In the turbulent journey of life, there come moments when the weight of the world seems too heavy to bear. This time is called the time of distress and moment of trial. Times of distress, anxiety, depression and hardship test us and sometimes shake the foundation of our faith. This is the best time to learn the duas for distress.
This is when we get to know the true believers, and it’s during these challenging times that we often find ourselves searching for comfort from hardship, ease from distress, anxiety and depression, and a glimmer of hope amidst the darkness.
But fear not, for within the teachings of Islam lies a great source of comfort and strength – the power of duas (supplications) from the Quran and Sunnah. These prayers will offer guidance and comfort to those in need.
Let’s explore these powerful duas for distress and hardship, seeking Allah’s refuge from all sorts of anxiety and depression and discomfort.
Understanding Distress, Anxiety and Depression and Hardship in Islam
In Islam, distress, anxiety, depression and hardship are not viewed as mere obstacles to be overcome but also as opportunities for spiritual growth and reflection. The Quran reminds us that with every hardship comes ease and that Allah is ever near and ready to answer the call of those who seek His help.
“Verily, with hardship comes ease.” (Quran 94:6)
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) also taught us the importance of patience and perseverance in the face of adversity. His own life serves as a testament to the power of faith and resilience in times of trial.
“The strong believer is better and more beloved to Allah than the weak believer, while there is good in both.” (Sahih Muslim)
Throughout history, Allah has tested His prophets and his righteous servants, guiding them through adversity and ultimately rewarding their unwavering faith. In the Quran, Allah says:
“And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient.” (Quran 2:155)
Let’s take a look at some Prophets that Allah tested
The lives of the prophets of Allah serve as powerful examples of resilience in the face of trials and distress. Take the story of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham), for instance. He faced numerous challenges, from being thrown into a blazing fire to being commanded to sacrifice his son.
Yet, through unwavering faith and submission to Allah’s will, he emerged victorious, even earning the title of “Friend of Allah.”
In the Quran, we read about the trials faced by Prophet Yusuf (Joseph), who was betrayed by his own brothers and thrown into a well. Despite his hardships, Yusuf remained steadfast in his faith, eventually rising to become a trusted advisor to the king of Egypt.
Take the story of Prophet Ayyub (Job), who endured immense suffering, losing his wealth, health, and family. Despite his hardships, distress, and trials, Ayyub remained patient and steadfast in his faith, ultimately being rewarded with Allah’s mercy and blessings.
These stories taught us valuable lessons about the nature of trials, anxiety, depression, and hardship, and how to navigate them with strong faith and patience. They reminded us that trials are not meant to break us but to strengthen our faith and character. By submitting to Allah’s will and trusting in His wisdom, we can overcome any challenge that comes our way.
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
“Strange is the affair of the believer. Verily, all his affairs are good for him. If something pleasing befalls him, he thanks Allah, and it becomes better for him. And if something harmful befalls him, he is patient, and it becomes better for him.” (Sahih Muslim)
We must know that distress, hardship, and trials may either be one of the following:
- They can serve as a means of atoning (expatiating) for our sins.
- An opportunity to strengthen our bond with Allah (SWT).
- Be a means to elevate our status in the sight of our Lord.
- May lead to spiritual enlightenment and growth.
- Trials, distress, anxiety and depression may be essential for our own personal development and growth.
Abu Huraira reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Nothing afflicts a Muslim of hardship, nor illness, nor anxiety, nor sorrow, nor harm, nor distress, nor even the pricking of a thorn, but that Allah will expiate his sins by it.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 5641, Sahih Muslim 2573)
Duas for Distress, Anxiety and Depression from the Quran
The Quran, the ultimate source of guidance for Muslims, contains numerous duas that address various forms of distress and hardship. These prayers serve as a support for believers, offering them comfort and reassurance in times of need.
1. Duas for Distress, Anxiety and Depression
A powerful dua for distress can be found in Surah Al-Anbiya, where Prophet Yunus (Jonah) called upon Allah from the depths of the sea:
لاَّ إِلَـهَ إِلاَّ أَنتَ سُبْحَـنَكَ إِنِّى كُنتُ مِنَ الظَّـلِمِينَ
“There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers.” (Quran 21:87)
The Messenger of Allah said, “No Muslim ever prays to his Lord with these words for anything, but He will answer his prayer.)” At-Tirmidhi
2. Duas for Distress, Anxiety and Depression
حَسْبِىَ ٱللَّهُ لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَۖ عَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْتُۖ وَهُوَ رَبُّ ٱلْعَرْشِ ٱلْعَظِيمِ
“Sufficient for me is Allah; there is no deity except Him. On Him I have relied, and He is the Lord of the Great Throne.” Al-Quran 9:129
Narrated by Ibn Abbass: When (Prophet) Ibrahim (Abraham) was thrown into the fire, he said: “Allah (Alone) is sufficient for us, and, He is the Best Disposer of affairs.” So did Messenger of Allah Muhammad (ﷺ) when he was told:
“A great army of the pagans had gathered against him, so fear them”. But this (warning) only increased him and the Muslims in Faith and they said: “Allah (Alone) is sufficient for us, and He is the Best Disposer of affairs (for us)”.[Al-Bukhari].
This dua for distress will support anyone who is anxious in distress or depressed. Allah will grant whoever recites this seven times in the morning or evening whatever he desires from this world or the next, Ibn As-Sunni (no. 71), Abu Dawud 4/321. Both reports are attributed directly to the Prophet (ﷺ) (Marfu1). The chain of transmission is considered sound (Sahih) by Ibn As-Sunni.
Duas for Distress from the Sunnah (The Prophet’s Supplication for Sistress)
In addition to the Quran, the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) taught us valuable supplications during times of distress and hardship. These authentic prayers are passed down through generations and serve as a guide in moments of despair and distress.
3. Duas for Distress, Anxiety and Depression
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) himself sought refuge in Allah through dua during times of difficulty. The Prophet would say:
لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ الْعَلِيمُ الْحَلِيمُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ رَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيمِ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ رَبُّ السَّمَوَاتِ وَرَبُّ الْأَرْضِ رَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْكَرِيمِ
Ibn Abbas reported:
The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, would say at a time of distress, “There is no God but Allah, the Knowing, the Forbearing. There is no God but Allah, Lord of the Great Throne. There is no God but Allah, Lord of the heavens, the earth, and the Noble Throne.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 7426, Sahih Muslim 2730)
4. Duas of the Distress, Anxiety and Depression
اللَّهُمَّ رَحْمَتَكَ أَرْجُو فَلَا تَكِلْنِي إِلَى نَفْسِي طَرْفَةَ عَيْنٍ وَأَصْلِحْ لِي شَأْنِي كُلَّهُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ
Abu Bakrah reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said,
“The supplication of the distressed is this: O Allah, I hope in Your mercy. Do not abandon me to myself, not even for a moment, and take care of all my affairs. There is no God but You.”
5. Duas to Say When Anxious or Depressed
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي عَبْدُكَ وَابْنُ عَبْدِكَ وَابْنُ أَمَتِكَ نَاصِيَتِي بِيَدِكَ مَاضٍ فِيَّ حُكْمُكَ عَدْلٌ فِيَّ قَضَاؤُكَ أَسْأَلُكَ بِكُلِّ اسْمٍ هُوَ لَكَ سَمَّيْتَ بِهِ نَفْسَكَ أَوْ عَلَّمْتَهُ أَحَدًا مِنْ خَلْقِكَ أَوْ أَنْزَلْتَهُ فِي كِتَابِكَ أَوْ اسْتَأْثَرْتَ بِهِ فِي عِلْمِ الْغَيْبِ عِنْدَكَ أَنْ تَجْعَلَ الْقُرْآنَ رَبِيعَ قَلْبِي وَنُورَ صَدْرِي وَجِلَاءَ حُزْنِي وَذَهَابَ هَمِّي إِلَّا أَذْهَبَ اللَّهُ هَمَّهُ وَحُزْنَهُ وَأَبْدَلَهُ مَكَانَهُ فَرَجًا قَالَ فَقِيلَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَلَا نَتَعَلَّمُهَا فَقَالَ بَلَى يَنْبَغِي لِمَنْ سَمِعَهَا أَنْ يَتَعَلَّمَهَا
Abdullah ibn Mas’ud reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “A servant is not struck by worry or grief but let him say (to remove the grief or sorrow):
‘O Allah, I am Your servant, the son of Your servant, the son of Your maidservant. My forelock is in Your hand, Your decision over me has passed, and Your decree upon me is in justice.
I ask You by every name with which You have named Yourself, or revealed in Your Book, or taught to one of Your creatures, or kept hidden in the Unseen with You, that You make the Quran the spring of my heart, the light within me, the banisher of my depression, and the expeller of my anxiety,’ then Allah will expel his worry and replace his grief with joy.”
This is another powerful dua for distress. It was said, “O Messenger of Allah, shall we not study these words?” The Prophet said, “Of course, whoever hears them should study them.” (Musnad Aḥmad 3712)
6. Duas for Distress, Anxiety, Debt, and Oppression
للَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْهَمِّ وَالْحَزَنِ وَالْعَجْزِ وَالْكَسَلِ وَالْجُبْنِ وَالْبُخْلِ وَضَلَعِ الدَّيْنِ وَغَلَبَةِ الرِّجَالِ
Anas ibn Malik reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said,
“O Allah, I seek refuge in You from anxiety, sorrow, disability, laziness, cowardice, miserliness, the burdens of debt, and the repression of men.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 6369)
This authentic dua is for distress and anxiety due to debt and the fear of oppression. The dua is recommended by Prophet Muhammad (SAW), and the chain of transmission is sound (sahih).
7. Dua for Distress, Worry and Debt
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ الْهَمِّ وَالْحَزَنِ وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ الْعَجْزِ وَالْكَسَلِ وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ الْجُبْنِ وَالْبُخْلِ وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ غَلَبَةِ الدَّيْنِ وَقَهْرِ الرِّجَالِ
Abu Sa’id al-Khudri reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, entered the mosque one day while a man from the Ansar named Abu Umamah was there. The Prophet said,
“O Abu Umamah, what is the matter that I see you sitting in the mosque while it is not time for prayer?” He said, “O Messenger of Allah, I am compelled by anxiety and debts.” The Prophet said, “Shall I not teach you a word to say by which Allah Almighty will relive your worry and complete your debt?” He said, “Of course, O Messenger of Allah.”
The Prophet said, “Say in the morning and evening: O Allah, I seek refuge in you from worry and sadness. I seek refuge in you from weakness and laziness. I seek refuge in you from cowardice and miserliness. And I seek refuge in you from being overwhelmed by debt and the tyranny of men.” (Sunan Abii Dawud 1555)
8. Dua for Distress When Experiencing Pain
بِاسْمِ اللَّهِ, أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ وَقُدْرَتِهِ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا أَجِدُ وَأُحَاذِرُ
Uthman ibn Abi al-‘As reported: He complained to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, of pain he felt in his body since he had embraced Islam. The Prophet said to him,
“Place your hand over the part of your body where you feel pain and say three times: In the name of Allah. And say seven times: I seek refuge in Allah and his power from the evil of what I feel and worry.” (Sahih Muslim 2202)
9. Dua for Distress, Worry, Sadness, Sickness, and Difficulty
اللهُ رَبِّي لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ
Asma’ bint ‘Umays reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Whoever is afflicted by anxiety, grief, illness, or hardship and he says, ‘Allah is my Lord without any partner,’ it will be lifted off him.” (Al-Mu’jam al-Kabir lil-Ṭabaraani 24/154)
10. Dua for Well-Being from Distress and Discomfort
اللَّهُمَّ عَافِنِي فِي جَسَدِي وَعَافِنِي فِي بَصَرِي وَاجْعَلْهُ الْوَارِثَ مِنِّي لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ الْحَلِيمُ الْكَرِيمُ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيمِ وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ
Aisha reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, used to say,
“O Allah, grant me wellness in my body, wellness in my sight, and make my sight endure within me. There is no God but You, the Forbearing, the Generous. Glory be to Allah, the Lord of the Great Throne. All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the worlds.” (Sunan al-Tirmidhi 3480)
The Importance of Consistency and Sincerity in Your Dua
These duas (supplications) are undoubtedly powerful, it is equally important to approach them with consistency and sincerity. True comfort comes not only from the words we utter but from the depth of our hearts sincerely bound with strong faith and trust in Allah.
As we navigate through the ups and downs of life, let us remember the words of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him):
“Know that victory comes with patience, relief with affliction, and ease with hardship.” (Sunan Ibn Majah)
Abu Huraira reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Nothing afflicts a Muslim of hardship, nor illness, nor anxiety, nor sorrow, nor harm, nor distress, nor even the pricking of a thorn, but that Allah will expiate his sins by it.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 5641, Sahih Muslim 2573)
As a true believer, we should know that sin also causes distress, discomfort, sorrow, and worry in one’s life. Seeking forgiveness can be a way to get relief from the aforementioned.
Ibn Abbas reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Whoever increases his prayers for forgiveness, Allah will grant him relief from every worry, a way out from every hardship, and provide for him in ways he does not expect.” (Musnad Aḥmad 2234)
In conclusion, the power of these authentic duas for distress, anxiety and depression from the Quran and Sunnah is undeniable. Through these prayers, we find strength from weakness, comfort from distress, and guidance in times of distress and hardship. May we all embrace all these teachings, seeking comfort in the remembrance of Allah (SWT), and may our hearts be filled with peace amidst life’s trials.
