Dua Before Sleeping (Bedtime Istighfar)

August 19, 2026

Uyumadan Önce Okunacak İstiğfar Duası Okunuşu ve Anlamı

Explanation

This is an istighfar dua recited before going to sleep. It covers repentance for all sins, both small and great.

Dua Text

اَللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَغْفِرُكَ لِكُلِّ ذَنْبٍ يُوجِبُ عَلَيَّ صَغِيرُهُ أَلِيمَ عَذَابِكَ وَيَحِلُّ بِي كَبِيرُهُ شَدِيدَ عِقَابِكَ

Transliteration

Allahumma inni astaghfiruka li-kulli dhanbin yujibu ‘alayya saghiruhu alima ‘adhabika wa yahillu bi kabiruhu shadida ‘iqabika.

Meaning

O Allah! I seek Your forgiveness for every sin of mine, the small of which calls for Your painful torment and the great of which calls for Your severe punishment.

What Is Asked in This Dua

This dua is an istighfar; the servant asks Allah for forgiveness. Yet they do not mention their sins at random, but divide them into two groups. Even small sins may call for a painful torment, while great sins deserve a severe punishment. The servant asks forgiveness for all their sins of both kinds, repenting in a way that covers them all without making light of any fault.

The meaning of the dua shows that a person takes the consequences of their sins seriously and sees themselves in need of Allah’s pardon. The servant turns to Allah, remembering that even the mistakes they consider small may have a consequence. This short and comprehensive repentance aims to cleanse the heart at the close of the day and to lie down in Allah’s presence purified of sins.

When and How to Recite

As stated in the source, this dua is recited before going to sleep. The book reminds that sleep is regarded as half of death and advises going to bed with repentance; so it is fitting to recite it regularly every night before bed. No specific number is mentioned.

Taking wudu before going to bed is good, but it is not a condition for the dua. What matters is reciting it with regret and sincerity, thinking over the small and great mistakes made during the day. Whoever finds the Arabic difficult can repent with the same intention using its meaning in their own language.

Virtue

The source book notes that sleep is regarded as half of death and advises going to bed with repentance.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the dua before sleeping recited?

It is recited every night before going to sleep. The book notes that sleep is regarded as half of death and advises going to bed with repentance.

What does the bedtime istighfar dua mean?

The servant asks Allah’s forgiveness for all their sins, the small of which call for a painful torment and the great of which call for a severe punishment.

Can the bedtime istighfar dua be said in English?

Yes, you can also repent using its meaning in your own language. What matters is remembering your sins and asking for forgiveness with regret.

Source

Majmu'at al-Ahzab, vol. 2, p. 212.

The text on this page was prepared by Dua Kitaplığı based on the work cited above. The Arabic text has been transcribed from the original with its vowel marks, and the transliteration in Latin letters and the English meaning are given separately. No virtue or number that does not appear in the source is added to this page. How do we prepare our content?

Published: 19 August 2026 · Last updated: 9 October 2026