Riyad Us-Saliheen (Gardens of the Righteous)

Chapter 127
What is to be said at the time of Sleeping

814. Al-Bara' bin `Azib (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: Whenever Messenger of Allah (PBUH) went to bed, he would lie down on his right side and recite: "Allahumma aslamtu nafsi ilaika, wa wajjahtu wajhi ilaika, wa fawwadtu amri ilaika, wa 'alja'tu zahri ilaika, raghbatan wa rahbatan ilaika, la malja'a wa la manja illa ilaika. Amantu bikitabikal-ladhi anzalta, wa nabiyyikal-ladhi arsalta [O Allah! I have submitted myself to You, I have turned my face to You, committed my affairs to You, and depend on You for protection out of desire for You and out of fear of You (expecting Your reward and fearing Your punishment). There is no refuge and no place of safety from You but with You. I believed in the Book You have revealed, and in the Prophet You have sent (i.e., Muhammad (PBUH)).]''
[Al-Bukhari].

Commentary:  Before going to bed, a believer revives his commitment to Faith, Islam and Allah by reciting this prayer of Messenger of Allah (PBUH). Through this practice, every night he is able to remember Allah and His Commandments amidst the activities of the day time.

815. Al-Bara' bin `Azib (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: Messenger of Allah (PBUH) directed me thus: "Whenever you go to bed, perform Wudu' as you do for Salat then (before sleeping) recite: `O Allah! I have submitted myself to You, I have turned myself to You, committed my affairs to You and sought Your refuge for protection out of desire for You and fear of You (expecting Your reward and fearing Your punishment). There is no refuge and no place of safety from You but with You. I believe in the Book You have revealed and in the Prophet (PBUH) You have sent.''' Messenger of Allah (PBUH) added: "If anyone recites these words and dies during the night, he will die on the true Deen, and if he remains alive till the morning, he will obtain good. And make this supplication your last words (before sleeping).''
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

816. `Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported: The Prophet (PBUH) used to offer eleven Rak`ah of optional Salat (prayers) in the latter part of night. When it was about dawn, he would offer two short Rak`ah and then would lie down on his right side till the Mu'adhdhin (one who calls for prayer) would come to inform him that the congregation had gathered (for prayer).
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Commentary:  This Hadith throws light on the Prophet's night prayers (Tahajjud), that is, it comprised thirteen Rak`ah including three Rak`ah of Witr. It is also reported in Al-Bukhari on the authority of `Aishah (May Allah be pleased with him) that Messenger of Allah (PBUH) would always perform thirteen Rak`ah in the Tahajjud prayer. This Hadith further tells us that after his midnight prayer, the Prophet (PBUH) would perform two Rak`ah of Sunnah (i.e., after the Adhan of Fajr prayer) and then lie down on his right side. This practice of Messenger of Allah (PBUH) is an established fact.

817. Hudhaifah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Whenever the Prophet (PBUH) lay down for sleep at night, he would place his (right) hand under his (right) cheek and supplicate: "Bismika Allahumma amutu wa ahya [O Allah, with Your Name will I die and live (wake up)].'' And when he woke up, he would supplicate: "Al-hamdu lillahil-ladhi ahyana ba`da ma amatana, wa ilaihin-nushur (All praise is due to Allah, Who has brought us back to life after He has caused us to die, and to Him is the return).''
[Al-Bukhari].

Commentary:  In this prayer of Messenger of Allah (PBUH) the state of sleep is associated with death, while the state of being awake is associated with life. Furthermore, it conjures up the vision of Doomsday. However, to recite these prayers prior to going to sleep and on getting up was the practice of Messenger of Allah (PBUH).

818. Ya`ish bin Tikhfah Al-Ghifari (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: My father said: I was lying down on my belly in the mosque when someone shook me with his foot and said, "Lying down this way is disapproved by Allah.'' I looked up and saw that it was Messenger of Allah (PBUH).
[Abu Dawud].

Commentary:  To sleep in prone position is extremely repugnant and Messenger of Allah (PBUH) has forbidden it.

819. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "Whoever sits in a place where he does not remember Allah (SWT), he will suffer loss and incur displeasure of Allah; and whoever lies down (to sleep) in a place where he does not remember Allah, he will suffer sorrow and incur displeasure of Allah.''
[Abu Dawud].

Commentary:  In the light of this Hadith, remembrance of Allah is commendable everywhere. Indifference to it doubtless incurs Divine wrath.