article taken from Islam Asia Tenggara

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE GO TO SLEEP?

Allah says in the Qur'an:

It is Allah that takes the souls (of men) at death; and those that die not (He takes) during their sleep:
those on whom He has passed the decree of death, He keeps back (from returning to life),
but the rest He sends (to their bodies) for a term appointed.
Verily in this are Signs for those who reflect.
Qur'an, Chapter 39 verse 42

This means: Every time we sleep, Allah takes our souls, amongst many other souls he takes during sleeping.
Then Allah decides who is going to be given another chance.
For those who are blessed with another chance, Allah will permit their souls to go back to their bodies,
the rest he keeps back from returning to life i.e. they die.

This means: Each time we go to bed we should never be sure that we will get up again,
as we ONLY have 50% chance for coming back to life.

This means: Each time we go to bed we should be prepared for our hereafter.

This means: When we wake up the next day we should appreciate how lucky (blessed) we are.
And say "Blessed be the One who returned my soul to my body, and granted me another chance".
This is what the prophet PBUH used to say when he woke up.

This means: When we wake up the next day we should make sure
we utilize the new day in doing good as much as we can before the sleep time comes,
in case this day which we are living is the last chance we have been given.

This means: We should try to make sure we recite sura AL-MULK (chapter 67) before going to sleep,
because the prophet PBUH promised that one who reads this sura before sleeping
will be saved from the punishment of the grave.

On this day, may Allah forgive us all and bless us with a happy life in this dunya and the hereafter.