1. To sleep early unless there is an important Deeni or worldly task to complete.
Abu Barzah رضي الله عنه narrates that the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) disliked to sleep before Esha and talk after it. (Bukhari 568)
2. To recite Bismillah and close the doors of one’s home.
Saiyiduna Jabir ibn Abdullah said, the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: “Then when part of the night has passed, let them go and close the doors and mention the Name of Allah”. (Muslim 2012)
3. To cover pots and tie up water-skins.
It was narrated from Jâbir رضي الله عنه that the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: “Cover vessels and tie up water-skins”. (Muslim 2012)
4. To extinguish any lamps.
It was narrated that Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنه said: “A mouse came and started dragging a wick, and brought it, and dropped it before the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) on the mat on which he was sitting, and it burned a hole in it the size of a dirham. He said: ‘When you go to sleep, extinguish your lamps, for the Shaitan directs a creature such as this to do this, to burn you.”
(Abu Dawud 5247)
5. To sleep in the state of ritual purity (wudhu).
Bara’ bin A’zib رضي الله عنه narrated that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said to me, “Whenever you go to bed perform ablution like that for Salah (prayer).
Sayyidinah Abbullah ibn Umar narrates that the Prophet said: “An angel shares the bed of the person who passes the night in a state of purity (i.e. wudhu). When he awakens the angels supplicate saying,” O Allah, forgive this servant of yours.”( Ibn Hibban 1051)
It was narrated from Abu Zabyah رضي الله عنه, from Mu’adh bin Jabal رضي الله عنه, that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: “There is no Muslim who sleeps remembering Allah, and in a state of purity, then wakes up at night, and asks Allah for good in this world and in the Hereafter, but He will give him that.”(Abu Dawud 5042)
6. If a person intends to sleep in the state of major ritual impurity (Janabah), then it is masnoon to wash their private parts and perform wudhu or tayyamum.
Hazrat Aishah رضي الله عنها narrated that, Whenever the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) intended to sleep while he was Junub, he used to wash his private parts and perform ablution like that for the salah (prayer). (Bukhari 288)
7. To wash ones hands if they are greasy (due to food).
It was narrated that Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه said: “The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم)said: “Whoever sleeps with grease on his hands without washing them, and something happens to him, he has no one to blame but himself.” (Abu Dawud 3852)
8. To change ones clothes before sleeping.
(Tahawi 1/30, Subulul Hudaa war Rashaad 7/570, Sunan wa Aadaab 28)
9. To sleep with a good intention (like to rest the body).
Salman رضي الله عنه went to visit Abu Darda’ رضي الله عنه, and saw Umm Dardã’ رضي الله عنها wearing shabby clothes, so he said: ‘Why are you wearing such shabby clothes?’ She said: ‘Your brother Abu Dardã’ has no interest in the world.’ So when Abu Darda’ arrived, he prepared some food for him (Salman) and said: ‘Eat, for I am fasting.’ He (Salman) said: ‘I shall not eat until you eat.” He said: “So he ate. When night came Abu Dardã’ started to leave and stand (in prayer), but Salman said to him: ‘Sleep.’ So he slept. Then he went to stand (in prayer) but he said to him: ‘Sleep’, so he slept. When it was close to the morning, Salman said: ‘Get up now.’ So they got up and performed Salah. Then he (Salman) said: ‘Indeed yourself has a right upon you, your Lord has a right upon you, your guest has a right upon you, and your family has a right upon you. So give each the right they are due. They went to the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم), mentioned it to him, so he said: ‘Salman spoke the truth.
Tirmithi (2413)
10. To repent before sleeping.
Abu Sa’eed [رضي الله عنه] narrated that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said:
“Whoever says, when he goes to his bed: ‘ (Astaghfirullaha lladhi Laa ilaaha illaa Huw, Alhayyul-Qayyum, Wa Atübu Ilaihi) I seek forgiveness from Allah, the One whom there is none worthy of worship except for Him, the Living, the Sustainer, and I repent to Him ‘ three times, Allah shall forgive him his sins if they are like the foam of the sea, even if they were the number of the leaves of the trees, even if they were the number of sand particles of ‘aalij, even if they were the number of the days of the world.”
Tirmithi (3397)
11. To clean ones heart from hatred and jealousy.
Anas bin Mãlik رضي الله عنه narrated that the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said to me: “0 my son! If you are capable of (waking up in) the morning and (ending) the evening, while there is nothing of false-heartedness in your heart for anyone, then do so.” Then he said to me: ‘0 my son! That is from my Sunnah. Whoever revives my Sunnah then he has loved me. And whoever loved me, he shall be with me in Paradise.”
Tirmithi (2678)
12. To sleep with the intention of waking up for Tahajjud.
Abu-Darda رضي الله عنه narrated that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: “Whoever goes to his bed intending to get up and pray Qiyam at night, then sleep overwhelms him until morning, will have recorded that which he intended, and his sleep is a charity given to him by his Lord, the Mighty and Sublime.”
(Nasai 1788)
13. To recite aayatul kursi before sleeping.
Abu Hurairah (ra) said: “The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) deputised me to keep (guard over) Sadaqah of Ramadan. Someone came and started taking handfuls of the Sadaqah quickly. I took hold of him and said, ‘By Allah, I will take you to the Messenger of Allah.’ He said, ‘I am needy and have many dependents.’ I released him, and in the morning the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) asked me, ‘What did your prisoner do yesterday?’ I said, ‘O Messenger of Allah! The person complained of being needy and of having many dependents, so I pitied him and let him go.’ The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said, ‘Indeed, he told you a lie and he will return.’ I believed that he would return again as the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) had told me that he would return. So I waited for him watchfully. When he returned and started stealing handfuls of foodstuff I caught hold of him again and said, ‘I will definitely take you to the Messenger of Allah.’ 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 the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) asked me, ‘What did your prisoner do?’ I replied, ‘O Messenger of Allah! He complained of his great need and of too many dependents, so I took pity on him and set him free.’ The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) 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 Sadaqah, I caught hold of him and said, ‘I will surely take you to the Messenger of Allah 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, ‘When ever you go to bed, recite Ayat al-Kursi: ‘Allah – There is no God but He, the Living, the Everlasting’, till you finish the whole verse. If you do so, Allah will appoint a guard for you who will stay with you and no devil will come near you till morning.’ So, I released him.
In the morning, the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) 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.’ The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) asked, ‘What are they?’ I replied, ‘He said to me, ‘When ever you go to bed, recite Ayat al-Kursi from the beginning to the end: ‘Allah – There is no God but He, the Living, the Everlasting.’ He further said to me, ‘If you do so, Allah will appoint a guard for you, who will stay with you, and no devil will come near you till morning.’ The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) 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 Hurairah?’ Abu Hurairah said, ‘No.’ He said, ‘It was Shaytan (the Devil).’”
[Bukhari: 2311]
14. To recite the last two verses of surah Baqarah.
Abu-Musa al-Badari رضي الله عنه narrated that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said:”Whosoever recited the last two Verses of Surat Al-Ba qarah at night, that will be sufficient for him.”
(Bukhari 4008)
15. To recite Suratul Kafiroon before sleeping.
Khabbab رضي الله عنه narrates that the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) never came on his bed but he recited ‘قُلْ يَا أَيُّهَا الْكَافِرُونَ’ till the end.
(Tabrani in Kabeer 3708)
It was narrated from Farwah ibn Nawfal, from his father that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said to Nawlal:
“Recite ‘قُلْ يَا أَيُّهَا الْكَافِرُونَ’ then go to sleep at the end of it, for it is a disavowal of Shirk.”
(Abu Dawud #5055)
16. Recite Surah Ikhlas, Surah Falaq and Surah Naas, thereafter blow in your palms and wipe over your entire body.
Aishah رضي الله عنها narrated that: “Whenever Allah’s Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) went to bed, he used to recite Surat Al-Ikhlas, Surat Al-Falaq and Surat An-Nas and then blow on his palms and pass them over his face and those parts of his body that his hands could reach. And when he fell ill, he used to order me to do it like that for him.” (Bukhari 5748)
17. To recite Surah Alif laam Meem sajdah, Surah Mulk, Surah Bani Israeel and Surah Zumar before sleeping.
Jabir said: “The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) would not sleep until he recited Tanzzl as-Sajdah and Tabarak. (Tirmidhi 3404)
Aishah رضي الله عنهاsaid: “The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) would not sleep until he recited Az-Zumar and Banu Israeel.” (Tirmidhi 3405)
18. To recite the Duaas that are prescribed in the hadith of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم)
