Dua for Anxiety and Stress: Finding Relief Through Faith
In the journey of life, we all encounter moments of deep worry, emotional turmoil, and uncertainty. Anxiety and stress are part of our human experience—but in Islam, we are never left without guidance or hope. The Qur’an and Sunnah provide a profound spiritual response to these struggles, encouraging us to turn to Allah ﷻ through dua (supplication), remembrance, and trust.
When you feel overwhelmed, anxious, or burdened by the weight of your affairs, turning to Allah ﷻ with sincerity can bring remarkable peace. His names—Al-Raḥmān (The Most Merciful), Al-Ṣabūr (The Most Patient), Al-Laṭīf (The Most Gentle)—remind us that no worry is too small or too great for His mercy.
In this blog, we explore how the power of dua for anxiety and stress can uplift the heart, soothe the soul, and renew our trust in the One who controls all things.
Understanding Anxiety and Stress in Islam
Islam acknowledges emotional pain. The Prophets themselves—noble, guided, and beloved to Allah ﷻ—felt grief, fear, and hardship.
Prophet Mūsā (Moses) ﷺ fled Pharaoh in fear, Prophet Yaʿqūb (Jacob) ﷺ wept in sorrow for his lost son, and Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ carried the weight of revelation and opposition. Yet all of them found peace by turning to Allah ﷻ in dua.
Stress, in itself, is not a weakness of faith. But through faith, we can transform stress into strength, and worry into worship.
Authentic Duas from Qur’an and Sunnah
Here are powerful and authentic duas from the Qur’an and Sunnah for anxiety, stress, and emotional burdens.
1. Dua of the Prophet ﷺ for Worry and Grief
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْهَمِّ وَالْحَزَنِ، وَالْعَجْزِ وَالْكَسَلِ، وَالْجُبْنِ وَالْبُخْلِ، وَغَلَبَةِ الدَّيْنِ وَقَهْرِ الرِّجَالِ
Transliteration:
Allāhumma innī aʿūdhu bika minal-hammi wal-ḥazan, wal-ʿajzi wal-kasal, wal-jubni wal-bukhl, wa ghalabatid-dayni wa qahri ar-rijāl.
Translation:
“O Allah, I seek refuge in You from worry and grief, from incapacity and laziness, from cowardice and miserliness, and from being overpowered by debt and men.”
📚 Sahih al-Bukhari (6369), Sahih Muslim (2706)
🔗 Sunnah.com/bukhari:6369
2. Dua of Prophet Yūnus (Jonah) ﷺ in Distress
لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنتَ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي كُنتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ
Transliteration:
Lā ilāha illā anta, subḥānaka innī kuntu minaz-ẓālimīn.
Translation:
“There is no deity except You. Glory be to You! Indeed, I have been among the wrongdoers.”
📖 Surah Al-Anbiyāʾ (21:87)
🔗 Quran.com/21/87
Note: The Prophet ﷺ said about this dua:
“No one says it in difficulty except that Allah relieves him of it.”
📚 Sunan al-Tirmidhi (3505) – Hasan
🔗 Sunnah.com/tirmidhi:3505
3. Dua for Calm and Reassurance
حَسْبُنَا اللَّهُ وَنِعْمَ الْوَكِيلُ
Transliteration:
Ḥasbunallāhu wa niʿma al-wakīl.
Translation:
“Sufficient for us is Allah, and He is the best disposer of affairs.”
📖 Surah Āl ʿImrān (3:173)
🔗 Quran.com/3/173
Reflection: A powerful declaration of reliance on Allah ﷻ. Reciting this brings spiritual reassurance in the face of fear or stress.
4. Seeking Peace from Allah ﷻ
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ نَفْسًا مُطْمَئِنَّةً تُؤْمِنُ بِلِقَائِكَ وَتَرْضَىٰ بِقَضَائِكَ
Transliteration:
Allāhumma innī asʾaluka nafsan muṭmaʾinnah, tuʾminu biliqāʾik, wa tarḍā bi-qaḍāʾik.
Translation:
“O Allah, I ask You for a tranquil soul that believes in meeting You and is content with Your decree.”
📝 This is not directly from the Sunnah but reflects Qur’anic guidance on the tranquil soul (nafs al-muṭmaʾinnah) from Surah Al-Fajr (89:27).
5. Dua for Light in the Heart
ٱللّٰهُمَّ نَوِّرْ قَلْبِي وَصَدْرِي، وَأَذْهِبْ هَمِّي وَغَمِّي، وَثَبِّتْنِي بِكَلِمَاتِكَ
Transliteration:
Allāhumma nawwir qalbī wa ṣadrī, wa adhhib hammī wa ghammī, wa thabbitnī bikalimātik.
Translation:
“O Allah, illuminate my heart and chest, remove my anxiety and sadness, and strengthen me with Your words.”
6. Dua for Emotional Ease
ٱللّٰهُمَّ اجْعَلْ هُمُومِي خَفِيفَةً، وَرُوحِي مُطْمَئِنَّةً، وَيَوْمِي فِي ذِكْرِكَ مُنِيرًا
Transliteration:
Allāhumma ajʿal humūmī khafīfah, wa rūḥī muṭmaʾinnah, wa yawmī fī dhikrika munīrā.
Translation:
“O Allah, make my worries light, my soul at peace, and my day illuminated with Your remembrance.”
7. Dua for Replacing Fear with Hope
ٱللّٰهُمَّ أَبْدِلْ خَوْفِي أَمَانًا، وَضِيقِي فَرَجًا، وَقَلَقِي طُمَأْنِينَةً
Transliteration:
Allāhumma abdil khawfī amānan, wa ḍīqī farajan, wa qalaqī ṭumaʾnīnah.
Translation:
“O Allah, replace my fear with safety, my distress with relief, and my anxiety with peace.”
Disclaimer: The above duas (#5–7) are not from the Qur’an or Sunnah directly but reflect concepts rooted in Islamic teachings. They may be used in private supplication (duʿāʾ) as long as they do not contradict Islamic principles.
Additional Duas for Anxiety and Stress
Disclaimer: These duas are either directly from the Qur’an and Sunnah or consistent with Islamic principles as found in classical Arabic duʿāʾ collections and trustworthy Islamic literature. Where they are not explicitly from Qur’an or authentic Sunnah, this is clearly stated.
1. Dua for Protection from Heart Distress
Authentic – from the Sunnah
اللَّهُمَّ مُصَرِّفَ الْقُلُوبِ صَرِّفْ قَلْبِي عَلَى طَاعَتِكَ
Transliteration:
Allāhumma muṣarrifal-qulūb, ṣarrif qalbī ʿalā ṭāʿatik.
Translation:
“O Allah, Controller of hearts, turn my heart toward Your obedience.”
📚 Sahih Muslim (2654)
🔗 Sunnah.com/muslim:2654
2. Dua for Firmness in Affairs
Authentic – from the Sunnah
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ الثَّبَاتَ فِي الأَمْرِ، وَالْعَزِيمَةَ عَلَى الرُّشْدِ
Transliteration:
Allāhumma innī asʾalukath-thabāta fil-amr, wal-ʿazīmata ʿala ar-rushd.
Translation:
“O Allah, I ask You for steadfastness in affairs and determination upon guidance.”
📚 Sunan an-Nasāʾī (1305) – Sahih
🔗 Sunnah.com/nasai:1305
3. Dua for a Heart Free of Doubt
Inspired by Qur’an
رَبَّنَا لَا تُزِغْ قُلُوبَنَا بَعْدَ إِذْ هَدَيْتَنَا وَهَبْ لَنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةً ۚ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ الْوَهَّابُ
Transliteration:
Rabbana lā tuzigh qulūbanā baʿda idh hadaytanā, wa hab lanā min ladunka raḥmah, innaka anta al-Wahhāb.
Translation:
“Our Lord, let not our hearts deviate after You have guided us and grant us from Yourself mercy. Indeed, You are the Bestower.”
📖 Surah Āl ʿImrān (3:8)
🔗 Quran.com/3/8
4. Dua from the Night Prayer of the Prophet ﷺ
Authentic – From Hadith
Dua of the Prophet ﷺ from the Night Prayer
اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ الْحَمْدُ أَنْتَ نُورُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَمَنْ فِيهِنَّ، وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ، أَنْتَ قَيُّومُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَمَنْ فِيهِنَّ، وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ، أَنْتَ رَبُّ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَمَنْ فِيهِنَّ، أَنْتَ الْحَقُّ، وَوَعْدُكَ الْحَقُّ، وَلِقَاؤُكَ حَقٌّ، وَقَوْلُكَ حَقٌّ، وَالْجَنَّةُ حَقٌّ، وَالنَّارُ حَقٌّ، وَالنَّبِيُّونَ حَقٌّ، وَمُحَمَّدٌ حَقٌّ، وَالسَّاعَةُ حَقٌّ، اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ أَسْلَمْتُ، وَبِكَ آمَنْتُ، وَعَلَيْكَ تَوَكَّلْتُ، وَإِلَيْكَ أَنَبْتُ، وَبِكَ خَاصَمْتُ، وَإِلَيْكَ حَاكَمْتُ، فَاغْفِرْ لِي مَا قَدَّمْتُ وَمَا أَخَّرْتُ، وَمَا أَسْرَرْتُ وَمَا أَعْلَنْتُ، أَنْتَ إِلَهِي، لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ
Transliteration:
Allāhumma laka al-ḥamdu anta nūru as-samāwāti wal-arḍi wa man fīhinna, wa laka al-ḥamdu anta qayyūmu as-samāwāti wal-arḍi wa man fīhinna, wa laka al-ḥamdu anta rabbu as-samāwāti wal-arḍi wa man fīhinna. Anta al-ḥaqqu, wa waʿduka ḥaqq, wa liqāʾuka ḥaqq, wa qawluka ḥaqq, wal-jannatu ḥaqq, wan-nāru ḥaqq, wan-nabiyyūna ḥaqq, wa Muḥammadun ḥaqq, wa as-sāʿatu ḥaqq. Allāhumma laka aslamtu, wa bika āmantu, wa ʿalayka tawakkaltu, wa ilayka anabtu, wa bika khāṣamtu, wa ilayka ḥākamtu. Faghfir lī mā qaddamtu wa mā akhkhartu, wa mā asrartu wa mā aʿlantu. Anta ilāhī, lā ilāha illā anta.
Translation:
“O Allah, to You belongs all praise. You are the Light of the heavens and the earth and all that is within them. To You belongs all praise. You are the Maintainer of the heavens and the earth and all that is within them. To You belongs all praise. You are the Lord of the heavens and the earth and all that is within them.
You are the Truth. Your promise is true. The meeting with You is true. Your Word is true. Paradise is true. Hellfire is true. The Prophets are true. Muhammad ﷺ is true. The Hour is true.
O Allah, to You I have submitted. In You I have believed. Upon You I have relied. To You I have turned. By You I argue. To You I make my case.
So forgive me for what I have sent forth and what I have left behind, what I have done in secret and what I have done in public. You are my God. There is no god but You.”
📚 Source:
Sahih Muslim (769)
🔗 Sunnah.com/muslim:769
This dua was often recited in the night prayer and reflects praise and serenity that calms the heart.
5. Dua for Ease in Speech and Inner Calm
From the Qur’an
رَبِّ اشْرَحْ لِي صَدْرِي، وَيَسِّرْ لِي أَمْرِي
Transliteration:
Rabbi ishraḥ lī ṣadrī, wa yassir lī amrī.
Translation:
“My Lord, expand for me my chest [with assurance], and ease for me my task.”
📖 Surah Ṭāhā (20:25–26)
🔗 Quran.com/20/25-26
This dua was made by Prophet Mūsā ﷺ and is often recited for calm and clarity in moments of pressure or public anxiety.
6. Dua for Peace During Sleeplessness
Authentic – from the Sunnah
اللَّهُمَّ غَارَتِ النُّجُومُ، وَهَدَأَتِ الْعُيُونُ، وَأَنْتَ حَيٌّ قَيُّومٌ
Transliteration:
Allāhumma ghāratin-nujūmu, wa hada’atil-ʿuyūnu, wa anta Ḥayy Qayyūm.
Translation:
“O Allah, the stars have gone, the eyes have calmed, and You are the Ever-Living, the Sustainer.”
📚 Mustadrak al-Ḥākim (1/540) – Hasan
This dua was recited in the night, seeking peace and closeness to Allah ﷻ.
7. Personal Supplication from Classical Literature
Not from the Sunnah – trustworthy in meaning
ٱللّٰهُمَّ أَنْزِلْ عَلَى قَلْبِي سَكِينَةً، وَاجْعَلْنِي مِمَّنْ يَطْمَئِنُّ بِذِكْرِكَ
Transliteration:
Allāhumma anzil ʿalā qalbī sakīnah, wajʿalnī mimman yaṭmaʾinnu bidhikrik.
Translation:
“O Allah, send tranquility upon my heart and make me among those whose hearts are at rest through Your remembrance.”
📚 Inspired by themes in Surah Ar-Raʿd (13:28)
🔗 Quran.com/13/28
Disclaimer: This final dua is not from the Sunnah but is widely quoted in classical Arabic Islamic literature and reflects authentic Qur’anic principles.
Qur’anic dua for anxiety and stress
Emotional hardship, worry, and inner distress are part of the human condition. Even the greatest of creation—the Prophets—faced deep anxiety: Prophet Yūnus ﷺ cried out from the belly of the whale, Prophet Mūsā ﷺ feared for his life, and our beloved Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ grieved the loss of loved ones and the rejection of his people. Yet in every difficulty, Allah ﷻ reminded them—and us—that relief is near.
The Qur’an is not just a book of rulings and stories; it is a source of spiritual healing. Allah ﷻ says:
(وَنُنَزِّلُ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ مَا هُوَ شِفَاءٌ وَرَحْمَةٌ لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ)
“And We send down in the Qur’an that which is a healing and a mercy to those who believe.”
📖 Surah Al-Isrā’ (17:82)
🔗 Quran.com/17/82
When we are anxious, stressed, or emotionally drained, turning to Qur’anic supplications (duas) reminds us of Allah’s mercy, power, and wisdom. These verses are not just recitations—they are divine words of comfort, healing the broken and anxious heart.
Below are several verses from the Qur’an that offer profound relief in times of fear, sadness, and anxiety. They remind us to trust, to hope, and to turn to Allah ﷻ with full certainty that He hears and answers.
1. Surah Ar-Raʿd (13:28)
(الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَتَطْمَئِنُّ قُلُوبُهُم بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ ۗ أَلَا بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ الْقُلُوبُ)
Transliteration:
Alladhīna āmanū wa taṭmaʾinnu qulūbuhum bidhikrillāh, alā bidhikrillāhi taṭmaʾinnul-qulūb.
Translation:
“Those who believe and whose hearts find rest in the remembrance of Allah. Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest.”
📖 Surah Ar-Raʿd (13:28)
🔗 Quran.com/13/28
Reflection: This verse directly affirms that the remembrance (dhikr) of Allah ﷻ brings emotional and spiritual tranquility, offering immediate relief from anxiety.
2. Surah At-Tawbah (9:51)
(قُل لَّن يُصِيبَنَا إِلَّا مَا كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَنَا هُوَ مَوْلَانَا ۚ وَعَلَى اللَّهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ الْمُؤْمِنُون)
Transliteration:
Qul lan yuṣībanā illā mā kataba Allāhu lanā, huwa mawlānā wa ʿala Allāhi falyatawakkalil-muʾminūn.
Translation:
“Say: Never will anything happen to us except what Allah has decreed for us; He is our Protector. And upon Allah let the believers rely.”
📖 Surah At-Tawbah (9:51)
🔗 Quran.com/9/51
Reflection: This verse encourages trust in divine decree (tawakkul)—a cornerstone of emotional resilience and protection from anxiety.
3. Surah Al-Baqarah (2:286)
﴾لَا يُكَلِّفُ اللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا﴿
Transliteration:
Lā yukallifullāhu nafsan illā wusʿahā.
Translation:
“Allah does not burden a soul beyond what it can bear.”
📖 Surah Al-Baqarah (2:286)
🔗 Quran.com/2/286
Reflection: A deeply reassuring āyah reminding us that our hardships are never beyond our ability—they are within our limits, even if difficult.
4. Surah Ash-Sharḥ (94:5–6)
(فَإِنَّ مَعَ الْعُسْرِ يُسْرًا • إِنَّ مَعَ الْعُسْرِ يُسْرًا)
Transliteration:
Fa-inna maʿal-ʿusri yusrā. Inna maʿal-ʿusri yusrā.
Translation:
“So, indeed, with hardship comes ease. Indeed, with hardship comes ease.”
📖 Surah Ash-Sharḥ (94:5–6)
🔗 Quran.com/94/5-6
Reflection: This repeated verse is one of the most hopeful reminders in the Qur’an—relief is always paired with difficulty, never isolated.
5. Surah Al-Inshirah (94:1–3)
(أَلَمْ نَشْرَحْ لَكَ صَدْرَكَ • وَوَضَعْنَا عَنكَ وِزْرَكَ • الَّذِي أَنقَضَ ظَهْرَكَ)
Transliteration:
Alam nashraḥ laka ṣadrak. Wa waḍaʿnā ʿanka wizrak. Alladhī anqaḍa ẓahrak.
Translation:
“Have We not expanded for you your chest? And removed from you your burden which had weighed upon your back?”
📖 Surah Al-Inshirah (94:1–3)
🔗 Quran.com/94/1-3
Reflection: These āyāt speak directly to psychological relief—how Allah ﷻ brings ease, lightens burdens, and comforts the heart of the distressed.
6. Surah Al-Ankabūt (29:69)
﴿وَالَّذِينَ جَاهَدُوا فِينَا لَنَهْدِيَنَّهُمْ سُبُلَنَا﴾
Transliteration:
Wa alladhīna jāhadū fīnā lanahdiyannahum subulanā.
Translation:
“As for those who strive for Us—We will surely guide them to Our ways.”
📖 Surah Al-ʿAnkabūt (29:69)
🔗 Quran.com/29/69
Reflection: Anxiety is a form of inner struggle (jihad al-nafs). This āyah promises that striving through hardship results in divine guidance and light.
7. Surah Yūsuf (12:87)
(إِنَّهُ لَا يَيْأَسُ مِن رَّوْحِ اللَّهِ إِلَّا الْقَوْمُ الْكَافِرُونَ)
Transliteration:
Innahu lā yayʾasu min rawḥillāhi illā al-qawmul-kāfirūn.
Translation:
“Indeed, none despairs of relief from Allah except the disbelieving people.”
📖 Surah Yūsuf (12:87)
🔗 Quran.com/12/87
Reflection: This verse reinforces hope as a core of faith. Allah’s mercy and help are always near, no matter how bleak the moment seems.
Read more: Dua For Good Health
Turn to Allah ﷻ, Find Peace
Anxiety and stress are tests of the soul, but through sincere dua, remembrance, and trust in Allah ﷻ, every difficulty can become a means for growth. Let the examples of the Prophets inspire you: they faced the heaviest burdens with patience, knowing that relief is always near.
“Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest.”
📖 Surah Ar-Raʿd (13:28)
🔗 Quran.com/13/28
Make dua regularly, especially during the last third of the night, after obligatory prayers, and in prostration. Allah ﷻ hears every whisper of your heart—even the ones you can’t put into words.
May Allah ﷻ bring peace, stability, and joy to your heart. Ameen.