min Kulli Shaytwaanin Wa Haammatin Min Kulli Aynin Laammatin."

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For protection recite:
"Bismil-Laahir-Rahmaanir-Raheem. Innahum Yakeedoona Kaydan Wa Akeedu Kayda, Fa Mahhilil Kaafireena Amhilhum Ruwayda."

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It is also stated that not to miss reciting the following Duaa when you go to bed:
Ueedhu Nafsee Wa Dhurriyatee Wa Ahli Baytee Wa Maalee Kalimaatillaahit-Tammaati Min Kulli Shaytwanin Wa Haammatin Wa Min Kulli Aynil-Laammati.

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Imam Redha (A.S.) said that anyone reciting the following Duaa shall remain safe from being crushed under the falling house:
Innallaaha Yumsikus-Samaawaati Wal Ardha An Tazoola Wa La'in Zaalataa In Amsakahuma Min Ahadin Mimba'adihi, Innahoo Kaana Haleeman Ghafoora.

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It is reported from an authentic tradition from Imaam Ali ibnul Husayn (A.S.) that whoever recites the following Duaa at bed-time his poverty and problems will disappear, and will not be harmed by any dangerous insect:
Allaahumma Antal Awwalu Falaa Shay'in Qablaka Wa Antadh-Dhwaahiru Falaa Shay'un Fawqaka Wa Antal Baatwinu Falaa Shay'un Doonaka Wa Antal Aakhiru Falaa Shay'un Ba'adaka. Allaahumma Rabbas-Samaawaatis-Sab'I Wa Rabbal Aradheenas-Sab'I Wa Rabbat-Tawraati Wal Injeeli Waz-Zaboor Wal Qur'aanil Hakeem. Aoodhu Bika Min Sharri Kulli Daabbatin Anta Aakhizun Bi Naaswiyatihaa, Innaka Alaa Swiraatum Mustaqeem.

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If you wish to be blessed with the holy sight of Imaam Ali (A.S.) then at the time of going to sleep recite this Duaa:
Allaahumma Innee As'aluka Yaa Man Laho Lutfun Khufayyun Wa Ayaadeehi Baasitwatun Laa Taqbeedhan As'aluka Bi Lutfikal Khafiyyil-Ladhee Maa Latwufat Bihee Li Abdin Illaa Kafaa An Turiyanee Mawlaaya Ameerul Mu'mineen Aliy-Yibna Abee Twaalibin Alayhissalaamu Fee Manaamee.

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A person who wishes to see in dream anyone from the dead should do this: Perform Wudhoo and sleep on your right, recite Tasbeeh-e-Lady Fatima (S.A.) then recite this Duaa:
Allaahumaa Antal Hayyul-Ladhee Laa Yooswafu Wal Eemana Ya'arifu Minhu Badaa'atil Al'ashyaau Wa Ilayka Ta'oodu Akbal Minhaa Kuntu Maljaa'a Wa Maa Adabar Minhaa Lam Yakunlahoo Maljaa'un Walaa Manjaa Minka Illaa Ilayka, Fa As'aluka Bi Laa Ilaaha Illaa Anta, Wa As'aluka Bismillaahir-Rahmaanir-Raheem, Wa Bihaqqi Habbebika Muhammadin Swallallaahu Alayhi Wa Aalihi Sayyidin-Nabiyyeen, Wa Bihaqqi Aliyyin Khayril Waswiyyeen, Wa Bihaqqi Faatimata Sayyidatan-Nisaail Aalameen, Wa Bihaqqil Hasani Wal Husaynil-Ladheena Ajalta Humaa Sayyiday Shabaabi Ahlil Jannati Alayhi Ajmaeens-Salaamu, An Tuswalli Alaa Muhammadin Wa Aali Muhamma Wa In Turiyanee Mayyiti Fil Haalil-Latee Huwa Feehaa.

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Imam Jaa'far Saadiq (A.S.) said when you change your sides while sleeping recite "Al-Hamdu Lillaahi Walaahu Akbar."

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To seek guidance for a problem in dream: Go to bed while you are in the state of Twahaarah. Before falling asleep recite 7 times Surah Ash-Shams and 7 times Surah Al-Layl, then recite:
"Allaahumj'alnee Min Amri Haadhaa Farajan Wa Makhrajan."

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He should recite some Qur’anic verses and some supplications, especially the sura of Ikhlas (112) or al-Hashr (59) or at-Takathur (102) or all of them, and say what the Prophet (s) used to say,
‘O my Lord, if You take my soul in my sleep, forgive it, and if You set it free, keep it safe as You keep Your good people.’

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Duas upon waking up PDF card | Wake up at particular time

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Remember Imam Mahdi(ajtfs) and Send Salutations to him

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16. “When the Messenger of Allah were about to go to his bed he would say, and when he would wake up he would say,

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The Imam said that anyone who wakes up from sleep and recites the following Duaa shall be considered a grateful servant of Almighty Allah (swt):

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Importance of a ring of aqeeq and looking at it in the morning and while praying
Thirty-eighth: Sayyid Ibn Tawus has reported Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (‘a) as saying that whoever begins his morning wearing a ring of an agate ( Aqeeq) stone in the right hand, turns the stone of the ring to the side of the palm of the hand before looking at anything else, looks at the stone, recites Surah al-Qadr, and says this devotional statement,
...Almighty Allah will safeguard him on that day from whatever descends from the heavens, whatever ascends to it, whatever comes into the earth, and whatever comes out of it, and he will be under the protection of Almighty Allah and one of his beloved servants up to the night:

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From Ususl Kafi

3278‒4. Muḥammad ibn Yaḥyā (‒) Aḥmad ibn Muḥammad (‒) al- Ḥajjāl* and Bukayr ibn Muḥammad (‒) Abū Isḥāq ash-Sha‘īrī (‒) Yazīd ibn Kalthamah that Abū ‘Abdillāh or Abū Ja‘far (‘a.s.) said: “When you wake up in the morning, say:

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“He (‘a.s.) said: ‘Amīr al-Mu’minīn (‘a.s.) used to say in the mornings:

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3312‒38. ‘Alī ibn Muḥammad (‒) some of his co-sectarians (‒) Muḥam-mad ibn Sinān (‒) Abū Sa‘īd al-Makārī (‒) Abū Ḥamzah that Abū Ja‘far (‘a.s.) said: “I asked him: ‘What is meant by the verse wherein Allāh says: And Ibrāhīm who fulfilled [his duty], [Qur., 53:37]?’ He [‘a.s.] said: ‘Some words that he pronounced regularly.’ I asked: ‘What were these words?’ He [‘a.s.] said: ‘Whenever Ibrahim(as) woke up in the morning he would say the following thrice:And he said the same thing thrice in the evenings.

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I asked: ‘What did He mean when He said about Nūḥ: Indeed he was a grateful servant [Qur., 17:3]?’ He [‘a.s.] replied: ‘Some words that he pronounced regularly.’ I asked: ‘What were these words?’ He [‘a.s.] said: ‘Whenever Nuh(as) awoke in the morning he would say: He would say this thrice every morning and thrice every evening.’

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To Wake up at a Particular Time

Fifth: Imam al-Sadiq (as) reported the Holy Prophet (s) as saying: Whoever intends to wake up at a particular time , may say the following words before he goes to sleep. If he does, Almighty Allah will order an angel to awaken him at the very time he intends to wake up:

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Ref Kafi :3330‒18. ‘Alī ibn Ibrāhīm (‒) his father (‒) an-Nawfalī (‒) as-Sakūnī that Abū ‘Abdillāh (‘a.s.) said:
From Al Kafi 3329‒17. Aḥmad ibn Muḥammad al-Kūfī (‒) Ḥamdān al-Qalānisī (‒) Muḥammad ibni ‘l-Walīd (‒) Abān (‒) ‘Ᾱmir ibn ‘Abdillāh ibn Judhā‘ah that Abū ‘Abdillāh (‘a.s.) said:

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Hadith #17
17. Ahmad ibn Muhammad al-Kufi has narrated from Hamdan al-Qalanisi from Muhammad ibn al-Walid from Aban from ‘Amir ibn ‘Ubayd Allah ibn Judha’a from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s) who has said the following: “Whoever recites verse 110 of Chapter 18 he will wake up at the hour he wants to wake up.”

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Seventh: `Abd al-Rahman ibn al-Hajjaj has reported that Imam al-Sadiq (`a), whenever he woke up at the last hours of night, would raise his voice with this prayer so that the people of his house would hear him:

It is highly emphasized to do Ablutions /Wudhoo before going to sleep . A person sleeping in the state of having performed Wudhoo gets the reward of having done worship for the whole night.
It is recommended to lie down on the right side and put the hand under the cheek & keep the face towards the Kaaba .It is Makrooh to lie down on the left side.
It is recommended to take account of all our deeds of the past day so as to rewind our tape of memory of good and bad deeds we have committed, thus, eventually realizing our position on the scale of morality, .If the scale of bad deeds is heavier then good deeds we should attempt to reverse the scale in the next coming day. It is said that take your Reckoning/Accounting (Hisaab) yourself ,before you are taken to be reckoned, i.e. by Angels.
The human being goes through a weak form of death every time he sleeps. That reminder alone is enough for us to be cognizant of our mortality and the transience of this world.
Thus we are told to say the following prayer upon awakening from sleep; All Praise is for Allah who gave me life after death, and to Him is the return.
A person should realize that there is no surety of getting up again after we sleep , therefore it is important that when we sleep we must possess a clean heart filled with pure faith. Perhaps we may not get a chance to rectify the past wrongs. So one should revive his or her faith, i.e. confirm from the bottom of the heart all that is necessary for a believer. Then do Istighfaar ( repentance) and recite the Recommended Duas

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Sleeping Tips /Etiquettes
“O you, who sleep too much and are indifferent, too much sleeping brings regret. In the grave, when you enter into it, there will be a long sleep after death, and a bed of sins or good deeds you have done will wait for you there.”
The traditions warn of too much sleeping. The Prophet (s) said, ‘Beware of too much sleeping, because it leaves its friend poor on the Day of Resurrection.’
Imam al-Baqir (s) said in a Qudsi [1] tradition that Prophet Moses (s) had said, ‘O my Lord, which of Your people is the most odious to You? Allah said, ‘Carrion (sleeping) in the night and idle in the day.’
Imam as-Sadiq (s) said, ‘Allah hates much sleeping and much idleness.’ He also said, ‘Much sleeping wastes religion and life.’
The youth should spend their spare time in reading and acquiring good information and memorizing the suras of the Holy Qur'an because the Qur'an lights the heart and life. Whoever learns in his youth will make use of his knowledge when he grows up. The old learn nothing if they missed leaning in their youth.
Islam has not left the need of sleeping to man without directing it with special manners that give man a comfortable sleep and make him active in getting up. Here are some of these manners to be observed before going to bed:
1. Man should go to bed after cleansing himself from sweat and unpleasant smells.
2. He should perform wudu’.
3. He should go to the Washroom and relieve himself.
4. He should not sleep on his face and abdomen because it is the sleep of the Satan and is harmful to the self and body. The believers sleep on their backs or right sides except if there is an excuse.
5. When lying, instead of thinking of what is of no benefit, Islam invites man to criticize himself on what he has done during his day. Imam as-Sadiq (s) said, ‘When you go to your bed, think of what you have done in your day and remember that you will die and will be resurrected to be punished.’
Go to bed early and avoid evenings full of play and amusement, and awake early to find all good before you; good health, livelihood, activity, and vitality. The moment you awaken from your sleep, you will understand what you have read in the previous lines about the disadvantages of too much sleeping and about the manners of sleeping. If you understand this, you will wake up at the required time.
[1] Qudsi tradition (Hadith Qudsi) is a class of traditions that give words spoken by Allah as distinguished from the Prophetic traditions that give the words spoken by the Prophet (s). The words of Allah in the Qudsi traditions are different from the Qur'an that was revealed through Gabriel.
The Holy Prophet (S.A.W.W.) said: that except for three things it is not good to keep awake at night, they are: (1) for Namaz-e-Shab,( Tahajjud) (2) for reciting Holy Qur'an or for education, and (3) for that bride who came to her husband's house on the first night.
It is also Makrooh ( NOT recommended) to sleep (a) upto sun-rise, (b) in-between Maghrib and Ishaa, and (c) after the time of Asr.
And it is recommended to have a short nap just before Zohr (in summer), and siesta after Namaaz-e-Zohr and Asr. A person complained to the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) of the loss of memory, he was advised to have a small amount of sleep in the afternoon, he acted likewise and was cured of his complaint.

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Reflections from https://www.academyofislam.org/ Issue # 13 December 2011
God takes the souls at the time of their death, and those that do not die during their sleep; then He withholds those on whom He has passed the decree of death and sends the others back till an appointed term; most surely there are signs in this for a people who reflect.
Sura az-Zumar, 39:42
Imam Zaynul Abidin (a) recited this verse in the court of Ibne Ziyad in Kufa. When Imam was brought to the court the tyrant asked him who he was. The Imam replied: "I am Ali ibn al-Husayn." Ibne Ziyad said: "Did Allah not kill Ali ibn Husayn?" The Imam replied: "I had a brother whose name was also Ali and the people killed him." Ibn Ziyād insisted that it was Allah who killed him. In reply to this the Imam recited the above verse of the Qur'an, meaning that Allah takes the souls when death comes, but it is people who are sometimes responsible for the death.
At the time of death, the soul departs from the body and is taken by God. This movement of the soul from the body also takes place at the time of sleep, albeit in a weaker form. The soul's connection to the body is at a minimum during sleep and it rejoins the body when the person wakes up, coming back for an appointed time. The body-soul connection is a metaphysical reality that is not easy to understand. Perhaps it will only be fully understood once we leave this world, when such truths will become clearer to us. The Holy Quran says of the Hereafter: But now We have removed from you your veil, so your perception today is piercing. (Suraal-Qaf, 50:22)
Sleep has been described as a time for the body to get rid of the poisons it accumulates during the day. It has also been explained as necessary for the body to release its tiredness and rejuvenate itself. However these are physical explanations for the phenomena of sleep. The Qur'an gives us the spiritual understanding of sleep. It is a time when the soul leaves the body and is only partially connected to it for that time. It is a form of minor death, and that is why wudhu and specific prayers are recommended before sleeping.
When we sleep our consciousness fades and we are no longer in charge of our selves. Our bodily functions are maintained but our consciousness sublimates to a different level. The soul is held in a different alternate state. And He it is Who takes your souls at night (in sleep), and He knows what you acquire in the day, then He raises you up therein that certain conditions may be fulfilled (Sura al-An'am, verse 60). The taking of the soul denotes a proximity to God, not of space but of existence. The soul is extended into a different realm of existence, a realm not familiar to the body.
Ayatullah Nasir Makarim Shirazi in Tafsire Namune explains that the connection of the body and soul can be in three stages:
a) Complete connection - when the human being is awake. The soul is with the body and performs all actions along with it.
b) Partial connection - when the human being is asleep. The soul leaves the body but there is some connection to it. The person is then in a state between life and death.
c) Complete disconnection - at the time of death. The soul leaves the body and travels to the other world. It joins the body in the grave for questioning and is then sent to the place where it will abide until the Day of Judgment.
Points to Ponder 1) The human being goes through a weak form of death every time he sleeps. That reminder alone is enough for us to be cognizant of our mortality and the transience of this world. Thus we are told to say the following prayer upon awakening from sleep; All Praise is for Allah who gave me life after death, and to Him is the return. Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (a) also says: When you wake up from sleep say: All Praise is for Allah who has returned my soul so I Praise Him and worship Him.
2) The dreams that a person sees is the experience of the soul as it travels. In sleep the awareness of one level weakens and recedes and we enter into another modality and awareness. The transition from the physical realm to the metaphysical realm involves an experiencing of different realities. Glimpses and flashbacks of these realities are brought back in the state of wakefulness in the form of dreams.
3) When the soul leaves the body, during sleep and at the time of death, it is God who receives the soul. Although other verses mention Malakul Maut, the angel of death, as the one who removes the soul, this is done under the command of Allah. It is He who orders the removal of the soul and He who receives it. It is the return of the soul to its original source - Surely we come from Allah and to Him we return. (Sura al-Baqarah, 2: 156)

Sources
Ayatullah Nasir Makarim Shirazi (ed.), Tafsire Namune
Agha Muhsin Qara'ati Kashani, Tafsire Noor
Muhammad al-Ray Shahree, Mizanul Hikmah

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Comprehensive booklet "Miftah Al Falah" on sleeping ettiquettes | PDF
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Usul Kafi bed time hadith link Thaqalayn.net
Chapter on Supplication to be Recited Before Sleeping
AL-KAFI / Suplication Ch. 49 / الكافي / الدعاء باب 49

3313‒1. ‘Alī ibn Ibrāhīm (‒) his father* and al-Ḥusayn ibn Muḥammad (‒) Aḥmad ibn Isḥāq, both of them (‒) Bakr ibn Muḥammad that Abū ‘Abdillāh (‘a.s.) said:
“Whoever recites the following three times when he goes to bed comes out of sin and his state becomes like it was the day when his mother gave birth to him:
‘All praise belongs to Allāh Who is Exalted and hence dominates. All praise belongs to Allāh Who is Hidden and hence aware [of everything]. All praise belongs to Allāh Who is the Owner and hence has power [over everything]. All praise belongs to Allāh Who gives life to the dead and causes the living to die, and He has power over all things.’”
3314‒2. Muḥammad ibn Yaḥyā (‒) Aḥmad ibn Muḥammad, rafa‘ahu to Abū ‘Abdillāh (‘a.s.) that he said:
“When anyone among you goes to bed, he should say:
‘O Allāh, I put my soul in Your custody, so keep it in a place of Your pleasure and forgiveness. And if You return it [to my body], then return it as a believing soul that is cognizant of the rights of Your friends, until You finally take it [when I die, while it is] upon this belief.’”

3315‒3. Ḥamīd ibn Ziyād (‒) al-Ḥusayn ibn Muḥammad (‒) more than one person (‒) Abān ibn ‘Uthmān (‒) Yaḥyā ibn Abi ‘l-‘Alā’ (‒) Abū ‘Abdillāh (‘a.s.) that he used to say when going to sleep:
“I believe in Allāh and reject the devil. O Allāh protect me while I sleep and when I am awake.”
* * * * *
3316‒4. ‘Alī ibn Ibrāhīm (‒) his father (‒) Ibn Abī ‘Umayr (‒) Jamīl ibn Darrāj that Muḥammad ibn Marwān said:
“Abū ‘Abdillāh (‘a.s.) said: ‘Should I not tell you what the Prophet (ṣ) used to say when he went to bed?’ I said: ‘Yes.’ He [‘a.s.] said: ‘He would read the Verse of the Throne and then say:
“In the name of Allāh, I believe in Allāh and reject the devil. O Allāh protect me while I sleep and when I am awake.”’”

3317‒5. A group of our co-sectarians (‒) Aḥmad ibn Muḥammad (‒) his father (‒) ‘Abdullāh ibn Maymūn that Abū ‘Abdillāh (‘a.s.) said: “Amīr al-Mu’minīn (‘a.s.) used to say:
‘O Allāh, I seek refuge with you from wet dreams and nightmares, and from Satan playing tricks on me while I am awake or asleep.’”
3318‒6. Muḥammad ibn Yaḥyā (‒) Aḥmad ibn Muḥammad ibn ‘Īsā (‒) Muḥammad ibn Khālid and al-Ḥusayn ibn Sa‘īd, both of them (‒) al- Qāsim ibn ‘Urwah (‒) Hishām ibn Sālim that Abū ‘Abdillāh (‘a.s.) said:
“[Recite] the glorification (tasbīḥ) of Fāṭimah az-Zahrā’ (‘a.s.) when you go to bed, saying: ‘Allāh is Great’ thirty-four times, ‘All praise be to Allāh’ thirty-three times and ‘Glory be to Allāh’ thirty-three times. Then recite the Verse of the Throne, the mu‘awwidhatayn (sūrah: ‘an-Nās’ and ‘al-Falaq’), followed by the first ten and the last ten verses of sūrah ‘aṣ-Ṣāffāt’.”


3319‒7. From him (‒) Aḥmad ibn Muḥammad (‒) al-Ḥusayn ibn Sa‘īd (‒) Faḍālah ibn Ayyūb (‒) Dāwūd ibn Farqad (‒) his brother that Shihāb ibn ‘Abd Rabbih requested him to ask Abā ‘Abdillāh (‘a.s.) the following: “Say to him that there is a woman who terrifies me in my sleep at night.” He (‘a.s.) responded:
“Tell him to place a rosary [near himself] and recite ‘Allāh is Great’ thirty-four times, ‘Glory be to Allāh’ thirty-three times and ‘All praise belongs to Allāh’ thirty-three times.
Then he should say ten times: ‘There is no deity but Allāh, alone, without any partner. His is the Kingdom and to Him belongs all praise. He gives life and causes death, He causes death and gives life, and in His hand is all good. He controls the alternation of night and day and has power over all things.’”

3320‒8. Muḥammad ibn Yaḥyā (‒) Aḥmad ibn Muḥammad (‒) ‘Alī ibni ‘l-Ḥakam (‒) Mu‘āwiyah ibn Wahb (‒) Abū ‘Abdillāh (‘a.s.) that one of his sons came to him at night and said:
“O father, I wish to go to sleep.” He [‘a.s.] said:
“O my son, say: ‘I bear witness that there is no god but Allāh, and that Muḥammad (ṣ) is His servant and messenger. I seek refuge with the greatness of Allāh, I seek refuge with the might of Allāh, I seek refuge with the power of Allāh, I seek refuge with the majesty of Allāh, I seek refuge with the authority of Allāh, indeed Allāh has power over all things. I seek refuge with the forgiveness of Allāh, I seek refuge with the clemency of Allāh, I seek refuge with the mercy of Allāh from the evil of every poisonous creature, whether its poison is lethal or not, and from the evil of every small and large animal, during the night or day, and from the evil of the wicked jinn and men, and from the wicked Arab and non-Arab, and from lightning flashes and the [freezing] cold. O Allāh, bless Muḥammad, Your servant and messenger.’”
[The narrator, Mu‘āwiyah, continued:]
“The boy would say: ‘the virtuous, the blessed’ whenever he mentioned the Prophet (ṣ), so the Imām (‘a.s.) said: ‘Yes my son, [indeed he was] the virtuous, the blessed.’”
3321‒9. ‘Alī ibn Ibrāhīm (‒) his father (‒) some of his co-sectarians that Mufaḍḍāl ibn ‘Amr said:“Abū ‘Abdillāh (‘a.s.) said: ‘If possible, do not sleep at night until you have sought refuge with eleven letters.’ I asked: ‘Tell me about them.’ He [‘a.s.] said: ‘[Say:]
“I seek refuge with the might of Allāh, I seek refuge with the power of Allāh, I seek refuge with the majesty of Allāh, I seek refuge with the authority of Allāh, I seek refuge with the beauty of Allāh, I seek refuge with the shield of Allāh, I seek refuge with the prevention of Allāh, I seek refuge with the assembly of Allāh, I seek refuge with the kingdom of Allāh, I seek refuge with the countenance of Allāh and I seek refuge with the Messenger of Allāh (ṣ), from the evil of what has been created, nurtured and released.” You may seek refuge like this whenever you wish.’”

3322‒10. A group of our co-sectarians (‒) Aḥmad ibn Muḥammad (‒) ‘Uthmān ibn ‘Īsā that Khālid ibn Najīḥ said:
“Abū ‘Abdillāh (‘a.s.) used to say: ‘When you retire to bed, say:
“In the name of Allāh. I place my right side down for Allāh, upon the path of Ibrāhīm, the pure of faith, in submission to Allāh, and I am not among the polytheists.”’”

3323‒11. Muḥammad ibn Yaḥyā (‒) Aḥmad ibn Muḥammad ibn ‘Īsā (‒) Ḥusayn ibn Sa‘īd (‒) an-Naḍr ibn Suwayd (‒) al-Qāsim ibn Sulaymān (‒) Jarrāḥ al-Madā’inī that Abū ‘Abdillāh (‘a.s.) said:
“If any of you wakes up during the night, he should say:
‘Glory be to the Lord of the Prophets, the Master of the Messengers and the Caretaker of the helpless and oppressed. All praise belongs to Allāh Who gives life to the dead and has power over all things.’
[If you do this,] Allāh, to Whom belong Might and Majesty says: ‘My servant has spoken the truth and shown gratitude.’” * * * * * 3324‒12. ‘Alī ibn Ibrāhīm (‒) his father (‒) Ḥammād ibn ‘Īsā (‒) Ḥarīz (‒) Zurārah that Abū Ja‘far (‘a.s.) said:
“If you wake up from your sleep in the night, say:
‘All praise belongs to Allāh Who returned my soul [to my body] so that I may praise and worship Him.’
When you hear the cry of the rooster, say:
‘O Glorified and Most Holy One, Lord of the Angels and the Spirit. Your mercy precedes Your wrath. There is no god but You, alone. I have done wrong and oppressed myself so please forgive me, for indeed there is none Who can forgive sins but You.’
3325‒13. Abū ‘Alī al-Ash‘arī (‒) Muḥammad ibn ‘Abdi ‘l-Jabbār* and Muḥammad ibn Ismā‘īl (‒) al-Faḍl ibn Shādhān, both of them (‒) Ṣafwān ibn Yaḥyā that ‘Abdu ‘r-Raḥmān ibni ‘l-Ḥajjāj said:
“Whenever Abū ‘Abdillāh (‘a.s.) woke up during the last part of the night, he would raise his voice, until those in the house could hear him, and say:
‘O Allāh, help me to bear the horror of the Day of Reckoning, and widen for me the narrowness of the grave, and grant me the best that precedes death and the best that comes after death.’”

3326‒14. ‘Alī ibn Ibrāhīm (‒) his father (‒) Ibn Abī ‘Umayr (‒) some of his co-sectarians, rafa‘ahu, said:
“When you want to sleep, say:
‘O Allāh, if You take my soul, then have mercy on it, and if you send it [back], then protect it.’”

3327‒15. Muḥammad ibn Yaḥyā (‒) Aḥmad ibn Muḥammad ibn ‘Īsā (‒) Muḥammad ibn Khālid and al-Ḥusayn ibn Sa‘īd, both of them (‒) an- Naḍr ibn Suwayd (‒) Yaḥyā al-Ḥalabī that Abū Usāmah said: “I heard Abā ‘Abdillāh (‘a.s.) say:
‘Whoever recites sūrah “al-Ikhlāṣ” a hundred times when he goes to bed, his misdeeds of the past fifty years shall be forgiven.’” Yaḥyā said: “I asked Samā‘ah about this, so he said that Abū Baṣīr related to him that he heard Abā ‘Abdillāh (‘a.s.) say this, and he said [to him]: ‘O Abā Muḥammad, if you were to try it, you would find it to be correct.’” 3328‒16. A group of our co-sectarians (‒) Sahl ibn Ziyād* and Aḥmad ibn Muḥammad, both of them (‒) Ja‘far ibn Muḥammad al-Ash‘arī (‒) Ibnu ‘l-Qaddāḥ that Abū ‘Abdillāh (‘a.s.) said:
“When the Prophet (ṣ) went to bed, he would say:
‘O Allāh, by Your name do I live and by Your name do I die.’ And when he woke up from his sleep, he would say:
‘All praise belongs to Allāh Who gave me life after making me die and before Him is the Resurrection.’
” Abū ‘Abdillāh(‘a.s.) said:
“Whoever recites the Verse of the Throne three times, the verse in sūrah ‘Āl ‘Imrān’ that starts with: Allāh bears witness that there is no god except Him and [so do] the angels and those who possess knowledge, the Verse of Subservience [Qur., 7:54), and the Verse of Prostration [Qur., 32:30], before he goes to sleep, two devils are assigned to guard him from the hordes of rebellious devils, whether they like it or not, and with them, thirty angels, praising Allāh, to Whom belong Might and Majesty, and glorifying Him, testifying to His Oneness, extolling His Greatness and praying for the forgiveness of that servant until he wakes up from his sleep, and the reward for all this is given to him.”