Dua for Anxiety and Stress

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Alhamdulillah, here are some dua’a to make when under stress and experiencing anxiety.
They are a means of dispelling fear, of seeking forgiveness of Allah, seeking His aid,
protection and guidance. They are the words of the Messenger of Allah (sall’allahu alayhi
wasallam) and hence anyone that sincerely makes these dua during times of great need
Allah will always answer the dua of the sinere seeker. May they be of benefit to us all for
there is not a time in the life of a believer when he or she does not need the protection,
guidance and mercy of Allah.
And those that turn to Allah sincerely imploring His aid should know that in reality it is Allah
turning to His servant, for, “When Allah wants to be good to someone, He tries him
with some hardship.” (Abu Hurairah)
General advice from Prophet Muhammad
(sall’allahu alayhi wasallam) when you are in
distress or suffering from anxiety:
In hadith #599 narrated by Abdullah ibn Abbas in Sunan Abu Dawood, The Prophet (peace
be upon him) said: If anyone continually asks pardon, Allah will appoint for him a way
out of every distress, and a relief from every anxiety, and will provide for him from
where he did not reckon.
When in distress or difficulty or sorrow:
Source for this dua subsection: Fiqh-us-Sunnah, volume 4, no 128
1. Ibn ‘Abbas reported, “The Prophet, peace be upon him, at times of sorrow and grief
used to supplicate, La ilaha illa Allah Al-’Azim, Al-’Alim, la ilaha illa Allah, Rabbul
‘arshil ‘Azim, la ilaha illa Allahu, Rabbus-Samawati wa rabbul ardi wa rabbul ‘arshi
karim (There is no god but Allah, the Mighty, the Forbearing, there is no god but
Allah, the Lord of the mighty throne, there is no god but Allah, the Lord of the
heavens and the earth, and the Lord of the throne of honor)’.”
Source: Bukhari and Muslim.
2. Anas said that when the Prophet, peace be upon him, was faced with a serious difficulty,
he would always supplicate, “Ya Hayyu, ya Qayyumu, bi-rahmatika astaghithu (O the
Living, O the Eternal, I seek help in Your grace)."
Source: Tirmidhi

3. Abu Hurairah reported that whenever the Prophet, peace be upon him, was faced with a
serious difficulty, he would raise his head to the sky and supplicate, “Subhan-Allah
al-’Azim (glory be to Allah, the Mighty).” And when he implored seriously and strongly,
he would say, “Ya Hayyu, Ya Qayyum (O the Living, the Eternal One).”
Source: Tirmidhi
4. Abu Bakrah reported that the Prophet, peace be upon him, said, “The supplications of
distress are, ‘Allahumma rahmataka arju, fala takilni ila nafsi tarfata ‘ain, wa aslah li
sha’ni kullahu, la ilaha illa anta (O Allah, I hope for Your mercy, so give me not over
to my self even for as little as wink of an eye, and set right all my affairs, there is no
god but You).”
Source: Abu Daw’ud
5. Asma, daughter of ‘Amais, reported that the Prophet, peace be upon him, asked
her, “Shall I tell you words that you may say in times of pain or distress. These are,
‘Allah, Allah, Rabbi la ushriku bihi shai’an (Allah, Allah, my Lord, I associate none
with Him).” Another narration says that these words should be said seven times.
Source: Abu Daw’ud
6. Sa’d ibn Waqas reported that the Prophet, peace be upon him, said, “The supplication
made by the Companion of the Fish (Prophet Yunus) in the belly of the fish was, ‘La
ilaha illa anta, subhanaka, inni kuntu minadh-dhalimin (there is no god but You, You
are far exalted and above all weaknesses, and I was indeed the wrongdoer)’. If any
Muslim supplicates in these words, his supplication will be accepted.”
In another report we read, “I know words that will cause Allah to remove one’s
distress. These are the words (of supplication) of my brother Yunus, peace be upon
him.”

Source: Tirmidhi
7. Ibn Mas’ud reported that the Prophet, peace be upon him, said, “If any servant of
Allah afflicted with distress or grief makes this supplication, his supplication will be
accepted: ‘O Allah, I am Your servant, son of Your servant, son of your maidservant.
My forehead is in Your hand. Your command conceming me prevails, and Your
decision concerning me is just. I call upon You by every one of the beautiful names
by which You have described Yourself, or which You have revealed in Your book, or
have taught anyone of Your creatures, or which You have chosen to keep in the
knowledge of the unseen with You, to make the Qur’an the delight of my heart, the
light of my breast, and remover of my griefs, sorrows, and afflictions‘.” A supplication
in these words will be answered. Allah will remove one’s affliction and replace it with joy
and happiness.
Source: Reported by Ahmad and Ibn Hibban
8. Anas reported that the Prophet, peace be upon him, used to supplicate, “O Allah, there
is no ease except what You make easy, and you alone can turn a difficulty into
ease.” (Ibn As-sinni)
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Dua and Qadr (predestination) are both a part of Allah's plan
9. Allah’s Apostle used to say at the time of difficulty, “None has the right to be
worshipped but Allah, the Majestic, the Most Forbearing. None has the right to be
worshipped but Allah, the Lord of the Tremendous Throne. None has the right to be
worshipped but Allah, the Lord of the Heavens and the Lord of the Honourable
Throne.”
Source: narrated by Ibn Abbas in Sahih Bukhari, volume 9, #526.
Remember that sickness expiates evil deeds and
wipes out sins
Abu Hurairah narrates that the Prophet, peace be upon him, said: “When Allah wants to be
good to someone, He tries him with some hardship.”
Abu Hurairah also reports that Allah’s Messenger, peace be upon him, said: “For every
misfortune, illness, anxiety, grief, or hurt that afflicts a Muslim, even the hurt caused
by the pricking of a thorn – Allah removes some of his sins.”
Ibn Mas’ud said: “I visited the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, while he had a
fever. I exclaimed: ‘O Messenger of Allah! You have a high fever! ‘ He said: ‘My fever is as
much as two among you [might have]. ‘ I asked: ‘Is it because you have a double
reward?’ He replied: ‘Yes, that is right. No Muslim is afflicted with any hurt, even if it
is no more than the pricking of a thorn, but Allah wipes off his sins because of it and
his sins fall away from him as leaves fall from a tree‘.”
Abu Hurairah (r) said: “The Prophet, peace be upon him, remarked: ‘The example of a
believer is like a fresh tender plant; from whichever direction the wind blows, it
bends the plant. But when the wind dies down, it straightens up again. (Similarly a
believer is tested by afflictions to strengthen his faith and heart, and he remains
patient and firm). And an evil person is like a pine tree which remains hard and stiff
until Allah breaks it whenever He wills.”