48/17. Chapter:
Jami at-Tirmidhi 3397 — Istighfar Before Sleep
Something Else: The Supplication: “I Seek Forgiveness From Allah The One Whom There Is None Worthy Of Worship Except For Him, And He Is The Living, The Sustainer”
Astaghfirullah Before Sleep Hadith
Jami at-Tirmidhi : 3397
Jami at-TirmidhiHadith Number 3397
حَدَّثَنَا صَالِحُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ، عَنِ الْوَصَّافِيِّ، عَنْ عَطِيَّةَ، عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ، رضى الله عنه عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " مَنْ قَالَ حِينَ يَأْوِي إِلَى فِرَاشِهِ أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ الْعَظِيمَ الَّذِي لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ الْحَىَّ الْقَيُّومَ وَأَتُوبُ إِلَيْهِ . ثَلاَثَ مَرَّاتٍ غَفَرَ اللَّهُ ذُنُوبَهُ وَإِنْ كَانَتْ مِثْلَ زَبَدِ الْبَحْرِ وَإِنْ كَانَتْ عَدَدَ وَرَقِ الشَّجَرِ وَإِنْ كَانَتْ عَدَدَ رَمْلِ عَالِجٍ وَإِنْ كَانَتْ عَدَدَ أَيَّامِ الدُّنْيَا " . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ غَرِيبٌ لاَ نَعْرِفُهُ إِلاَّ مِنْ هَذَا الْوَجْهِ مِنْ حَدِيثِ الْوَصَّافِيِّ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الْوَلِيدِ .
Abu Sa`eed (ra) narrated that : The Prophet (ﷺ) Said: “Whoever Says, When He Goes To His Bed: ‘I Seek Forgiveness From Allah, [The Magnificent] The One Whom There Is None Worthy Of Worship Except For Him, The Living, The Sustainer, And I Repent To Him (Astaghfirullāha [Al-`AẓIm] Alladhi Lā Ilāha Illā Huw, Al-ḤAyyul-Qayyūm, Wa Atūbu Ilaihi)’ Three Times, Allah Shall Forgive Him His Sins If They Were Like The Foam Of The Sea, Even If They Were The Number Of Leaves Of The Trees, Even If They Were The Number Of Sand Particles Of `Alij, Even If They Were The Number Of The Days Of The World.”
[1] Meaning a place where sand mounds into dunes, and it is also said that is one of the places that is called that. See Lisān Al-'Arab .Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3397In-book reference : Book 48, Hadith 28English translation : Vol. 6, Book 45, Hadith 3397
Summary of Jami at-Tirmidhi Hadith 3397
This hadith about Astaghfirullah before sleep teaches a short form of istighfar to say when going to bed. The words are: “I seek forgiveness from Allah, the Magnificent, the One whom there is none worthy of worship except Him, the Living, the Sustainer, and I repent to Him.” The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said it is said three times. The narration then mentions forgiveness of sins, even with strong comparisons such as the foam of the sea, leaves of trees, sand particles of Alij, and days of the world. Since those examples are in the hadith, they should be understood as part of the reported virtue. The main lesson is to end the day with repentance and asking Allah for forgiveness.
What we learn from this hadith
- The hadith teaches istighfar when going to bed.
- The wording includes tawhid and Allah’s names: the Living and the Sustainer.
- The narration mentions saying it three times.
- It encourages ending the day with repentance to Allah.
