Dua for Depression | The Power of Dua in Times of Sadness | In times of sadness and distress, it is natural for us to yearn for solace and relief. During such moments, turning to Allah and seeking His guidance and mercy through dua (supplication) can provide immense comfort and peace to the heart. Dua is a powerful tool that connects us directly to our Creator, allowing us to express our deepest emotions, seek His intervention, and find solace in His infinite love and mercy.
The act of supplication is not limited to reciting specific prayers or using prescribed words, but rather it is a heartfelt conversation with Allah where we express our vulnerabilities, hopes, and desires. It is a moment of utmost sincerity and humility, acknowledging our complete dependence on Allah and our trust in His ultimate wisdom. Sadness is not a sign of weak faith. Even the Prophets experienced emotional pain and sorrow.
In this article, we will delve into the words of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), his guidance on supplicating during moments of distress, how this Dua for Depression and sadness can help, and turning to Allah SWT can help alleviate our grief and transform our sorrow into strength. In times of sadness, let us turn to Allah and seek His guidance, for He alone has the power to ease our hearts and uplift our spirits.
Dua for Depression: Seeking Support and Mercy
يا حي يا قيوم ، برحمتك أستغيث ، أصلح لي شأني كله ، ولا تكلني إلى نفسي طرفة عين
Ya Hayyu Ya Qayyum, bi rahmatika astaghith, aslih li sha’ni kullahu, wa la takilni ila nafsi tarfata ‘aynin.
Translation: O Ever-Living, O Sustainer of all existence, I seek assistance through Your mercy. Set right all my affairs and do not leave me to myself even for the blink of an eye.
- “O Ever-Living, O Sustainer of all existence” – This is a direct address to Allah, emphasizing His eternal nature and His role as the sustainer and guardian of all creation.
- “I seek assistance through Your mercy” – This expresses the reliance of the speaker on the mercy and kindness of Allah, asking Him for help and support.
- “Set right all my affairs” – The speaker is requesting Allah to rectify and improve every aspect of their life and circumstances.
- “And do not leave me to myself even for the blink of an eye” – The speaker is acknowledging their own weaknesses and vulnerabilities, and they are asking Allah to not let them depend on themselves for even a brief moment, emphasizing their need for Allah’s continuous guidance and protection.
Dua for Depression | Seeking Refuge From Sadness and Worry
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْهَمِّ وَالْحُزْنِ وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْعَجْزِ وَالْكَسَلِ وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الجُبْنِ وَالبُخْلِ وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ غَلَبَةِ الدَّيْنِ وَقَهْرِ الرِّجَالِ
Allahumma inni a’udhu bika min al-hammi wal-huzni, wa a’udhu bika min al-‘ajzi wal-kasal, wa a’udhu bika min al-jubni wal-bukhl, wa a’udhu bika min ghalabatid-dayni wa qahrir-rijal.
Translation: O Allah, I seek refuge in You from sadness and sorrow, and I seek refuge in You from helplessness and laziness, and I seek refuge in You from cowardice and stinginess, and I seek refuge in You from being overpowered by debt and from the oppression of men. Sahih al-Bukhari 6369
Dua for Depression | Qur’an As the Light of the Heart
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.”
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” .
Source: Musnad Ahmad 3712
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,
Dua for Depression | The Importance of Remembering Allah at Times of Distress
The below is from Surah Ar-Ra’d (13:28)
﴾أَلَا بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ الْقُلُوبُ﴿
It translates as: “Unquestionably, by the remembrance of Allah hearts are assured.”
This verse beautifully encapsulates the profound impact of remembering Allah on the tranquility and reassurance of our hearts. By engaging in the remembrance of Allah, our hearts find peace, comfort, and contentment. It serves as a reminder that true serenity and calmness can only be attained by constantly bringing Allah to mind and deepening our connection with Him.
Duas from the Qur’an for Inner Peace
There are duas from the Qur’an for inner peace and emotional relief, especially helpful for those experiencing depression, anxiety, or distress:
1. Dua for a Steadfast Heart
﴾رَبَّنَا لَا تُزِغْ قُلُوبَنَا بَعْدَ إِذْ هَدَيْتَنَا﴿
Transliteration: Rabbana lā tuzigh qulūbanā baʿda idh hadaytanā
Translation: “Our Lord, do not let our hearts deviate after You have guided us.”
📖 Surah Āl ʿImrān 3:8
2. Dua for Inner Ease and Openness
﴾رَبِّ ٱشْرَحْ لِي صَدْرِي﴿
Transliteration: Rabbi-shraḥ lī ṣadrī
Translation: “My Lord, expand for me my chest.”
📖 Surah Ṭāhā 20:25
3. Dua for Reliance on Allah
﴾حَسْبُنَا ٱللَّهُ وَنِعْمَ ٱلْوَكِيلُ﴿
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
4. Dua for Relief from Burden
﴾لَا يُكَلِّفُ ٱللَّهُ 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
5. Dua for Help and Patience
﴾رَبَّنَا أَفْرِغْ عَلَيْنَا صَبْرًۭا وَثَبِّتْ أَقْدَامَنَا﴿
Transliteration: Rabbana afrigh ʿalaynā ṣabran wa thabbit aqdāmanā
Translation: “Our Lord, pour upon us patience and plant firmly our feet.”
📖 Surah Al-Baqarah 2:250
Prophetic Experience of Sorrow
The Prophets of Allah ﷻ, though divinely guided and the best of creation, were still human beings. They experienced deep sadness, emotional pain, grief, and moments of isolation — not as a weakness of faith, but as a test and elevation in status. Through their responses, they modeled how a believer should handle sadness and depression: with duʿāʾ, patience (ṣabr), trust in Allah ﷻ (tawakkul), and seeking solace in the worship of Allah. Here is how some of the Prophets dealt with sorrow and emotional hardship:
1. Prophet Yaʿqūb (Jacob) عليه السلام – Grieving with Patience
When he lost his beloved son Yūsuf عليه السلام, Yaʿqūb’s sorrow was profound. His grief was so intense that he lost his eyesight due to excessive weeping.
﴾وَٱبْيَضَّتْ عَيْنَاهُۥ مِنَ ٱلْحُزْنِ فَهُوَ كَظِيمٌ﴿
“And his eyes turned white from grief, for he was [of that] a suppressor.”
— Surah Yūsuf (12:84)
Quran.com/12/84
Yet, what did he say?
﴾إِنَّمَآ أَشْكُو بَثِّى وَحُزْنِىٓ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ﴿
“I only complain of my suffering and my grief to Allah.”
— Surah Yūsuf (12:86)
Quran.com/12/86
His method was to turn his sorrow into private supplication, not public despair. He did not bottle up his feelings; he shared them with the only One who could truly help — Allah ﷻ.
2. Prophet Yūnus (Jonah) عليه السلام – Seeking Forgiveness and Relief
Prophet Yūnus عليه السلام felt isolated and overwhelmed after leaving his people too soon. In the belly of the whale, in complete darkness, he humbled himself before Allah ﷻ:
﴾لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّآ أَنتَ سُبْحَـٰنَكَ إِنِّى كُنتُ مِنَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ﴿
“There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers.”
— Surah al-Anbiyāʾ (21:87)
Quran.com/21/87
This duʿāʾ, full of istighfār (seeking forgiveness), sincerity, and tawḥīd, became a model for all those in distress. Allah ﷻ responded by saving him:
﴾فَٱسْتَجَبْنَا لَهُۥ وَنَجَّيْنَـٰهُ مِنَ ٱلْغَمِّ﴿
“So We responded to him and saved him from the distress…”
— Surah al-Anbiyāʾ (21:88)
Quran.com/21/88
3. Prophet Ayyūb (Job) عليه السلام – Patience Through Extreme Suffering
Prophet Ayyūb عليه السلام endured long-term physical illness, loss of wealth, children, and support — yet remained grateful and patient.
﴾وَأَيُّوبَ إِذْ نَادَىٰ رَبَّهُۥٓ أَنِّى مَسَّنِىَ ٱلضُّرُّ وَأَنتَ أَرْحَمُ ٱلرَّٰحِمِينَ﴿
“Indeed, adversity has touched me, and You are the Most Merciful of the merciful.”
— Surah al-Anbiyāʾ (21:83)
Quran.com/21/83
His duʿāʾ was full of humility and trust. He did not complain, but rather acknowledged Allah’s mercy even while in pain. Allah ﷻ praised his patience and rewarded him with healing.
4. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ – Finding Comfort in Worship
The Prophet ﷺ experienced immense grief in his life: the deaths of his parents, his beloved wife Khadījah, his children, his uncle, and the rejection by his people. The year after Khadījah and Abu Ṭālib died is known as ʿĀm al-Ḥuzn (The Year of Sorrow).
Despite the pain, the Prophet ﷺ turned to salah (prayer) and duʿāʾ. He said:
“O Bilāl, give the call to prayer. Let us find comfort in it.”
[Musnad Aḥmad 35095 – Graded ṣaḥīḥ by al-Albānī]
He would lengthen his night prayers, shedding tears before his Lord in the quiet of the night. His strategy was always to seek closeness to Allah ﷻ — never escape, denial, or despair.
Sadness is not sinful. Depression is not weakness. Even the Prophets felt overwhelmed. What made them exceptional was how they responded: with faith, not despair. With duʿāʾ, not silence. With patience, not resentment. So let your sadness be a path to Allah ﷻ. Cry to Him. Speak to Him. Complain only to Him. As long as you are turning to Him, you are not broken — you are healing.
Best Times to Make Dua According to the Sunnah
The Prophet ﷺ taught us that there are special moments when duʿāʾ is more likely to be accepted. Recognizing these blessed times helps deepen our spiritual practice and allows us to turn to Allah ﷻ with hope and certainty.
1. During the Last Third of the Night
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
‟Our Lord, Blessed and Exalted is He, descends every night to the lowest heaven when the last third of the night remains, and says: ‘Who is calling upon Me, that I may respond to him? Who is asking from Me, that I may give him? Who is seeking My forgiveness, that I may forgive him?’”
This is one of the most powerful moments to supplicate. The world is quiet, distractions are few, and your duʿāʾ rises in the stillness of night—heard by the One who never sleeps.
2. While in Sujood (Prostration)
The Prophet ﷺ said:
‟The closest that a servant comes to his Lord is when he is prostrating, so make plenty of duʿāʾ.”
In sujood, we humble ourselves entirely before Allah ﷻ, both physically and spiritually. It is a time of deep submission and sincerity, and an ideal moment to whisper our hopes, fears, and needs to our Creator.
3. Between the Adhān and Iqāmah
The Prophet ﷺ said:
‟Duʿāʾ between the Adhān and the Iqāmah is not rejected.”
This brief period before the congregational prayer begins is spiritually charged. It’s a time when hearts are oriented toward worship, and the environment is filled with dhikr, making it a beautiful moment to ask Allah ﷻ sincerely.
4. On Fridays – During the Final Hour Before Maghrib
The Prophet ﷺ said:
‟There is an hour on Friday in which no Muslim stands and prays, asking Allah ﷻ for something, but He will grant it to him.”
This hour is believed to fall during the last moments before sunset on Friday. It’s a sacred opportunity to make heartfelt duʿāʾ, especially for forgiveness, guidance, and blessings in this life and the next.
You Are Not Alone
Duʿāʾ is more than asking — it’s healing. It reorients your soul, reaffirms your connection, and pulls you back from despair. When you’re overwhelmed, turn your face to the One who never turns away.
﴾وَمَن يَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهُ﴿
“Whoever relies upon Allah – then He is sufficient for him.”
— Surah At-Talāq (65:3)
Quran.com/65/3
This verse serves as a powerful reminder that amidst the anxieties and challenges of life, the ultimate source of serenity lies in turning our attention towards Allah and seeking solace in His remembrance.
The remembrance of Allah can take various forms, such as reciting His names and attributes, praising and glorifying Him, reading His words in the Quran, seeking His forgiveness, and offering gratitude for His blessings. By actively engaging in these acts of remembrance, we invite Allah’s presence into our hearts and allow His light to illuminate our lives.
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