Dua for Anxiety

Dua 1: Turning to Allah in Times of Distress

Ibn Abbas I reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ would say the following words in times of difficulty.

Reference

Muslim (2730)

Dua 2: Seeking Help Through Allah’s Mercy

Anas I reported that when something became difficult for the Prophet ﷺ, he would say:

Reference

At-Tirmidhi (3524)

Dua 3: Glorifying Allah During Anxiety

Abu Hurayrah I reported that when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was worried about a matter, he would raise his head toward the sky and say: “Glory be to Allah the Tremendous.” And when he earnestly supplicated, he would say: “O Ever-Living, O Self-Subsisting.”

Reference

At-Tirmidhi (3436)

Dua 4: The Most Frequent Comprehensive Supplication

Anas I said that this was the supplication the Messenger of Allah ﷺ made most often. The narration recorded by Muslim adds: “When Anas wished to supplicate with a single dua, he would use this one. And when he made a longer supplication, he would include it within it.”

Reference

Muslim (2690)

Dua 5: Glorifying Allah During Calamity

Abdullah ibn Ja’far I reported that the Prophet ﷺ taught him these words and instructed him to say them whenever a problem or calamity befell him. Abdullah ibn Ja’far would say this supplication and then blow it over those afflicted with fever, and he would also teach it to his daughters who were married to non-relatives.

Reference

Ibn as-Sunni (343)

Dua 6: Entrusting All Affairs to Allah

Abu Bakrah I reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said that the supplication for a person in difficulty is to say the following.

Reference

Abu Dawud (5090)

Dua 7: Affirming Tawhid in Times of Distress

Asma bint Umays J narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said to her: “Shall I not teach you words for you to say when you are in distress?” He then taught her the following dua.

Reference

Abu Dawud (1525)

Dua 8: Calling Upon Allah in the Depths of Distress

Abu Qatadah I reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Whoever recites Ayat al-Kursi and the concluding verses of Surat al-Baqarah when afflicted by distress, Allah will grant him relief.”

Reference

Ibn as-Sunni (346)

Dua 9: The Supplication of Prophet Yunus for Relief

Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas I reported that he heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say: “I know words which no person in distress says except that Allah removes it from him. It is what my brother Yunus said:”

Reference

Kitab al-Adhkar, Qur’an 21:87

Dua 10: The Supplication That Is Always Answered

Sa’d I reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “The supplication of Dhu al-Nun when he called upon his Lord while he was in the belly of the fish was: ‘There is no god but You. Glory be to You! Indeed, I have been among the wrongdoers.’ No Muslim supplicates with it except that Allah answers him.”

Reference

At-Tirmidhi (3505)

Dua 11: The Comprehensive Supplication for the Removal of Anxiety

Abu Musa al-Ash’ari I reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ taught these words for times of worry and grief. A man said, “O Messenger of Allah, anyone who is deprived of these words has truly missed out.” He ﷺ replied: “Indeed. So recite them and teach them to others, for whoever calls upon Allah with these words, seeking their benefit, Allah will relieve his sorrow and grant him lasting happiness.”

Reference

Ibn as-Sunni (334)