Dua To Remove Sadness and Replace with Joy | A Spiritual Introduction to the Duaa That Replaces Sadness with Joy
Sadness, anxiety, and emotional hardship are part of the human experience. Even the most righteous, even the Prophets, experienced moments of grief. Prophet Yaʿqub (Jacob) wept until his eyes turned white from sorrow over the loss of his son. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ faced intense sadness during the Year of Sorrow (ʿĀm al-Ḥuzn), after the deaths of Khadījah رضي الله عنها and his beloved uncle Abū Ṭālib.
But Islam does not leave us to drown in these emotions. Instead, it teaches us how to confront them with faith, with duaa, and with a heart connected to Allah ﷻ. When sadness settles in the heart, Islam shows us how to respond—not by escaping it, but by lifting it with the remembrance of our Lord.
Among the most powerful remedies prescribed by the Prophet ﷺ for grief is a specific duaa for sadness, one that invokes the Divine Names of Allah ﷻ, recognizes His power, and seeks healing through the Qur’an. This duaa is not simply about reciting words—it is a lesson in theology, tawakkul (reliance), and surrender.
In a world where anxiety is rising and emotional wellness is often overlooked, this prophetic supplication offers a timeless tool for peace. It reminds us that while pain is real, the mercy of Allah ﷻ is more powerful. While the heart may break, it can also be healed through His words.
Among the treasures of the Sunnah is a hadith that offers not just a prayer, but a path to emotional transformation. This hadith, narrated by Abdullah ibn Masʿūd, speaks directly to anyone who has felt overwhelmed by sadness or burdened by anxiety.
Dua to Remove Sadness and Replace With Joy | Audio, Translation and Transliteration
عن عبد الله بن مسعود رضي الله عنه: أنّ رسول الله -صلّى الله عليه وسلّم- قال: ما قالَ عبدٌ قطُّ، إذا أصابه هَمٌّ أو حُزْنٌ:
اللَّهمَّ إنِّي عبدُكَ، ابنُ عبدِكَ، ابنُ أَمَتِكَ، ناصِيَتي بيدِكَ، ماضٍ فيَّ حُكْمُكَ، عَدْلٌ فيَّ قضاؤُكَ، أَسأَلُكَ بِكُلِّ اسمٍ هُوَ لكَ سمَّيْتَ به نفسَكَ، أو أَنزَلْتَهُ في كتابِكَ، أو علَّمْتَهُ أحَدًا مِن خَلْقِكَ، أَوِ استأثَرْتَ به في عِلمِ الغيبِ عِنْدَكَ، أَنْ تَجْعَلَ القُرْآنَ رَبِيعَ قَلْبِي، ونورَ بَصَرِي، وجِلاءَ حُزْنِي، وذَهابَ هَمِّي إِلَّا أَذْهَبَ اللهُ هَمَّه، وأَبْدَلَهُ مَكَانَ حُزْنِهِ فَرَحًا
Abdullah Ibn Mas’ud, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “No servant, ever afflicted with anxiety or grief, who says:
‘O Allah, indeed I am Your servant, son of Your servant, son of Your maidservant. My forelock is in Your hand, your command concerning me prevails and Your decision concerning me is just. I ask You by every name belonging to You which You have named Yourself with, or revealed in Your book, or You taught to any of Your creation, or You have preserved in the knowledge of the unseen with You, that You make the Qur’an the life of my heart and the light of my chest, and remove my sadness and my worries.’
and surely Allah will remove his/her anxieties/worries and replace them with joy.”
Dua to remove Sadness and replace it with Joy
Transliteration Allahumma inni ‘abduka, ibnu ‘abdika, ibnu amatika, nasiyati biyadika, maadin fiyya hukmuka, ‘adlun fiyya qada’uka, as’aluka bikkulli ismin huwa laka sammaita bihi nafsaka aw anzaltahu fi kitabika aw ‘allamtahu ahadan min khalqika awi ista’tharta bihi fi ‘ilmil-ghayb ‘indaka antaj’alal-qur’ana rabii’a qalbi, wa nurra bashari, wa jila’ah huzni, wa dhahaba hammii”
This hadith highlights the importance of this dua, or supplication, to Allah SWT in times of sadness or worry. The premise of the dua is one of humility, recognizing one’s status as a servant of Allah SWT, and seeking His help and mercy. The words emphasize the power of the Qur’an in bringing peace and comfort to the heart of a believer. So make sure to keep reciting Quran as well.
— [Musnad Aḥmad 3712; graded authentic by Al-Albani in Silsilat al-Aḥādīth aṣ-Ṣaḥīḥah]
Duaa That Replaces Sadness With Joy | The Power Within This Duaa
This duaa is extraordinary not just in its emotional impact, but in its theological depth. Let’s break it down:
1. Acknowledgement of Servitude
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي عَبْدُكَ، ابْنُ عَبْدِكَ، ابْنُ أَمَتِكَ…
The supplicant begins by identifying themselves not by name or status—but by their servitude. This is the highest honor: to be a servant of Allah ﷻ. You affirm your origin and dependence, placing yourself under His will with humility.
2. Acceptance of Allah’s Decree
مَاضٍ فِيَّ حُكْمُكَ، عَدْلٌ فِيَّ قَضَاؤُكَ
You admit that His decisions are final, and His decree is always just—even when it’s painful. This part teaches ridaa bi’l-qadr (contentment with divine decree), a core Islamic value for emotional strength.
3. Seeking by the Divine Names
أَسْأَلُكَ بِكُلِّ اسْمٍ هُوَ لَكَ…
Here, you invoke Allah ﷻ by every one of His beautiful names—known and unknown. It is a complete surrender, asking for healing by calling upon His infinite attributes.
4. The Qur’an as the Remedy
أَنْ تَجْعَلَ الْقُرْآنَ رَبِيعَ قَلْبِي…
The supplication doesn’t ask for money, or the removal of people, or even specific outcomes—it asks that the Qur’an becomes the source of healing. “Rabīʿ qalbī” means the spring of the heart—the way spring revives the earth, so too the Qur’an revives the heart.
Why This Duaa Works
- It begins with total tawheed and ends in total tawakkul
- It trains the heart to find relief in Allah ﷻ, not in circumstances
- It redirects our hearts toward the Qur’an as the core of joy and clarity
- It reinforces the concept that no sadness is permanent when one is with Allah ﷻ
This duaa iis a mindset, a complete realignment of the soul with divine contentment. It’s about who you believe is in control and where you believe healing truly comes from.
When and How to Use This Duaa
This dua can be recited:
- During sujood in prayer
- In moments of grief or tears
- After fajr or during qiyām al-layl
- Any time you feel overwhelmed or disconnected
Recite it slowly, mindfully, with full presence of heart. Let each line settle into your soul. Reflect on its meanings. Let your duaa not be just with your tongue—but from the depths of your being.
Make It a Lifelong Companion
The Prophet ﷺ told us that anyone who says this duaa sincerely will have their sadness replaced with joy. This isn’t a metaphor—it is a divine promise. The key lies in sincerity and reflection.
If you’re reading this today and your heart feels heavy, know you’re not alone. Allah ﷻ is nearer than your jugular vein. He knows the burden in your chest. Let this dua be your nightly companion. Memorize it. Write it down. Teach it to your children.
Because in a world full of noise and uncertainty, the Qur’an is still the calm. And this dua is your invitation back to it.
Duaa to Remove Sadness and Replace It with Joy
- Arabic: See full duaa above
- Source: Musnad Aḥmad 3712
- Authenticated by Shaykh Al-Albani in Silsilat al-Aḥādīth al-Ṣaḥīḥah
Read more:
Powerful Duas for Anxiety and Depression – MuslimDuaa.com