Mushna Dua Library

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

Hadith/Dhikr

يَا حَيُّ يَا قَيُّومُ بِرَحْمَتِكَ أَسْتَغِيثُ

Transliteration

Yā Ḥayyu yā Qayyūm, bi‑raḥmatika astaghīth.

Translation

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

Understand the dua

Background & benefit

Background

Anas ibn Malik narrated that when a matter distressed the Prophet ﷺ, he would call upon Allah by His Names al-Hayy and al-Qayyum and seek help through His mercy. This makes the dua especially meaningful during fear, anxiety and helplessness.

Benefit

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

When to recite

Recite when stressed, anxious, distressed, overwhelmed, or in urgent need of Allah’s mercy.

Source & authenticity

Source: Hadith/Dhikr

Reference: Jāmiʿ al‑Tirmidhī 3524 (Chapters on Supplication)

Authenticity: Hasan

Tirmidhī reports that when something distressed the Prophet ﷺ, he would say this dua, and Darussalam grades the hadith ḥasan; it is widely recommended for anxiety and hardship Caution: Readers should understand that this dua is a powerful means of turning to Allah but does not replace seeking permissible medical or psychological help when needed; avoid implying it alone is a cure for clinical conditions

Related duas

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

relieftawhiddistress

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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

tawhidreliefanxiety

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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

reliefcalmtawhid

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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

pardonforgivenessmercy

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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

reliefforgivenessrepentance

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Hadith/DhikrSahih

For Calamity and Loss

إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ، اللَّهُمَّ أْجُرْنِي فِي مُصِيبَتِي، وَأَخْلِفْ لِي خَيْرًا مِنْهَا

Innā lillāhi wa innā ilayhi rājiʿūn. Allāhumma’jurnī fī muṣībatī, wa akhlif lī khayran minhā.

Indeed, we belong to Allah and to Him we return. O Allah, reward me in my calamity and replace it for me with something better than it.

Why this dua?

Helps the believer respond to grief with surrender, reward-seeking, and hope in replacement from Allah.

Sahih Muslim 918

calamitypatiencereplacement

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Transliteration

Translation

Background & benefit

Source & authenticity

Categories

Related Adhkar collection

Related duas

Dua for Distress: La Ilaha Illallahul Azim

Dua for Distress: Allah Allah Rabbi

Dua at the Time of Distress

Do Not Burden Us Beyond Our Capacity

Yunus in Distress

For Calamity and Loss