Mushna Dua Library

Duas for Anxiety and Distress

Duas for worry, distress, fear, overwhelm, grief, and turning to Allah for calm and relief.

17 duas in this collection

When the heart feels heavy, dua helps a believer return fear and worry back to Allah. This collection includes Quranic and Sunnah duas connected to distress, reliance, relief, mercy, and protection from anxiety, grief, debt, and being overpowered.

QuranQuranic

Expand My Chest and Ease My Task

رَبِّ اشْرَحْ لِي صَدْرِي وَيَسِّرْ لِي أَمْرِي وَاحْلُلْ عُقْدَةً مِن لِّسَانِي يَفْقَهُوا قَوْلِي

Rabbi-shrah li sadri wa yassir li amri wahlul ‘uqdatan min lisani yafqahu qawli

My Lord, expand my chest, ease my task, and untie the knot in my tongue so people understand my speech.

Why this dua?

For anxiety, public speaking, exams, interviews, and difficult responsibilities.

Taha 20:25–28

easeconfidenceeloquenceclaritycommunication

QuranQuranic

Yunus in Distress

لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنتَ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي كُنتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ

La ilaha illa anta subhanaka inni kuntu minaz-zalimin

There is no deity except You; glory be to You; I have indeed been among the wrongdoers.

Why this dua?

It is widely used as a powerful dua in times of deep distress, helping a person acknowledge mistakes and cling to Allah alone for relief

Al-Anbiya’ 21:87

reliefforgivenessrepentancetawhiddistress

HadithSahih

Dua at the Time of Distress

لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ الْعَظِيمُ الْحَلِيمُ، لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ رَبُّ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ، رَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيمِ

Lā ilāha illā llāhu l-ʿaẓīmu l-ḥalīm, lā ilāha illā llāhu rabbu s-samāwāti wa l-arḍi, rabbu l-ʿarshi l-ʿaẓīm.

“There is no god except Allah, the Magnificent, the Forbearing. There is no god except Allah, Lord of the heavens and the earth, Lord of the Mighty Throne.”

Why this dua?

This dua is especially meaningful during distress, fear, anxiety, pressure, or overwhelming difficulty. It teaches the believer to respond to hardship by magnifying Allah rather than magnifying the problem. The repeated tawhid reminds the heart that Allah is greater than the crisis, more forbearing than our weakness, and fully in control of the heavens, earth, and Throne.

Sahih al-Bukhari 6345; Sahih Muslim 2730a

reliefcalmtawhiddistressanxiety

HadithSahih

Refuge from Anxiety, Grief, Debt, and Being Overpowered

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْهَمِّ وَالْحَزَنِ، وَالْعَجْزِ وَالْكَسَلِ، وَالْبُخْلِ وَالْجُبْنِ، وَضَلَعِ الدَّيْنِ وَغَلَبَةِ الرِّجَالِ

Allahumma inni a‘udhu bika minal-hammi wal-hazan, wal-‘ajzi wal-kasal, wal-bukhli wal-jubn, wa dala‘id-dayni wa ghalabatir-rijal

O Allah, I seek refuge in You from anxiety and grief, weakness and laziness, miserliness and cowardice, the burden of debt, and being overpowered by people.

Why this dua?

Regular use of this dua helps a person be honest about their struggles while seeking Allah’s protection from patterns—like chronic laziness or crushing debt—that can damage their religion and life.

Sahih al-Bukhari 6369

anxiety reliefdebt reliefprotectionstrengthanxiety

DhikrHasan

Your Mercy I Hope For

اللَّهُمَّ رَحْمَتَكَ أَرْجُو فَلَا تَكِلْنِي إِلَىٰ نَفْسِي طَرْفَةَ عَيْنٍ وَأَصْلِحْ لِي شَأْنِي كُلَّهُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ

Allahumma rahmataka arju fala takilni ila nafsi tarfata ‘ayn wa aslih li sha’ni kullahu la ilaha illa ant

O Allah, I hope for Your mercy. Do not leave me to myself even for the blink of an eye, and set all my affairs right. None has the right to be worshipped except You.

Why this dua?

It reassures the heart that even when one feels overwhelmed or unstable, Allah’s mercy and care over every aspect of life are still available, and that we can ask not to be abandoned to our own poor judgment.

Hisn al-Muslim 123; attributed there to Abu Dawud and Ahmad

mercyrectificationreliefhelplessnessdistress

QuranQuranic

Do Not Burden Us Beyond Our Capacity

رَبَّنَا لَا تُؤَاخِذْنَا إِن نَّسِينَا أَوْ أَخْطَأْنَا رَبَّنَا وَلَا تَحْمِلْ عَلَيْنَا إِصْرًا كَمَا حَمَلْتَهُ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِنَا رَبَّنَا وَلَا تُحَمِّلْنَا مَا لَا طَاقَةَ لَنَا بِهِ وَاعْفُ عَنَّا وَاغْفِرْ لَنَا وَارْحَمْنَا أَنتَ مَوْلَانَا فَانصُرْنَا عَلَى الْقَوْمِ الْكَافِرِينَ

Rabbana la tu’akhidhna in nasina aw akhta’na, rabbana wa la tahmil ‘alayna isran kama hamaltahu ‘alalladhina min qablina, rabbana wa la tuhammilna ma la taqata lana bih, wa‘fu ‘anna waghfir lana warhamna, anta mawlana fansurna ‘alal-qawm il-kafirin

Our Lord, do not take us to task if we forget or make mistakes. Do not place on us a burden like those before us. Do not burden us beyond what we can bear. Pardon us, forgive us, and have mercy on us. You are our Protector, so grant us victory.

Why this dua?

For hardship, overwhelm, mistakes, forgiveness, and seeking Allah’s support.

Al-Baqarah 2:286

pardonforgivenessmercyreliefdivine help

Hadith/DhikrSahih

Dua for Distress: La Ilaha Illallahul Azim

لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ الْعَظِيمُ الْحَلِيمُ، لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ رَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيمِ، لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ رَبُّ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَرَبُّ الْأَرْضِ وَرَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْكَرِيمِ

Lā ilāha illā Allāhu al-ʿaẓīmu al-ḥalīm, lā ilāha illā Allāhu rabbu al-ʿarshi al-ʿaẓīm, lā ilāha illā Allāhu rabbu as-samāwāti wa rabbu al-arḍi wa rabbu al-ʿarshi al-karīm.

There is no god worthy of worship except Allah, the Magnificent, the Forbearing. There is no god worthy of worship except Allah, Lord of the Magnificent Throne. There is no god worthy of worship except Allah, Lord of the heavens, Lord of the earth, and Lord of the Noble Throne.

Why this dua?

For serious distress, fear and hardship, centering the heart on Allah’s greatness and control over all creation.

Sahih al-Bukhari 6346; Sahih Muslim 2730

relieftawhiddistressfearanxiety

QuranQuranic

Do Not Make Us a Trial for Wrongdoers

رَبَّنَا لَا تَجْعَلْنَا فِتْنَةً لِّلْقَوْمِ الظَّالِمِينَ ۝ وَنَجِّنَا بِرَحْمَتِكَ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ الْكَافِرِينَ

Rabbanā lā tajʿalnā fitnatan lil-qawmi aẓ-ẓālimīn. Wa-najjinā biraḥmatika mina al-qawmi al-kāfirīn.

Our Lord, do not make us a trial for the wrongdoing people, and save us by Your mercy from the disbelieving people.

Why this dua?

For protection from persecution, trials, and oppression.

protectionmercyrescuefearanxiety

QuranQuranic

Enter Me With Truth and Exit Me With Truth

رَّبِّ أَدْخِلْنِي مُدْخَلَ صِدْقٍ وَأَخْرِجْنِي مُخْرَجَ صِدْقٍ وَاجْعَل لِّي مِن لَّدُنكَ سُلْطَانًا نَّصِيرًا

Rabbi adkhilnī mudkhala ṣidqin wa-akhrijnī mukhraja ṣidqin, wajʿal lī min ladunka sulṭānan naṣīrā.

My Lord, cause me to enter a sound entrance and to exit a sound exit, and grant me from Yourself a supporting authority.

Why this dua?

For transitions, travel, new roles, difficult exits, and seeking support from Allah.

supporttruthsuccesshopeanxiety

QuranQuranic

Grant Us Mercy and Right Guidance

رَبَّنَا آتِنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةً وَهَيِّئْ لَنَا مِنْ أَمْرِنَا رَشَدًا

Rabbanā ātinā min ladunka raḥmah, wa-hayyiʾ lanā min amrinā rashadā.

Our Lord, grant us mercy from Yourself and prepare for us right guidance in our affair.

Why this dua?

For mercy, guidance, safety, and clarity in difficult circumstances.

mercyguidanceprotectionfearanxiety

QuranQuranic

Refuge From the Devils

رَّبِّ أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ هَمَزَاتِ الشَّيَاطِينِ ۝ وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ رَبِّ أَن يَحْضُرُونِ

Rabbi aʿūdhu bika min hamazāti ash-shayāṭīn. Wa-aʿūdhu bika rabbi an yaḥḍurūn.

My Lord, I seek refuge in You from the incitements of the devils, and I seek refuge in You, my Lord, lest they be present with me.

Why this dua?

For protection from whispers, fear, spiritual harm, and temptation.

protectionrefugewaswasfearanxiety

QuranQuranic

Save Me From the Wrongdoing People

رَبِّ نَجِّنِي مِنَ الْقَوْمِ الظَّالِمِينَ

Rabbi najjinī mina al-qawmi aẓ-ẓālimīn.

My Lord, save me from the wrongdoing people.

Why this dua?

For fear, danger, oppression, and seeking rescue from harmful people.

protectionrescuefearanxietydanger

Hadith/DhikrAccepted / part of longer report

For Good in Every Decree

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ أَنْ تَجْعَلَ كُلَّ قَضَاءٍ قَضَيْتَهُ لِي خَيْرًا

Allāhumma innī as’aluka an tajʿala kulla qaḍā’in qaḍaytahu lī khayrā.

O Allah, I ask You to make every decree You have decreed for me good.

Why this dua?

Relevant during uncertainty, hardship, and disappointment.

Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3563

tawakkulqadrhardshipsadnessanxiety

Hadith/DhikrHasan

Dua for Severe Anxiety and Distress (Ya Hayyu Ya Qayyum)

يَا حَيُّ يَا قَيُّومُ بِرَحْمَتِكَ أَسْتَغِيثُ

Yā Ḥayyu yā Qayyūm, bi‑raḥmatika astaghīth.

“O Ever-Living, O Sustainer, in Your mercy I seek relief.”

Why this dua?

For stress and distress, asking the Ever-Living and Self-Sustaining Lord for rescue through His mercy.

Jāmiʿ al‑Tirmidhī 3524 (Chapters on Supplication)

reliefmercyanxietysadnessfear

QuranQuranic

Patience and Victory

رَبَّنَا أَفْرِغْ عَلَيْنَا صَبْرًا وَثَبِّتْ أَقْدَامَنَا وَانصُرْنَا عَلَى الْقَوْمِ الْكَافِرِينَ

Rabbana afrigh ‘alayna sabran wa thabbit aqdamana wansurna ‘alal-qawm il-kafirin

Our Lord, pour patience upon us, make our steps firm, and grant us victory.

Why this dua?

Reciting this dua helps a person ask Allah for inner composure, steadfastness, and success in difficult struggles, whether personal, spiritual, or communal. It reminds the heart that true victory is granted, not earned by strength alone

Al-Baqarah 2:250

patiencefirmnessvictorysabrcourage

Hadith/DhikrHasan / accepted

Dua for Distress: Allah Allah Rabbi

اللَّهُ اللَّهُ رَبِّي، لَا أُشْرِكُ بِهِ شَيْئًا

Allāhu Allāhu rabbī, lā ushriku bihi shay’ā.

Allah, Allah is my Lord; I do not associate anything with Him.

Why this dua?

For sadness, distress and emotional pressure, helping the believer return to the safety of tawhid.

Sunan Abī Dāwūd 1525; also reported with similar wording in Sunan Ibn Mājah 3882

tawhidreliefanxietyfeardistress

Hadith/DhikrHasan/accepted

Dua for Complete Reliance in Affairs

اللَّهُمَّ رَحْمَتَكَ أَرْجُو، فَلَا تَكِلْنِي إِلَىٰ نَفْسِي طَرْفَةَ عَيْنٍ، وَأَصْلِحْ لِي شَأْنِي كُلَّهُ، لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ

Allāhumma raḥmataka arjū, fa-lā takilnī ilā nafsī ṭarfata ʿayn, wa aṣliḥ lī sha’nī kullah, lā ilāha illā ant.

“O Allah, Your mercy is what I hope for, so do not leave me to myself even for the blink of an eye. Set right for me all of my affairs. There is no god but You.”

Why this dua?

Combines hope in Allah’s mercy, protection from self-reliance, and rectification of all affairs.

Sunan Abī Dāwūd 5090 (within a longer narration of morning/evening supplications and the dua of the distressed)

tawakkulguidancereliefanxietyhelplessness