Question
1. Can you confirm the reference and reliability of this du’a?
2. I found two variations of the du’a. Which one is valid?
بِاسْمِكَ رَبِّي وَضَعْتُ جَنْبِي، وَبِكَ أَرْفَعُهُ، فَإِنْ أَمْسَكْتَ نَفْسِي فَارْحَمْهَا / [ فَاغْفِرْ لَهَا]، وَإِنْ أَرْسَلْتَهَا فَاحْفَظْهَا، بِمَا تَحْفَظُ بِهِ عِبَادَكَ الصَّالِحِينَ
Answer
This du’a has been authentically recorded as a du’a to be recited before sleeping.
Both these versions have been recorded in Sahih Bukhari.
The words: فَارْحَمْهَا appear in Hadith: 6320.
The words: فَاغْفِرْ لَهَا appear in place of فَارْحَمْهَا in Hadith: 7393.
In fact, one narration outside Sahih Bukhari mentions both words together.
(Fathul Bari, Hadith: 7393)
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best,
Answered by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar
Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar