Is this Hadith authentic?
قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: من قال إذا أوى إلى فراشه: الحمد لله الذي علا فقهر، وبطن فخبر، وملك فقدر، الحمد لله الذي يحيي ويميت، وهو على كل شيء قدير، خرج من ذنوبه كيوم ولدته أمه
Answer
Imam Tabarani (rahimahullah) has recorded this Hadith on the authority of Sayyiduna Abud Darda (radiyallahu ‘anhu). Imam Bayhaqi (rahimahullah) has recorded the Hadith on the authority of Sayyiduna Abu Umamah (radiyallahu ‘anhu).
(Al Mu’jamul Awsat, Hadith: 7887, Shu’abul Iman, Hadith: 4389)
‘Allamah Ibn ‘Arraq (rahimahullah) has deemed the Hadith suitable for practice.
(Tanzihush Shari’ah, vol. 2 pg. 323, Also see: Targhib, vol. 1 pg. 417/418 and Majma’uz Zawaid, vol. 10 pg. 123/124)
Translation
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Whoever recites the following du’a when retiring to bed, will come out of his sins just as the day his mother gave birth to him [i.e. his sins will be forgiven]:
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي عَلَا فَقَهَرَ، وَبَطَنَ فَخَبَرَ، وَمَلَكَ فَقَدَرَ، الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي يُحْيِي وَيُمِيتُ، وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
Alhamdulillahil ladhi ‘ala faqahara wa batana fakhabara wa malaka faqadara Alhamdulillahil ladhi yuhyi wa yumitu wa huwa ‘ala kulli shay-in qadir
Imam Bayhaqi (rahimahullah) has recorded the du’a with slight variation in the wording. The wording of this version is as follows:
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي عَلَا فَقَهَرَ، وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي بَطَنَ فَخَبَرَ، وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي مَلَكَ فَقَدَرَ، وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي يُحْيِي الْمَوْتَى وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
Alhamdulillahil ladhi ‘ala faqahara wal hamdulillahil ladhi batana fakhabara wal hamdulillahil ladhi malaka faqadara walhamdulillahil ladhi yuhyil mawta wa huwa ‘ala kulli shay-in qadir
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar