Morning and Evening Remembrances
📖Sunan al-Tirmidhī 3401
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “When one of you gets up from his bed and then returns to it, let him brush it off with the end of his garment three times, for he does not know what came to it after him. When he lies down, let him say: In the name of my Lord, I lay down my side and by You I make it rise, and if You take my soul, have mercy upon it, and if you release it, grant it protection the same as given to Your righteous servants. When he awakens, let him say: All praise is due to Allah who granted wellness to my body, returned my spirit, and allowed me to remember Him.
Description:
1. Brushing the bed with the end of the garment:
The Prophet ﷺ instructed brushing the bed three times before lying down again to protect oneself from unseen harm. This could include insects, small creatures, or unseen spiritual influences. In modern times, it reminds us to maintain hygiene, especially since beds can harbor germs, dust, or insects. Symbolically, it also signifies caution and mindfulness before resting, acknowledging that the space we occupy may have changed while we were away.
2. Supplication before sleep:
Lying down and saying: “In the name of my Lord, I lay down my side and by You I make it rise, and if You take my soul, have mercy upon it, and if you release it, grant it protection the same as given to Your righteous servants” – this emphasizes total reliance on Allah, acknowledging that sleep is a temporary death and a test. Sleep is a state where the soul is vulnerable; reciting this supplication seeks protection and mercy, reflecting the awareness that life is temporary and only Allah controls it.
3. Supplication upon waking:
Saying: “All praise is due to Allah who granted wellness to my body, returned my spirit, and allowed me to remember Him” glorifies Allah for health, life, and consciousness. Awakening is a gift, and the recognition that one could have passed away in sleep reminds believers to be grateful and mindful of their mortality.
Qur’anic Context:
📖Quran 39:42
Allah takes the souls at the time of their death, and those who do not die during their sleep. He keeps those for whom He has decreed death and sends back the others for a term appointed. Indeed, in that are signs for a people who reflect.
This verse highlights that sleep is a minor death, and the soul’s return is by Allah’s will. The hadith supplications align perfectly, acknowledging human vulnerability and divine mercy.
📖Quran 76:2
We created man from a drop of mingled sperm, in order to try him; and We gave him hearing and sight.
This emphasizes the ongoing tests of life, including sleep and waking, and the importance of remembering Allah in all states.
📖Quran 33:41
O you who have believed, remember Allah with much remembrance.
- This verse supports the Hadith by showing that remembering Allah is not limited to formal prayer.
It is for your own benefit: it strengthens your consciousness, keeps you aware of His commands, and protects your heart from negligence.
The daily actions of brushing the bed, making supplications before sleep, and praising Allah upon waking are practical ways to integrate constant remembrance into your life.
📖Quran 2:222
Indeed, Allah loves those who turn to Him in repentance and loves those who purify themselves.
This verse emphasizes that purification, both spiritual and physical, is beloved to Allah. Brushing the bed is a form of practical purification aligned with this guidance.