Dua for Worries: Turning to Allah ﷻ in Times of Distress | Worry Is a Human Experience, Not a Weakness |Every soul encounters hardship. Worry settles in the heart when life becomes uncertain, when losses mount, or when expectations are unmet. This emotional weight is a natural part of being human. In Islam, we are not told to suppress these emotions—we are guided on how to respond to them.
Even the most beloved servants of Allah ﷻ—the Prophets—felt sorrow and stress. Prophet Yaʿqūb عليه السلام mourned the loss of his son and said:
(نَّمَا أَشْكُو بَثِّي وَحُزْنِي إِلَى ٱللَّهِ)
“I only complain of my suffering and my grief to Allah.”
Surah Yūsuf (12:86)
This teaches us that sharing our pain with Allah ﷻ is a sign of faith, not failure.
What Is a Dua for Worries?
A dua for worries is a heartfelt supplication that acknowledges one’s helplessness and asks Allah ﷻ to bring comfort, clarity, and strength. It is not only a plea for relief but a powerful act of worship. Through dua, the believer affirms their belief in divine mercy and trusts that every hardship has meaning.
Dua is not a mere ritual. It is a means of spiritual healing. It strengthens the soul while the problem still remains, and often, it is through dua that Allah ﷻ brings the relief we seek.
The Role of the Prophet ﷺ in Teaching Us How to Cope
The Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ himself made frequent supplications for relief from stress, sadness, and fear. He carried the immense burden of revelation, faced opposition, and endured personal losses. Yet he never wavered in turning to Allah ﷻ in dua.
His life was a model for how to deal with inner turmoil. He ﷺ taught companions to use dua to transform their anxiety into patience, their fear into reliance, and their sadness into gratitude.
Trusting the Wisdom Behind Every Trial
The Qur’an teaches us that trials are not meaningless. There is a purpose behind the delay, the pain, and even the silence of an unanswered dua. Allah ﷻ reminds us:
(وَعَسَىٰ أَن تَكْرَهُوا شَيْـًٔا وَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ)
“It may be that you dislike something while it is good for you.”
Surah Al-Baqarah (2:216)
This verse speaks directly to anyone burdened with worry. What seems harmful may hold mercy. What feels like loss may be protection.
When and How to Make Dua for Worries
The best times to make a dua for worries include the last third of the night, in sujūd (prostration), after obligatory prayers, and between the adhān and iqāmah. But dua is not restricted to ritual times. You can speak to Allah ﷻ at any moment—while walking, weeping, or lying awake at night.
You don’t need eloquence to be heard. Allah ﷻ listens to what is in the heart, not just what is spoken by the tongue. Whether you know the Arabic or not, whether your voice trembles or not—He hears and responds.
Remembrance of Allah ﷻ Brings Calm
Alongside dua, the Qur’an gives us another remedy:
(أَلَا بِذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ ٱلْقُلُوبُ)
“Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest.”
Surah Ar-Raʿd (13:28)
Sometimes the act of dua itself becomes the relief. Pouring out your heart in solitude, repeating the Names of Allah ﷻ, and affirming your trust can lift the weight even before the situation changes.
Every Hardship Carries Ease
No verse in the Qur’an is repeated like this one:
(فَإِنَّ مَعَ ٱلْعُسْرِ يُسْرًا)
“Indeed, with hardship comes ease.”
Surah Al-Inshirāḥ (94:6)
Not after—with hardship. Ease is not only promised—it accompanies the trial. When the believer trusts this promise, their heart learns to breathe even under pressure.
Having laid this foundation, we now turn to the actual duas revealed in the Qur’an and taught by the Prophet ﷺ to be recited in moments of worry, sadness, or emotional burden.
Authentic Duas from the Qur’an and Sunnah for Worry and Anxiety
Turning to Allah ﷻ through dua has always been the most powerful means of seeking comfort during hardship. The Prophets, companions, and righteous believers all relied on this sacred act of calling upon their Lord when faced with grief, stress, or uncertainty. The following are authentic and powerful supplications from the Qur’an and the Sunnah that have brought ease to the hearts of believers for centuries.
Dua 1: A Daily Supplication of the Prophet ﷺ for Worry and Distress
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 weakness and laziness, from cowardice and miserliness, and from the burden of debts and from being overpowered by men.”
This supplication was frequently taught by the Prophet ﷺ to his companions, particularly for seeking protection from emotional and financial stress.
Source:
Sahih al-Bukhari (6369), Sahih Muslim (2706)
View on Sunnah.com
Dua 2: The Call of Prophet Yūnus عليه السلام in Darkness and Despair
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.”
This is the dua made by Prophet Yūnus عليه السلام while trapped in the belly of the whale. The Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ said that no one makes this supplication during hardship except that Allah ﷻ relieves them of it.
Source:
Surah Al-Anbiyāʾ 21:87
Sunan al-Tirmidhi (3505) – Ḥasan
View Qur’anic ayah
View Hadith
Dua 3: Words of Reliance in the Face of Fear
حَسْبُنَا ٱللَّهُ وَنِعْمَ ٱلْوَكِيلُ
Transliteration:
Ḥasbunallāhu wa niʿma al-wakīl.
Translation:
“Sufficient for us is Allah, and He is the best disposer of affairs.”
This declaration of trust was made by the companions of the Prophet ﷺ when threatened by the enemies at Uhud. It is a powerful affirmation to recite when feeling overwhelmed by circumstances beyond our control.
Source:
Surah Āl ʿImrān ﴿3:173﴾
View on Quran.com
Dua 4: A Supplication for a Peaceful Soul
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.”
Though not a hadith, this wording aligns closely with the Qur’anic concept of nafs al-muṭmaʾinnah—the contented soul praised in Surah Al-Fajr ﴿89:27﴾. It is used by scholars and supplicants as a heartfelt personal dua.
Dua 5: Seeking Inner Strength and Wisdom
اللَّهُمَّ لَا سَهْلَ إِلَّا مَا جَعَلْتَهُ سَهْلًا، وَأَنْتَ تَجْعَلُ الْحَزْنَ إِذَا شِئْتَ سَهْلًا
Transliteration:
Allāhumma lā sahla illā mā jaʿaltahu sahlan, wa anta tajʿalu al-ḥazna idhā shiʾta sahlan.
Translation:
“O Allah, there is no ease except what You make easy. And You alone can make the difficult easy, if You will.”
This supplication was taught by the Prophet ﷺ when facing difficulty, and it is especially useful during emotional or spiritual struggles.
Source:
Ibn Ḥibbān in his Ṣaḥīḥ – Ḥasan
Also cited in Nawawi’s Al-Adhkar
Dua 6: Prayer for Patience and Mercy
(رَبَّنَا أَفْرِغْ عَلَيْنَا صَبْرًا وَتَوَفَّنَا مُسْلِمِينَ)
Transliteration:
Rabbana afrigh ʿalaynā ṣabran wa tawaffanā muslimīn.
Translation:
“Our Lord, pour upon us patience and cause us to die as Muslims [in submission to You].”
This dua was made by the companions of Prophet Mūsā عليه السلام during extreme trials and oppression. It is a powerful reminder that patience is something granted from above, not only generated from within.
Source:
Surah Al-Aʿrāf ﴿7:126﴾
View on Quran.com
Certainly. Here are additional authentic duas from the Qur’an and Sunnah, continuing from Dua 7, each formatted according to your full instruction set.
Dua 7: Supplication of Prophet Zakariyyā (for inner fear and worry)
رَبِّ إِنِّي وَهَنَ الْعَظْمُ مِنِّي وَاشْتَعَلَ الرَّأْسُ شَيْبًا وَلَمْ أَكُنۢ بِدُعَآئِكَ رَبِّ شَقِيًّا
Transliteration:
Rabbi innī wahana al-ʿaẓmu minnī wa ishtaʿala al-raʾsu shayban wa lam akun biduʿāʾika rabbi shaqiyyā.
Translation:
“My Lord, indeed my bones have weakened, and my head has filled with white, but never have I been disappointed in my supplication to You, my Lord.”
This is a deeply personal dua from Prophet Zakariyyā عليه السلام expressing vulnerability while affirming unwavering trust in Allah ﷻ. It teaches us to turn to Him even in our weakest moments.
(Source: Qur’an – Surah Maryam (19:4))
🔗 Quran.com/19/4
Dua 8: Relief from burden and hardship
رَبَّنَا وَلَا تُحَمِّلْنَا مَا لَا طَاقَةَ لَنَا بِهِ
Transliteration:
Rabbana wa lā tuḥammilnā mā lā ṭāqata lanā bih.
Translation:
“Our Lord, and burden us not with that which we have no ability to bear.”
This portion of the final verse of Surah Al-Baqarah reflects a believer’s plea for emotional and physical relief from unbearable hardship.
(Source: Qur’an – Surah Al-Baqarah (2:286))
🔗 Quran.com/2/286
Dua 9: General prayer for all good and protection from all evil
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ خَيْرِ مَا سَأَلَكَ عَبْدُكَ وَنَبِيُّكَ، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا عَاذَ بِهِ عَبْدُكَ وَنَبِيُّكَ
Transliteration:
Allāhumma innī asʾaluka min khayri mā saʾalaka ʿabduka wa nabiyyuka, wa aʿūdhu bika min sharri mā ʿādha bihi ʿabduka wa nabiyyuk.
Translation:
“O Allah, I ask You for the best of what Your servant and Prophet asked You for, and I seek refuge in You from the worst of what Your servant and Prophet sought refuge from.”
This comprehensive dua from the Sunnah helps a believer encompass all goodness and seek protection from every possible harm, including emotional and mental burdens.
(Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhi (3521) – Hasan
🔗 Sunnah.com/tirmidhi:3521
Dua 10: For the removal of sorrow and anxiety
اللَّهُمَّ رَحْمَتَكَ أَرْجُو، فَلَا تَكِلْنِي إِلَىٰ نَفْسِي طَرْفَةَ عَيْنٍ، وَأَصْلِحْ لِي شَأْنِي كُلَّهُ، لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ
Transliteration:
Allāhumma raḥmataka arjū, fa-lā takilnī ilā nafsī ṭarfata ʿayn, wa aṣliḥ lī shaʾnī kullahu, lā ilāha illā ant.
Translation:
“O Allah, I hope for Your mercy. Do not leave me to myself even for the blink of an eye, and rectify for me all of my affairs. There is no deity but You.”
This dua is especially powerful during times of anxiety when one fears being overwhelmed or unsupported.
(Source: Abu Dawud (5090), Authenticated by al-Albani in Sahih al-Jamiʿ (3388))
🔗 Sunnah.com/abudawud:5090
These powerful and authentic duas carry the legacy of the Prophets and the righteous. In them we find honesty, humility, and full submission to the will of Allah ﷻ. They teach us how to speak from the heart in times of fear and uncertainty, while anchoring ourselves to divine trust.
Additional Duas for Worries (Not from Qur’an or Sunnah)
In times of emotional distress, Muslims often seek comfort through heartfelt, personal supplications. While the following duas are not found directly in the Qur’an or authentic Sunnah, they are widely circulated in reliable Arabic sources and remain within the bounds of Islamic meaning and etiquette. They may be recited as personal invocations to ask Allah ﷻ for calm, clarity, and ease.
Dua 1: For Emotional Relief
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَوْدِعُكَ هَمِّي وَوَجَعِي، فَارْزُقْنِي صَبْرًا يُطَمْئِنُّ قَلْبِي، وَرَحْمَةً تَحُطُّ بِهَا أَثْقَالِي
Transliteration:
Allāhumma innī astawdiʿuka hammī wa wajaʿī, farzuqnī ṣabran yuṭmaʾinnu qalbī, wa raḥmatan taḥuṭṭu bihā athqālī.
Translation:
“O Allah, I entrust You with my worry and pain. Grant me patience that soothes my heart and mercy that lifts my burdens.”
This dua expresses the vulnerability of the heart while seeking divine support and mercy.
Dua 2: For Peace of Mind
اللَّهُمَّ طَمْئِنْ قَلْبِي بِذِكْرِكَ، وَثَبِّتْنِي عَلَى طَاعَتِكَ، وَاجْعَلْ هُمُومِي زَائِلَةً
Transliteration:
Allāhumma ṭamʾin qalbī bidhikrik, wa thabbitnī ʿalā ṭāʿatik, wajʿal humūmī zāʾilah.
Translation:
“O Allah, calm my heart with Your remembrance, make me firm in obedience to You, and remove my worries.”
The phrasing echoes the Qur’anic teaching that hearts find peace through remembering Allah ﷻ.
Dua 3: To Turn Sadness into Tranquility
اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْ حُزْنِي بَدَلًا مِنْهُ سَكِينَةً، وَقَلَقِي طُمَأْنِينَةً، وَضِيقِي فَرَجًا
Transliteration:
Allāhumma ajʿal ḥuznī badalan minhu sakīnah, wa qalaqī ṭumaʾnīnah, wa ḍīqī farajan.
Translation:
“O Allah, replace my sorrow with tranquility, my anxiety with assurance, and my distress with relief.”
This supplication reflects the believer’s desire to transform emotional struggles into peaceful submission.
Dua 4: For Strength and Healing
اللَّهُمَّ لَا تَدَعْ فِي قَلْبِي هَمًّا إِلَّا أَزَلْتَهُ، وَلَا ضِيقًا إِلَّا نَفَسْتَهُ، وَلَا أَلَمًا إِلَّا شَفَيْتَهُ
Transliteration:
Allāhumma lā tadaʿ fī qalbī hamman illā azalttahu, wa lā ḍīqan illā naffastahu, wa lā alaman illā shafaytahu.
Translation:
“O Allah, leave no worry in my heart without removing it, no tightness without easing it, and no pain without healing it.”
This prayer combines emotional vulnerability with full trust in divine healing.
Here are the Additional Duas continuing from Dua 5, formatted according to your instructions:
Dua 5: For Replacing Restlessness with Trust
اللَّهُمَّ أَزِلْ وَجَلِي، وَهَوِّنْ أَمْرِي، وَاكْفِنِي مَا أَهَمَّنِي، وَقَرِّبْنِي مِنْ رِضَاكَ
Transliteration:
Allāhumma azal wajalī, wa hawwin amrī, wakfinī mā ahammanī, wa qarribnī min riḍāk.
Translation:
“O Allah, remove my restlessness, ease my affairs, suffice me from what worries me, and draw me closer to Your pleasure.”
This dua reflects complete surrender to Allah ﷻ in difficult moments, asking for ease and a redirection of the heart toward divine approval.
Dua 6: To Be Freed from Overthinking
اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّ فِي صَمْتِي ضَعْفًا، وَفِي سُكُوتِي دُعَاءً، فَأَنْتَ تَعْلَمُ مَا فِي نَفْسِي، فَفَرِّجْ عَنِّي
Transliteration:
Allāhumma inna fī ṣamtī ḍaʿfan, wa fī sukūtī duʿāʾan, fa anta taʿlamu mā fī nafsī, fa farrij ʿannī.
Translation:
“O Allah, in my silence is weakness, and in my quiet is supplication. You know what lies in my heart—so relieve me.”
This is a personal and intimate dua for those who feel unable to express their anxiety but trust that Allah ﷻ knows what the heart conceals.
Dua 7: For Comfort During Sleepless Nights
اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّ قَلْبِي مُثْقَلٌ وَعَيْنِي سَاهِرَةٌ، فَبِرَحْمَتِكَ طَيِّبْ لَيَالِي وَأَذْهِبْ قَلَقِي
Transliteration:
Allāhumma inna qalbī muthqalan wa ʿaynī sāhirah, fa biraḥmatika ṭayyib layālī wa adhhib qalaqī.
Translation:
“O Allah, my heart is heavy and my eyes are restless. Through Your mercy, make my nights peaceful and remove my anxiety.”
This dua addresses the quiet suffering of those whose minds are weighed down at night and who long for peace.
Dua 8: For Relief from Emotional Pressure
اللَّهُمَّ أَبْعِدْ عَنِّي كُلَّ مَا يُثْقِلُ صَدْرِي، وَيُشَوِّشُ فِكْرِي، وَيُبْكِي عَيْنِي
Transliteration:
Allāhumma abʿid ʿannī kulla mā yuthqilu ṣadrī, wa yushawwishu fikrī, wa yubkī ʿaynī.
Translation:
“O Allah, distance me from everything that burdens my chest, disturbs my thoughts, and brings tears to my eyes.”
This heartfelt dua reflects the full emotional experience of distress, while placing complete reliance on divine relief.
Dua 9: For Emotional Stability
اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْ لِي فِي كُلِّ خُطْوَةٍ طُمَأْنِينَةً، وَفِي كُلِّ نَفَسٍ سَكِينَةً، وَفِي كُلِّ دُعَاءٍ إِجَابَةً
Transliteration:
Allāhumma ajʿal lī fī kulli khuṭwah ṭumaʾnīnah, wa fī kulli nafas sakīnah, wa fī kulli duʿāʾ ijābah.
Translation:
“O Allah, grant me calm in every step, serenity in every breath, and acceptance in every supplication.”
This supplication asks Allah ﷻ for balance and stability—body, mind, and soul—all through the course of life’s difficulties.
Dua 10: A General Prayer for Healing from Worry
اللَّهُمَّ اشْفِنِي مِنْ قَلَقٍ لَا يُرَاح، وَهَمٍّ لَا يُفَسَّر، وَحُزْنٍ لَا يُشْعَر
Transliteration:
Allāhumma ishfinī min qalaqin lā yurāḥ, wa hammīn lā yufassar, wa ḥuznin lā yushʿar.
Translation:
“O Allah, heal me from anxiety that gives no rest, from worry that defies explanation, and from sadness that no one sees.”
This final supplication encapsulates the silent emotional weight many carry and channels it toward the healing power of divine mercy.
Note: The above additional duas are not narrated in the Qur’an or the Sunnah, and therefore do not carry the reward or guarantee associated with authentic supplications. However, they reflect permissible and meaningful expressions of reliance on Allah ﷻ, and may be recited personally so long as they do not contradict Islamic belief or etiquette.
Dua for Worries Is a Gateway to Inner Peace
Anxiety and stress are among the most painful inner experiences, but they are not foreign to the believing heart. The Prophets, companions, and righteous before us faced immense burdens—and they turned to Allah ﷻ not only for solutions, but for serenity.
Making a dua for worries allows the heart to speak honestly to its Creator. Each supplication, whether from the Qur’an, the Sunnah, or heartfelt personal words, is an affirmation that we are never abandoned in our hardship.
When you raise your hands in dua, remember you are engaging in a noble act that links the servant directly with the Lord of the worlds. Seek relief, but also seek understanding. Ask for calm, and also ask for nearness to Him. Because sometimes, the removal of the worry is less important than the tranquility that comes from knowing Who you belong to.
May Allah ﷻ grant us all relief from our anxieties, a heart firm in remembrance, and a soul content with His decree.