The first words to say upon waking — praising Allah who gave life after sleep. Starts the entire day in the remembrance and gratitude of Allah.
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي أَحْيَانَا بَعْدَ مَا أَمَاتَنَا وَإِلَيْهِ النُّشُورُ
Sleep is considered a "minor death" in Islam — the soul is taken up in a lesser form and returned upon waking. Every waking moment is therefore a small resurrection, a gift from Allah, and a reminder of the greater resurrection on the Day of Judgment. This dua captures both truths at once: gratitude for being alive again, and remembrance of the ultimate return to Allah.
It is Allah who takes the souls at the time of their death, and those that do not die, during their sleep. Then He keeps those for which He has decreed death and releases the others for a specified term.
— Quran 39:42The very first words spoken each day become an act of thanks to Allah, setting the tone before anything else is said or done.
Waking after sleep is described as a sign pointing toward the greater resurrection, keeping the Hereafter present in daily life.
A single short sentence makes it easy to maintain every single day, without needing to memorize anything lengthy.