Dua for Bad Dreams
Islam does not leave you alone with a nightmare. There is a dua to say before sleep for protection, and a clear practice for the moment you wake shaken — and the Prophet ﷺ promised that, done this way, a bad dream will not harm you.
أَعُوذُ بِكَلِمَاتِ اللَّهِ التَّامَّاتِ مِنْ غَضَبِهِ وَعِقَابِهِ وَشَرِّ عِبَادِهِ وَمِنْ هَمَزَاتِ الشَّيَاطِينِ وَأَنْ يَحْضُرُونِ
Aʿūdhu bikalimātillāhit-tāmmāti min ghaḍabihi wa ʿiqābihi wa sharri ʿibādihi, wa min hamazātish-shayāṭīni wa an yaḥḍurūn.
"I seek refuge in the perfect words of Allah from His anger and His punishment, from the evil of His servants, and from the incitements of the devils and that they be present."
Sunan Abi Dawud 3893, Jami’ at-Tirmidhi 3528 (hasan) — taught for fear and disturbance at night
How and when to say it
Say the dua above before sleeping — it is the taught protection against nightmares and night-time fear.
If you wake from a bad dream: seek refuge in Allah from Shaytan and from the dream’s evil, and spit (blow) lightly to your left three times (Sahih Muslim 2262).
Turn onto your other side, and do not tell anyone about the dream (Sahih Muslim 2261, Sahih al-Bukhari 6986).
If you wish, get up and pray (Sahih Muslim 2263). Done this way, the Prophet ﷺ said it will not harm you.
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What dua do you read for bad dreams?
Before sleep, say "A’udhu bikalimatillahit-tammati min ghadabihi wa ’iqabihi..." (Abu Dawud 3893, Tirmidhi 3528). If you wake from one, seek refuge in Allah, blow lightly to your left three times, turn over, tell no one, and pray if you wish (Sahih Muslim 2261–2263).
What should I do immediately after a nightmare?
Seek refuge in Allah from its evil, spit (blow) lightly to your left three times, turn onto your other side, do not tell anyone, and pray if you can. The Prophet ﷺ promised that treated this way it will not harm you (Sahih Muslim 2261–2263).
Is there a dua to stop recurring bad dreams?
The same sunnah is the answer: the pre-sleep dua of refuge, and the practice above on waking. There is no separate charm or number to recite — the taught means are these words and actions, and trust in Allah.