Bedtime Duas for Kids: A Simple Night Routine from the Quran and Sunnah

Quick answer: A simple, authentic bedtime routine for children can include: the short dua “Bismika Allahumma amutu wa ahya”, reciting the three Quls (Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq and An-Nas) and gently wiping over the body as the Prophet (peace be upon him) did, and, for older children, Ayat al-Kursi. Each of these comes from Sahih al-Bukhari or the Quran. Start with one, keep it calm, and add the next once your child knows it well.

Written by Quran Specialist Online (QSO). All Arabic below is taken directly from Quran.com and Sunnah.com.

Why a bedtime routine helps

Bedtime is one of the best moments to teach children duas. They are calm, close to you and willing to listen. A short routine every night also gives children a sense of safety: the same words, in the same order, before sleep. Over months, those words become part of who they are.

1. The dua before sleeping

This short dua is the easiest place to start. It is reported in Sahih al-Bukhari:

بِاسْمِكَ اللَّهُمَّ أَمُوتُ وَأَحْيَا

Narrated Hudhaifa: Whenever the Prophet (ﷺ) intended to go to bed, he would recite: "Bismika Allahumma amutu wa ahya (With Your name, O Allah, I die and I live)." And when he woke up from his sleep, he would say: "Al-hamdu lil-lahil-ladhi ahyana ba'da ma amatana; wa ilaihi an-nushur (All the Praises are for Allah Who has made us alive after He made us die (sleep) and unto Him is the Resurrection). "

Sahih al-Bukhari 6324 (Sunnah.com).

The English in brackets in the narration above gives the meaning. Sleep is sometimes described as a small death, and waking as being given life again. Children often find this idea fascinating, and it opens a gentle conversation about trusting Allah.

Teaching tip: say it together every night for two weeks before expecting your child to say it alone.

And when they wake up

The same hadith includes a dua for waking up. Here is its Arabic wording from the same narration:

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي أَحْيَانَا بَعْدَ مَا أَمَاتَنَا، وَإِلَيْهِ النُّشُورُ

Narrated Hudhaifa: Whenever the Prophet (ﷺ) intended to go to bed, he would recite: "Bismika Allahumma amutu wa ahya (With Your name, O Allah, I die and I live)." And when he woke up from his sleep, he would say: "Al-hamdu lil-lahil-ladhi ahyana ba'da ma amatana; wa ilaihi an-nushur (All the Praises are for Allah Who has made us alive after He made us die (sleep) and unto Him is the Resurrection). "

Sahih al-Bukhari 6324 (Sunnah.com).

Its meaning is given in the second set of brackets in the narration. Pairing the two duas helps children see the beginning and end of the night as one routine.

2. The three Quls

The Prophet (peace be upon him) had a beautiful bedtime habit with the last three surahs of the Quran:

Narrated 'Aisha: Whenever the Prophet (ﷺ) went to bed every night, he used to cup his hands together and blow over it after reciting Surat Al-Ikhlas, Surat Al-Falaq and Surat An-Nas, and then rub his hands over whatever parts of his body he was able to rub, starting with his head, face and front of his body. He used to do that three times.

Sahih al-Bukhari 5017 (Sunnah.com).

Many children already know Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq and An-Nas, which makes this an easy routine to adopt. Hold your child’s hands together, recite the three surahs, gently blow into the hands and wipe over the head, face and body, three times. Younger children usually love this.

If your child is still learning these surahs, our memorisation plan for the last 10 surahs starts with exactly these three.

3. Ayat al-Kursi, for older children

Ayat al-Kursi (verse 255 of Surah Al-Baqarah) is a longer verse, so it suits children who already read or memorise well. Here it is with its meaning:

ٱللَّهُ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ٱلْحَىُّ ٱلْقَيُّومُ ۚ لَا تَأْخُذُهُۥ سِنَةٌ وَلَا نَوْمٌ ۚ لَّهُۥ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۗ مَن ذَا ٱلَّذِى يَشْفَعُ عِندَهُۥٓ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِۦ ۚ يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ ۖ وَلَا يُحِيطُونَ بِشَىْءٍ مِّنْ عِلْمِهِۦٓ إِلَّا بِمَا شَآءَ ۚ وَسِعَ كُرْسِيُّهُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ ۖ وَلَا يَـُٔودُهُۥ حِفْظُهُمَا ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَلِىُّ ٱلْعَظِيمُ

“Allāh – there is no deity except Him, the Ever-Living, the Self-Sustaining. 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 Kursī extends over the heavens and the earth, and their preservation tires Him not. And He is the Most High, the Most Great.” (Quran 2:255)

Arabic and translation: Quran.com, Sahih International.

In a well-known narration in Sahih al-Bukhari, reciting Ayat al-Kursi when going to bed is described as bringing a guard from Allah through the night, and the Prophet (peace be upon him) confirmed that this advice was true (the full story is in Sahih al-Bukhari) (Sahih al-Bukhari 5010). Ayat al-Kursi is also described in Sahih Muslim as the greatest verse in the Book of Allah (Sahih Muslim) (Sahih Muslim 810).

4. The last two verses of Al-Baqarah

For teens and adults, the last two verses of Surah Al-Baqarah are another authentic night-time recitation:

Narrated Abu Mas'ud: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "If somebody recited the last two Verses of Surat Al-Baqara at night, that will be sufficient for him."

Sahih al-Bukhari 5009 (Sunnah.com).

These two verses are longer, so they are a good later goal once the earlier steps are secure.

A sample night routine

Making it stick

• Keep it short. Two or three minutes is plenty for younger children.
• Same time, same order. Predictability is comforting.
• Explain the meaning. One sentence in English helps children understand what they are saying.
• Do it with them. Children copy what parents do, not just what they say.
• Do not turn it into a test. If your child forgets, simply say it together.

Getting the pronunciation right

Duas and surahs learned at bedtime are often learned by ear, so small pronunciation errors can slip in and stay. It helps to have a teacher listen now and then. Our guide to makharij for parents explains the sounds children most often find hard.

At Quran Specialist Online, lessons are live, one-to-one and 30 minutes on Zoom or MS Teams, taught in English. Teachers can check your child’s duas and short surahs as part of their lessons. Parents can sit in, female teachers are available, and you receive monthly written progress reports. Plans start from £30 a month in the UK and $35 a month in the USA. See the fee page.

Frequently asked questions

Which bedtime dua should my child learn first?
The short sleeping dua, then the three Quls.

Is there an authentic source for these duas?
Yes. Each one above is linked to Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim or the Quran, with the reference shown.

My child falls asleep before we finish. Is that OK?
Yes. Start earlier, or keep it shorter. Calm is more important than completeness.

Can I read the duas from transliteration?
It can help at first, but learning the Arabic sounds properly with a teacher is better in the long run.

Want a teacher to check your child’s duas? Book a 7-day free trial. More: Quran classes for kids UK · Quran classes for kids USA.

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