Dua Upon Waking Up from Sleep

September 3, 2026

Uykudan Uyanınca Okunacak Dua Okunuşu ve Anlamı

Explanation

This dua is recited upon waking up from sleep. It is taken from Surah az-Zumar and reminds us that sleep is the brother of death.

Dua Text

اَللّٰهُ يَتَوَفَّى الْأَنْفُسَ حِينَ مَوْتِهَا وَالَّتِي لَمْ تَمُتْ فِي مَنَامِهَا، فَيُمْسِكُ الَّتِي قَضَى عَلَيْهَا الْمَوْتَ وَيُرْسِلُ الْأُخْرَى إِلَى أَجَلٍ مُسَمًّى، إِنَّ فِي ذٰلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لِقَوْمٍ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ

Transliteration

Allahu yatawaffal-anfusa hina mawtiha wallati lam tamut fi manamiha, fa-yumsikul-lati qada ‘alayhal-mawta wa yursilul-ukhra ila ajalin musamma, inna fi dhalika la-ayatin li-qawmin yatafakkarun.

Meaning

Allah takes the souls at the time of their death, and the souls of those who have not died during their sleep. He keeps those for whom He has decreed death and releases the others until an appointed time. Surely in this there are signs for a people who reflect.

What Is Asked in This Dua

This dua is verse 42 of Surah az-Zumar, and it reminds the one who wakes up of what sleep really is. The verse states that Allah takes the souls at the moment of death, and takes the souls of those who have not died during their sleep. The soul of the one for whom death has been decreed is kept, and the other is released until an appointed time. In other words, every awakening is Allah returning the soul that night, a period of time given anew.

Here the servant does not so much ask for something as affirm a truth and reflect on it: life and death are in Allah’s hands; sleep is the brother of death, and waking up is a new respite. The phrase at the end of the verse, “there are signs for a people who reflect,” advises us to take this lesson as the day begins and to meet the new day we have been given with gratitude and awareness.

When and How to Recite

It is recited upon waking up from sleep. The source book does not mention a specific number of recitations; since it is a verse, the essential thing is to recite it while reflecting on its meaning, with the intention of contemplation.

It can be recited as soon as you open your eyes in the morning or after any sleep. Reciting it from memory does not require wudu; since it is a verse of the Quran, wudu is required if it is to be recited from the Mushaf. Those who find the Arabic difficult can also engage in this contemplation by reflecting on the meaning of the verse in their own language.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the dua upon waking up recited?

It is recited when waking up from sleep; it reminds us that sleep is the brother of death and that waking up is a new respite.

What is the meaning of the dua upon waking up?

It is verse 42 of Surah az-Zumar: Allah takes the souls at death and during sleep; He keeps those for whom He has decreed death and releases the others until an appointed time.

Can the dua upon waking up be recited without wudu?

Reciting it from memory does not require wudu; since it is a verse of the Quran, wudu is required to recite it while touching the Mushaf.

Source

Az-Zumar 39:42. Majmu'at al-Ahzab, vol. 1, p. 610.

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: 3 September 2026 · Last updated: 9 October 2026