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When you go to bed say …
Al-Bara' ibn 'Azib reported that Allah's, Messenger, may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said to me: When you go to bed, perform ablution as is done for prayer; then lie down on the right side and recite:" Allahumma aslamtu nafsi ilaika wa fauwadtu `Amri ilaika, wa wajjahtu wajhi ilaika wa alja'tu zahri ilaika, reghbatan wa rahbatan ilaika. La malja'a wa la manja minka illa ilaika. Amantu bikitabikal-ladhi anzalta; wa nabiyyikalladhi arsalta I have surrendered myself over to you and have turned my face towards You, and leave all my affairs to You and depend on You and put my trust in You expecting Your reward and fearing Your punishment. There is neither fleeing from You nor refuge but with You. I believe in the Book (Qur'an) which You have revealed and in Your Prophet (Muhammad) whom You have sent.' If you then die on that night, then you will die as a Muslim, let them the last thing to utter." I repeated it before the Prophet, may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and when I reached "Allahumma amantu bikitabika-l-ladhi anzalta (O Allah I believe in Your Book which You have revealed)." I said, "Wa-rasulika (and your Messenger)." The Prophet, may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said, "No, (but say): 'Wanabiyika-l-ladhi arsalta (Your Prophet whom You have sent), instead."
The Prophet, may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, used to advise his companions to observe what benefits them whether in their religion or in their worldly life, the speech is directed to them in particular and to others in general, unless there is an evidence that confine the speech to the companions may Allah be pleased with them, in particular.
In this Hadeeth, the Messenger of Allah, may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, commanded Al-baraa ibn 'Azib may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, to act according to it after he had memorized it and was well aware of it, then he shall communicate it to others in act according to it. The narrators transmitted it accurately and honestly, so it was the commandment that combined many benefits. Those who are keen on remembering their Lord consider it the best of the commandments of the Prophet, may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, to be said when one goes to bed, lies down on his side, and delivers the soul to his Creator, if he wishes he will return it to him otherwise he would keep it with him.
It is a commandment that reassures the heart of the believer, and calms his soul when he settles into his bed to rest from the suffering of the work.
