The dua to be recited upon experiencing unrest, fear, and apprehensiveness during sleep is a convenient tool for soothing your heart and easing your nerves after experiencing discomfort. At night, while no one is by your side to ease your heart, there’s always Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) to protect you, assuage you, and calm your distress. Nightmares are usually from satan, and there’s no better way to get rid of Satan’s grip than by calling upon your Lord for help and ease.
The dua helps a believer to seek refuge in Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) in the darkness of the night after he’s terrified and lonely and cannot find comfort anywhere. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) labeled this dua as a guardian against the harms of all things at night (Jami` at-Tirmidhi, 3528). The dua praises Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) and is a perfect way of calling upon Him for His help (Sunan Abi Dawud, 3893).
Morning & Evening Duas
'A'oothu bikalimaatil-laahit-taammaati min ghadhabihi wa 'iqaabihi, wa sharri 'ibaadihi, wa min hamazaatish-shayaateeni wa 'an yahdhuroon.
I seek refuge in the Perfect Words of Allah from His anger and His punishment, from the evil of His slaves and from the taunts of devils and from their presence.
The dua should be recited when a person is frightened and has experienced a nightmare. Nightmares are usually from satan. Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) showed his companions what to do when they experienced such distress. The person should spit dryly to his left three times and seek refuge with Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) from its evil and the evil of satan and then recite the dua. Afterward, the person should change the side on which he was sleeping and can also make a supplication after reciting the dua.
The major benefit of this dua is the immediate peace and solace one finds against the unrest by reciting the dua. This also emphasizes the Tawheed of the person who calls upon his Lord during such a difficult time and hands over his case to Him. The person is relieved of satan's evil and the distress, apprehensiveness, or fear one may have experienced while sleeping.
Other benefits include the acceptance of any supplication made after such a dua and the rewards and good deeds awarded to the person for this act. The person also benefits from the blessings of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) and attains His protection.