50/1. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 5437 — Recite Before Sleep and After Waking
What was Narrated Concerning Al-Mu'awwidhatain (Two Surahs Seeking Refuge with Allah)
Hadith About Reciting Al-Falaq and An-Nas Before Sleep
Sunan an-Nasai : 5437
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 5437
أَخْبَرَنِي مَحْمُودُ بْنُ خَالِدٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا الْوَلِيدُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي ابْنُ جَابِرٍ، عَنِ الْقَاسِمِ أَبِي عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ عُقْبَةَ بْنِ عَامِرٍ، قَالَ بَيْنَا أَقُودُ بِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي نَقَبٍ مِنْ تِلْكَ النِّقَابِ إِذْ قَالَ " أَلاَ تَرْكَبُ يَا عُقْبَةُ " . فَأَجْلَلْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنْ أَرْكَبَ مَرْكَبَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ثُمَّ قَالَ " أَلاَ تَرْكَبُ يَا عُقْبَةُ " . فَأَشْفَقْتُ أَنْ يَكُونَ مَعْصِيَةً فَنَزَلَ وَرَكِبْتُ هُنَيْهَةً وَنَزَلْتُ وَرَكِبَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ثُمَّ قَالَ " أَلاَ أُعَلِّمُكَ سُورَتَيْنِ مِنْ خَيْرِ سُورَتَيْنِ قَرَأَ بِهِمَا النَّاسُ " . فَأَقْرَأَنِي { قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ الْفَلَقِ } وَ { قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ النَّاسِ } فَأُقِيمَتِ الصَّلاَةُ فَتَقَدَّمَ فَقَرَأَ بِهِمَا ثُمَّ مَرَّ بِي فَقَالَ " كَيْفَ رَأَيْتَ يَا عُقْبَةُ بْنَ عَامِرٍ اقْرَأْ بِهِمَا كُلَّمَا نِمْتَ وَقُمْتَ " .
'Uqbah bin 'Amir Narrated from:
While I was leading the Messenger of Allah [SAW] (on his mount) in one of these mountain passes, he said: 'Why don't you ride, O 'Uqbah?' I had too much respect for the Messenger of Allah [SAW] to ride the mount of the Messenger of Allah [SAW]. Then he said: 'Why don't you ride, O 'Uqbah?' I was worried that I might be disobeying him, so he got off, and I rode for a little while, then I got off and the Messenger of Allah [SAW] rode.Then he said: 'Shall I not teach you two of the best Surahs that the people recite?' And he taught me: 'Say: I seek refuge with (Allah) the Lord of the daybreak,' and 'Say: I seek refuge with (Allah) the Lord of mankind." Then the Iqamah was said and he went forward and recited them. Then he passed by me and said: 'What do you think, O 'Uqbah bin 'Amir? Recite them every time you go to sleep and get up.'"
[1] An-Nās 114.Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 5437In-book reference : Book 50, Hadith 10English translation : Vol. 6, Book 50, Hadith 5439
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 5437
This hadith about reciting Al-Falaq and An-Nas before sleep includes both manners and worship. Uqbah was leading the Prophet’s صلى الله عليه وسلم mount, and the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم invited him to ride. Uqbah hesitated out of respect, then worried about disobeying, so he rode for a short while. After that, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم taught him two of the best Surahs people recite: Surah Al-Falaq and Surah An-Nas. He then recited them in prayer. Finally, he told Uqbah to recite them every time he went to sleep and got up. This gives a clear daily practice tied to sleep, waking, and seeking refuge.
What we learn from this hadith
- Surah Al-Falaq and Surah An-Nas are taught for sleep and waking.
- Respect for the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم appears in Uqbah’s careful behavior.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم connected learning Qur’an with daily routine.
