Praise be to Allah.
There are so many sound du‘aa’s for sleeping that were narrated in the Prophet’s Sunnah that Imam an-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
You should understand that the hadiths and reports concerning this matter are many; what we have mentioned is sufficient for the one who is enabled to act upon them. We refrained from quoting more for fear of tiring the student. Moreover, it is better for a person to do all that is mentioned concerning that, but if that is not possible, he should stick to what he is able to do of the most important thereof. End quote.
Al-Adhkaar (p. 95).
We will list here the saheeh hadiths concerning this matter:
1 – Blowing into the cupped palms and reciting the three mu‘awwidhaat [soorahs seeking refuge with Allah, the last three soorahs of the Qur’an]:
It was narrated from ‘Aa’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her)
That when the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) went to his bed every night, he would put his cupped hands together, then blow into them, then recite into them Qul Huwa Allahu ahad, Qul a’oodhu bi Rabb il-Falaq and Qul a’oodhu bi Rabb il-Naas [i.e., the last three soorahs of the Qur’aan), then he would wipe his hands over as much of his body as he could, starting with his head and face, and the front part of his body. He would do that three times.
The word translated here as blow refers to spitting lightly and drily.
Narrated by al-Bukhaari (5017).
2 – Aayat al-Kursiy
It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said:
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) put me in charge of guarding the collected zakaah of Ramadaan. Someone came and started to rummage in the food. I took hold of him and said, I will surely take you to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).… He [the one who came and rummaged in the food] said, When you go to your bed, recite Aayat al-Kursiy and you will be protected by Allah, and no devil will come near you until morning. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “He told you the truth even though he is a liar. That was a devil.”
Narrated by al-Bukhaari (2311).
3 – The last two verses of Soorat al-Baqarah
It was narrated that Abu Mas‘ood (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said:
“Whoever recites the last two verses of Soorat al-Baqarah every night, they will suffice him.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari (5009) and Muslim (808).
The scholars differed as to what is meant by “they will suffice him.” It was said that it means they will protect him from harm during the night; or they will take the place of praying qiyaam on that night. It may be that both are meant. And Allah knows best.
4 – Soorat al-Kaafiroon
It was narrated that Nawfal al-Ashja‘i (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said to me: “Recite ‘Say: O disbelievers’ [al-Kaafiroon 109], then go to sleep at the end of it, for it is a disavowal of shirk.”
Narrated by Abu Dawood (5055); classed as hasan by Ibn Hajar in Nataa’ij al-Afkaar (3/61).
5 – Soorat al-Israa’
It was narrated that ‘Aa’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said:
