Duas for Anxiety
Calm your heart with authentic duas for worry, sorrow, and overwhelming emotion.
Background
Anxiety, worry, and sorrow are part of the human condition, and the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught his Companions specific duas to lighten the heart and return tranquillity. The supplications below are drawn from Sahih hadith and the Quran. Recite them with sincerity and trust in Allah's mercy.
Authentic Duas (33)
Quranic Duas
Dua of Yunus ﷺ — La Ilaha Illa Anta Subhanak
لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي كُنْتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ
There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers.
Quranic Duas
Hasbunallahu wa Ni'mal Wakil
حَسْبُنَا اللَّهُ وَنِعْمَ الْوَكِيلُ
Allah is sufficient for us, and He is the best Disposer of affairs.
Situations
Dua for Anxiety — Allahumma inni Abduk
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي عَبْدُكَ، ابْنُ عَبْدِكَ، ابْنُ أَمَتِكَ، نَاصِيَتِي بِيَدِكَ، مَاضٍ فِيَّ حُكْمُكَ، عَدْلٌ فِيَّ قَضَاؤُكَ، أَسْأَلُكَ بِكُلِّ اسْمٍ هُوَ لَكَ سَمَّيْتَ بِهِ نَفْسَكَ، أَوْ أَنْزَلْتَهُ فِي كِتَابِكَ، أَوْ عَلَّمْتَهُ أَحَدًا مِنْ خَلْقِكَ، أَوِ اسْتَأْثَرْتَ بِهِ فِي عِلْمِ الْغَيْبِ عِنْدَكَ، أَنْ تَجْعَلَ الْقُرْآنَ رَبِيعَ قَلْبِي، وَنُورَ صَدْرِي، وَجَلَاءَ حُزْنِي، وَذَهَابَ هَمِّي
O Allah, I am Your servant, son of Your male servant, son of Your female servant. My forelock is in Your hand. Your judgment over me is assured, and Your decree concerning me is just. I ask You by every name belonging to You with which You have named Yourself, or revealed in Your Book, or taught any of Your creation, or kept hidden in the knowledge of the unseen with You — that You make the Quran the spring of my heart, the light of my chest, the departure of my sorrow, and the going away of my anxiety.
Evening Duas
Evening — Refuge from Anxiety and Laziness
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْهَمِّ وَالْحَزَنِ، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْعَجْزِ وَالْكَسَلِ، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْجُبْنِ وَالْبُخْلِ، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ غَلَبَةِ الدَّيْنِ وَقَهْرِ الرِّجَالِ
O Allah, I take refuge in You from worry and grief, from helplessness and laziness, from cowardice and miserliness, and from being overcome by debt and overpowered by men.
Morning Duas
Morning — Ya Hayyu Ya Qayyum
يَا حَيُّ يَا قَيُّومُ، بِرَحْمَتِكَ أَسْتَغِيثُ، أَصْلِحْ لِي شَأْنِي كُلَّهُ، وَلَا تَكِلْنِي إِلَى نَفْسِي طَرْفَةَ عَيْنٍ
O Ever-Living, O Self-Sustaining, by Your mercy I seek help — rectify all of my affairs, and do not leave me to myself even for the blink of an eye.
Situations
Dua for Difficulty — La ilaha illallah al-Halim al-Karim
لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ الْحَلِيمُ الْكَرِيمُ، سُبْحَانَ اللهِ رَبِّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيمِ، الْحَمْدُ لِلهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ، اللّٰهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ مُوجِبَاتِ رَحْمَتِكَ، وَعَزَائِمَ مَغْفِرَتِكَ، وَالنَّجَاةَ مِنَ كُلِّ ذَنْبٍ، وَالسَّلَامَةَ مِنَ كُلِّ إِثْمٍ، لَا تَدَعْ لِي ذَنْبًا إِلَّا غَفَرْتَهُ، وَلَا هَمًّا إِلَّا فَرَّجْتَهُ، وَلَا حَاجَةً هِيَ لَكَ رِضًا إِلَّا قَضَيْتَهَا يَا أَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِينَ
There is no god but Allah, the Forbearing, the Generous. Glory be to Allah, Lord of the Mighty Throne. Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds. O Allah, I ask You for the things that earn Your mercy, and the resolve to seek Your forgiveness, and safety from every sin, and security from every wrongdoing. Do not leave me with a sin except that You forgive it, nor any worry except that You relieve it, nor any need that is pleasing to You except that You fulfill it, O Most Merciful of the merciful.
Situations
Dua for Protection from the Evil Eye
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا خَرَجَ بِهِ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ مِنْ أَرْضِهِ وَسَمَائِهِ وَمَا يَلِجُ فِيهِ وَمَا يَخْرُجُ مِنْهُ وَمَا يَلِجُ اللَّيْلَ وَمَا يَسْرِي بِهِ وَمَا يَسْكُنُ فِي اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ إِلَّا طَارِقٌ يَطْرُقُ بِخَيْرٍ يَا رَحْمَنُ
In the name of Allah, Allah is the Greatest. I seek refuge in Allah from the evil of what the Prophet ﷺ brought forth from His earth and His heavens, and from the evil of what enters into it and what emerges from it, and from the evil of what enters the night and what travels by it, and what resides in the night and the day, except for a night-traveller who brings good, O Most Merciful.
Situations
Dua for When Something Becomes Difficult — Prophet Musa's Supplication
قَالَ رَبِّ اشْرَحْ لِي صَدْرِي وَيَسِّرْ لِي أَمْرِي وَاحْلُلْ عُقْدَةً مِّن لِّسَانِي يَفْقَهُوا قَوْلِي
He said, 'My Lord, expand for me my breast [with assurance], and ease for me my task, and untie the knot from my tongue that they may understand my speech.'
Daily Life
Dua for Relief from Debt
اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ تُطْلِقُ لِسَانِي وَتُشَدِّدُ ظَهْرِي وَتُعِينُنِي عَلَى قَضَاءِ الدَّيْنِ
O Allah, You loosen my tongue and strengthen my back and help me to pay off my debts.
Situations
Quranic Dua for Protection from Shaytan's Whispers
وَقُل رَّبِّ أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ هَمَزَاتِ الشَّيَاطِينِ وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ رَبِّ أَن يَحْضُرُونِ
And say, 'My Lord, I seek refuge in You from the evil suggestions of devils, and I seek refuge in You, my Lord, lest they be present with me.'
Situations
Dua for When an Affair Becomes Difficult
يَا حَيُّ يَا قَيُّومُ بِرَحْمَتِكَ أَسْتَغِيثُ
O Ever-Living, O Self-Sustaining, by Your mercy I seek help.
Daily Life
Dua for When an Affair Becomes Difficult
اللَّهُمَّ لا سَهْلَ إِلاَّ مَا جَعَلْتَهُ سَهْلاً، وَأَنْتَ تَجْعَلُ الحَزْنَ إِذَا شِئْتَ سَهْلاً
O Allah, there is no ease except what You make easy. If You will, You can make hardship easy.
Situations
Dua for Anguish — Allah is My Lord
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي عَبْدُكَ، وَابْنُ عَبْدِكَ، وَابْنُ أَمَتِكَ، نَاصِيَتِي بِيَدِكَ، مَاضٍ فِيَّ حُكْمُكَ، عَدْلٌ فِيَّ قَضَاؤُكَ، أَسْأَلُكَ بِكُلِّ اسْمٍ هُوَ لَكَ، سَمَّيْتَ بِهِ نَفْسَكَ، أَوْ عَلَّمْتَهُ أَحَدًا مِنْ خَلْقِكَ، أَوْ أَنْزَلْتَهُ فِي كِتَابِكَ، أَوْ اسْتَأْثَرْتَ بِهِ فِي عِلْمِ الْغَيْبِ عِنْدَكَ، أَنْ تَجْعَلَ الْقُرْآنَ رَبِيعَ قَلْبِي، وَنُورَ صَدْرِي، وَجِلَاءَ حُزْنِي، وَذَهَابَ هَمِّي.
O Allah, I am Your servant, son of Your servant, and son of Your maidservant. My forelock is in Your hand. Your command over me is ever effective. Your decree concerning me is just. I ask You by every name that You have called Yourself, or revealed to anyone in Your creation, or taught to any one of Your creation, or kept to Yourself in the knowledge of the unseen which You possess, that You make the Qur'an the springtime of my heart, and the light of my chest, the banisher of my grief, and the reliever of my anxiety.
Situations
Prophet Nuh's Dua for Help Against Disbelievers
رَّبِّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ أَنْ أَسْأَلَكَ مَا لَيْسَ لِي بِهِ عِلْمٌ ۗ وَإِلَّا تَغْفِرْ لِي وَتَرْحَمْنِي أَكُن مِّنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ
My Lord, indeed I seek refuge in You, lest I ask of You that of which I have no knowledge. And unless You forgive me and have mercy upon me, I will be among the losers.
Situations
Dua for When an Affair Becomes Difficult
لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ ٱلْحَلِيمُ ٱلْكَرِيمُ، سُبْحَانَ ٱللَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَرْشِ ٱلْعَظِيمِ، ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَالَمِينَ
There is no god but Allah, the Forbearing, the Generous. Glory be to Allah, Lord of the great Throne. Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds.
Sleep & Wake
Dua for Seeking Refuge from a Bad Dream
عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ قَالَ: سَأَلَ أَبُو الْقَاسِمِ ﷺ يَوْمًا فَقَالَ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، إِنِّي أَرَى فِي الْمَنَامِ مَا يَكْرَهُ. قَالَ: «ذَلِكَ مِمَّا يُحَدِّثُ بِهِ الشَّيْطَانُ الْإِنْسَانَ فِي مَنَامِهِ، فَلَا تَقْصُصْهَا عَلَى أَحَدٍ، وَقُلْ: اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ عَمَلِ الشَّيْطَانِ وَزَخْرِهِ»
Abu Salamah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that he asked the Prophet ﷺ: 'O Messenger of Allah, I see bad dreams.' The Prophet ﷺ replied: 'That is from Satan; he frightens whomever he wishes. So, when any of you sees a bad dream which he dislikes, he should not tell it to anyone, but instead say: O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the evil of Satan and from the evil of the dream itself.'
Situations
Dua When Something Becomes Difficult
إِنَّمَا الْأَمْرُ مَحْزُونَةٌ فَإِذَا رَأَيْتَ ذَلِكَ فَكَبِّرْ وَهَلِّلْ وَسَبِّحْ وَاحْمَدْ وَادْعُ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ حَتَّىٰ يَأْتِيَكَ الْفَرَجُ
Indeed, matters are constrained. When you see that, then declare the greatness of Allah, say 'La ilaha illallah', glorify Him, praise Him, and call upon Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, until relief comes to you.
Sleep & Wake
Dua for Protection Before Sleep
اللَّهُمَّ أَعُوذُ بِوَجْهِكَ الْكَرِيمِ، وَبِكَلِمَاتِكَ التَّامَّاتِ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا أَنْتَ آخِذٌ بِنَاصِيَتِهِ، أَنْ تَكِلَنِي إِلَى نَفْسِي، وَلاَ أَبْصِرُ، وَلاَ أَعْلَمُ، وَلاَ أَرْجُو، وَلاَ أَخَافُ، وَلاَ أَتَوَكَّلُ عَلَى شَيْءٍ سِوَى نَفْسِكَ، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ فِتْنَةِ الْقَوْمِ الظَّالِمِينَ، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ غَشِّ الدَّيْنِ وَغَشِّ الشِّرْكِ.
O Allah, I seek refuge with Your Noble Face and with Your perfect words from the evil of whatever You are holding the forelock of. I seek refuge with You, that I might not be left to myself, nor see, nor know, nor hope, nor fear, nor rely on anything other than You. And I seek refuge with You from the trial of the oppressive people, and I seek refuge with You from the deceit of debt and the deceit of Shirk.
Morning Duas
Dua for Sleep — Seeking Refuge in Allah's Complete Words
عن عبد الله بن خبيب رضي الله عنه قال: قال لي رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: "اقرأْ قل هو الله أحدٌ، والمعوذتينِ، حين تمسي وحين تصبحُ، ثلاثَ مراتٍ، تكفيكَ من كلِّ شيءٍ". رواه أبو داود والترمذي وقال: حديث حسن غريب. وأحمد والنسائي. وصححه الألباني. (وهذه الآيات هي سورة الإخلاص وسورتي الفلق والناس)
Recite the chapter 'Say He is Allah, the One' (Al-Ikhlas), and the two seeking refuge chapters (Al-Falaq and An-Nas) when you enter the evening and when you enter the morning. Recite them three times each, and they will suffice you against all harm.
Sleep & Wake
Dua for Anxiety Before Sleep
اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّ السَّمَاوَاتِ السَّبْعِ، وَرَبَّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيمِ، كُنْ لِي جَارًا مِنْ شَرِّ السَّمَاعِ وَالشَّرِّ الْقَدَرِ، وَمِنْ شَرِّ إِبْلِيسَ وَشَرَكِهِ، وَأَنْ يَكُونَ عَلَيَّ أَحَدٌ أَشَدُّ مِنْهُ، أَنْ يَفْرُطَ عَلَيَّ أَوْ أَنْ أَطْغَى، سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ، لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ.
O Allah, Lord of the seven heavens and Lord of the Mighty Throne, be my shield against the evil of the sky and the evil of fate, and against the evil of Iblis and his accomplices. Protect me from anyone stronger than him, lest he should wrong me or transgress against me. Glory be to You, O Allah, there is no god but You.
Sleep & Wake
Dua for Protection Before Sleep
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِعِزَّتِكَ الَّتِي لاَ تَرْتَدُّ، أَنْ تُضِلَّنِي، أَنْتَ الْأَرْضُ وَالسَّمَوَاتُ وَمَنْ فِيهِنَّ، أَسْأَلُكَ بِكُلِّ اسْمٍ هُوَ لَكَ سَمَّيْتَ بِهِ نَفْسَكَ، أَوْ أَنْزَلْتَهُ فِي كِتَابِكَ، أَوْ عَلَّمْتَهُ أَحَدًا مِنْ خَلْقِكَ، أَوْ اسْتَأْثَرْتَ بِهِ فِي عِلْمِ الْغَيْبِ عِنْدَكَ، أَنْ تَجْعَلَ الْقُرْآنَ رَبِيعَ قَلْبِي، وَنُورَ صَدْرِي، وَجِلَاءَ حُزْنِي، وَذَهَابَ هَمِّي.
O Allah, I seek refuge in Your might, which never wanes, that You lead me astray. You are the Lord of the heavens and the earth and all that is within them. I ask You by every name that You have called Yourself, or revealed in Your Book, or taught to any of Your creation, or kept to Yourself in the knowledge of the unseen which You possess, that You make the Quran the springtime of my heart, the light of my chest, the banisher of my sadness, and the reliever of my worries.
Daily Life
Seeking Refuge from Evil with Allah's Perfect Words
((أَعُوذُ بكَلِمَاتِ اللَّهِ التَّامَّاتِ الَّتِي لاَ يُجَاوِزُهُنَّ بَرٌّ وَلاَ فَاجِرٌ: مِنْ شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ، وَبَرَأَ وَذَرَأَ، وَمِنْ شَرِّ مَا يَنْزِلُ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ، وَمِنْ شَرِّ مَا يَعْرُجُ فيهَا، وَمِنْ شَرِّ مَا ذَرَأَ فِي الْأَرْضِ، وَمِنْ شَرِّ مَا يَخْرُجُ مِنْهَا، وَمِنْ شَرِّ فِتَنِ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ، وَمِنْ شَرِّ كُلِّ طَارِقٍ إِلاَّ طَارِقاً يَطْرُقُ بِخَيْرٍ يَا رَحْمَنُ)).
I seek refuge in Allah's perfect words, which no righteous or wicked person can surpass. I seek refuge from the evil of all that He has created, from the evil of what descends from the heavens and what ascends to them, from the evil of what spreads across the earth and what emerges from it, and from the evil of the trials of the night and day, and the evil of every night visitor, except one who comes with good, O Most Merciful.
Situations
When Feeling Frightened — La ilaha illallah
((لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ!)).
None has the right to be worshipped except Allah!
Daily Life
Seeking Refuge from the Devil
((الْاسْتِعَاذَةُ بِاللَّهِ مِنْهُ)).
Seeking refuge with Allah from him (the devil).
Situations
Dua for Protection from Harmful People
((اللَّهُمَّ اكْفِنِيهِمْ بِمَا شِئْتَ)).
O Allah, suffice me against them with whatever You will.
Situations
Dua for Anguish — Allah is My Lord
((اللَّهُ اللَّهُ رَبِّي لاَ أُشْرِكُ بِهِ شَيْئاً)).
Allah, Allah is my Lord; I do not associate any partners with Him.
Situations
Dua for Anguish — Allah, Your Mercy I Hope For
((اللَّهُمَّ رَحْمَتَكَ أَرْجُو، فَلاَ تَكِلْنِي إِلَى نَفْسِي طَرْفَةَ عَيْنٍ، وَأَصْلِحْ لِي شَأْنِي كُلَّهُ، لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ)).
O Allah, it is Your mercy that I hope for. Do not leave me to my own affairs, even for the span of a single blink. Rectify all of my affairs for me; there is no god but You.
Situations
Dua for Anguish — La ilaha illallah al-azim al-halim
((لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ الْعَظِيمُ الْحَلِيمُ، لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ رَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيمِ، لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ رَبُّ السَّمَوَاتِ وَرَبُّ الْأَرْضِ وَرَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْكَرِيمِ)).
None has the right to be worshipped except Allah, the Mighty, the Forbearing. None has the right to be worshipped except Allah, Lord of the magnificent Throne. None has the right to be worshipped except Allah, Lord of the heavens, Lord of the earth, and Lord of the noble Throne.
Situations
Dua for Worry and Grief
((اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْهَمِّ وَالْحَزَنِ، وَالْعَجْزِ وَالْكَسَلِ، وَالْبُخْلِ وَالْجُبْنِ، وَضَلَعِ الدَّيْنِ وَغَلَبَةِ الرِّجَالِ)).
O Allah, I seek refuge in You from anxiety and sorrow, from weakness and laziness, from cowardice and stinginess, and from being overwhelmed by debt and by the domination of men.
Situations
Dua for a Bad Dream — Praying if Desired
((ويَقُومُ يُصَلِّي إِنْ أَرَادَ ذَلِكَ)).
If you have a bad dream, you can get up and pray.
Around Salah
Dua for Protection from Miserliness, Cowardice, Worst Old Age, and Grave Punishment
((اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْبُخْلِ، وَأَعوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْجُبْنِ، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ أَنْ أُرَدَّ إِلَى أَرْذَلِ الْعُمُرِ، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ فِتْنَةِ الدُّنْيَا وَعَذَابِ الْقَبْرِ)).
O Allah, I seek refuge in You from stinginess and from cowardice. I seek refuge in You from being returned to a decrepit old age. I seek refuge in You from the trials of this life and the punishment of the grave.
Sleep & Wake
After a Bad Dream — Audhu bi-Kalimatillah
أَعُوذُ بِكَلِمَاتِ اللَّهِ التَّامَّاتِ مِنْ غَضَبِهِ وَعِقَابِهِ، وَشَرِّ عِبَادِهِ، وَمِنْ هَمَزَاتِ الشَّيَاطِينِ وَأَنْ يَحْضُرُونِ
I take refuge in the perfect words of Allah from His anger and punishment, from the evil of His servants, from the whisperings of devils, and from their presence.
Morning Duas
Morning — Hasbiyallahu La Ilaha Illa Huwa
حَسْبِيَ اللَّهُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ، عَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ، وَهُوَ رَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيمِ
Allah is sufficient for me; there is no god but He. Upon Him I rely, and He is the Lord of the mighty Throne.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a dua specifically for anxiety?
Yes. The most comprehensive is the Prophet's ﷺ dua beginning 'Allahumma inni abduk' recorded in Musnad Ahmad, in which the believer asks Allah to make the Qur'an the 'spring of the heart' and 'the departure of sorrow and anxiety'.
How often should I recite duas for anxiety?
There is no fixed count for non-stipulated duas; recite them sincerely whenever you feel anxious, particularly after the five daily prayers and as part of morning and evening remembrance.
What if I do not understand Arabic?
Reciting in Arabic is preferred, but you may also supplicate in your own language. Reading the transliteration and translation alongside the Arabic helps your heart connect with the meaning.