Prophetic Supplication for Restlessness, Fear & Nightmares

Explicitly established in Quran or Sahih Hadith as ruqyah/protection for this exact matter.

When experiencing fear, sudden panic, or sleepless restlessness during sleep, the Prophet ﷺ taught his companions a comprehensive supplication to seek refuge in Allah's perfect words (Sunan Abi Dawud 3893). It brings tranquility to anxious hearts and wards off demonic distress.

Sunan Abi Dawud Hasan

أَعُوذُ بِكَلِمَاتِ اللَّهِ التَّامَّاتِ مِنْ غَضَبِهِ وَعِقَابِهِ وَشَرِّ عِبَادِهِ وَمِنْ هَمَزَاتِ الشَّيَاطِينِ وَأَنْ يَحْضُرُونِ

Translation (EN)

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) taught them to say when feeling fear in sleep: 'I seek refuge in the perfect words of Allah from His anger, His punishment, the evil of His servants, and from the whisperings of devils and from their presence.'

Quran 2:255

اللَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ ۚ لَا تَأْخُذُهُ سِنَةٌ وَلَا نَوْمٌ ۚ لَّهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ ۗ مَن ذَا الَّذِي يَشْفَعُ عِندَهُ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِ ۚ يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ ۖ وَلَا يُحِيطُونَ بِشَيْءٍ مِّنْ عِلْمِهِ إِلَّا بِمَا شَاءَ ۚ وَسِعَ كُرْسِيُّهُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ ۖ وَلَا يَئُودُهُ حِفْظُهُمَا ۚ وَهُوَ الْعَلِيُّ الْعَظِيمُ

Translation (EN)

Allah - there is no deity except Him, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of [all] existence. Neither drowsiness overtakes Him nor sleep. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. Who is it that can intercede with Him except by His permission? He knows what is [presently] before them and what will be after them, and they encompass not a thing of His knowledge except for what He wills. His Kursi extends over the heavens and the earth, and their preservation tires Him not. And He is the Most High, the Most Great.

Sahih al-Bukhari Sahih

كَانَ إِذَا أَوَى إِلَى فِرَاشِهِ كُلَّ لَيْلَةٍ جَمَعَ كَفَّيْهِ ثُمَّ نَفَثَ فِيهِمَا فَقَرَأَ فِيهِمَا: قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ، وَقُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ الْفَلَقِ، وَقُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ النَّاسِ، ثُمَّ يَمْسَحُ بِهِمَا مَا اسْتَطَاعَ مِنْ جَسَدِهِ

Translation (EN)

Whenever the Messenger of Allah ﷺ went to bed each night, he would cup his palms together, blow lightly into them, and recite Surah Al-Ikhlas, Surah Al-Falaq, and Surah An-Nas into them, then wipe over whatever he could of his body with them.

How to Perform / When to Recite

Perform wudu before sleeping and dust the bed. Recite Ayat al-Kursi and the Three Quls (Ikhlas, Falaq, Nas), blowing into cupped hands and wiping the body. If waking with fright or restlessness, recite: 'A'oodhu bi-kalimatil-lahit-tammati min ghadabihi wa 'iqabihi wa sharri 'ibadihi...'

Important Safety Note: Ruqyah is a means of seeking Allah's protection and healing; it does not replace medical care. Never hang amulets or go to fortune-tellers/sorcerers.

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