Dua for anxiety, worry and stress
Worry, sadness and anxiety touch everyone, the prophets included. The Quran and Sunnah teach supplications for exactly these moments, and remind us that hearts find rest in remembering Allah.
ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَتَطۡمَئِنُّ قُلُوبُهُم بِذِكۡرِ ٱللَّهِۗ أَلَا بِذِكۡرِ ٱللَّهِ تَطۡمَئِنُّ ٱلۡقُلُوبُ ﴿٢٨﴾
Allatheena amanoo watatmainnu quloobuhum bithikri Allahi ala bithikri Allahi tatmainnu alquloobu
Those who have believed and whose hearts are assured by the remembrance of Allah. Unquestionably, by the remembrance of Allah hearts are assured
Quran 13:28 · Surah Ar-Ra'd · Translation: Saheeh International · Transliteration: Tanzil.net
Dua against worry and sadness
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْهَمِّ وَالْحَزَنِ وَالْعَجْزِ وَالْكَسَلِ وَالْبُخْلِ وَالْجُبْنِ وَضَلَعِ الدَّيْنِ وَغَلَبَةِ الرِّجَالِ
Allahumma inni a'udhu bika minal-hammi wal-hazan, wal-'ajzi wal-kasal, wal-bukhli wal-jubn, wa dala'id-dayni wa ghalabatir-rijal
O Allah, I seek refuge in You from worry and grief, from helplessness and laziness, from miserliness and cowardice, from the burden of debt and from being overpowered by people.
The Prophet ﷺ often made this dua (al-Bukhari).
The dua of Yunus
وَذَا ٱلنُّونِ إِذ ذَّهَبَ مُغَٰضِبٗا فَظَنَّ أَن لَّن نَّقۡدِرَ عَلَيۡهِ فَنَادَىٰ فِي ٱلظُّلُمَٰتِ أَن لَّآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّآ أَنتَ سُبۡحَٰنَكَ إِنِّي كُنتُ مِنَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ ﴿٨٧﴾
Watha alnnooni ith thahaba mughadiban fathanna an lan naqdira ʿalayhi fanada fee alththulumati an la ilaha illa anta subhanaka innee kuntu mina alththalimeena
And [mention] the man of the fish, when he went off in anger and thought that We would not decree [anything] upon him. And he called out within the darknesses, "There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers
Quran 21:87 · Surah Al-Anbiya · Translation: Saheeh International · Transliteration: Tanzil.net
No Muslim calls upon his Lord with it for anything except that He answers him.
at-Tirmidhi, about the dua of Yunus
Dua in distress
لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ الْعَظِيمُ الْحَلِيمُ، لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ رَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيمِ، لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ رَبُّ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَرَبُّ الْأَرْضِ وَرَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْكَرِيمِ
La ilaha illallahul-'Azimul-Halim, la ilaha illallahu rabbul-'arshil-'azim, la ilaha illallahu rabbus-samawati wa rabbul-ardi wa rabbul-'arshil-karim
There is no god but Allah, the Magnificent, the Forbearing. There is no god but Allah, Lord of the magnificent Throne. There is no god but Allah, Lord of the heavens, Lord of the earth and Lord of the noble Throne.
The Prophet ﷺ said this in times of distress (al-Bukhari, Muslim).
Allah is enough for us
ٱلَّذِينَ قَالَ لَهُمُ ٱلنَّاسُ إِنَّ ٱلنَّاسَ قَدۡ جَمَعُواْ لَكُمۡ فَٱخۡشَوۡهُمۡ فَزَادَهُمۡ إِيمَٰنٗا وَقَالُواْ حَسۡبُنَا ٱللَّهُ وَنِعۡمَ ٱلۡوَكِيلُ ﴿١٧٣﴾
Allatheena qala lahumu alnnasu inna alnnasa qad jamaʿoo lakum faikhshawhum fazadahum eemanan waqaloo hasbuna Allahu waniʿma alwakeelu
Those to whom hypocrites said, "Indeed, the people have gathered against you, so fear them." But it [merely] increased them in faith, and they said, "Sufficient for us is Allah, and [He is] the best Disposer of affairs
Quran 3:173 · Surah Al-Imran · Translation: Saheeh International · Transliteration: Tanzil.net
Hasbunallahu wa ni'mal-wakil was said by Ibrahim when he was thrown into the fire, and by the Prophet ﷺ and his companions when they were told the enemy had gathered against them (al-Bukhari).
Practical help
- Pray and make long sujud: that is where a servant is closest to his Lord (Muslim).
- Keep the morning and evening athkar; they protect and calm. In the Hadaff app they come with a counter.
- Talk to someone you trust. The Prophet ﷺ shared his worries with Khadijah.
- Get help when anxiety does not go away: seeing a doctor or therapist is not a sign of weak faith.
Keep it up with Hadaff
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Frequently asked questions
Is it a lack of faith to feel anxious?
No. The prophets felt fear and sadness: Musa felt fear, Ya'qub grieved for Yusuf until his eyes turned white, and the Prophet ﷺ had a year of grief. Faith shows in turning to Allah with it, not in never feeling it.
Can I make dua in English?
Yes. Dua outside the prayer can be made in any language, and Allah understands every heart. The supplications from the Quran and Sunnah in Arabic carry special blessing, so it is good to learn some of them too.
This article was written with the help of AI. Quran verses are inserted directly from the Quran text (translation: Saheeh International); it is general information, not a religious ruling (fatwa). For your own situation, ask a qualified scholar. Found a mistake? Write to support@hadaff.de.