Dua for Anxiety and Stress: Quran Verses and Prophetic Duas

The best-known dua for stress and anxiety is the Prophet Muhammad's (peace be upon him) prayer against worry and grief: "O Allah, I seek refuge with You from worry and grief." It is recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari 6369. Muslims pair it with the dua of Prophet Yunus and Quran verses that promise ease after hardship.

Islam treats anxiety as a real human experience, not a sign of weak faith. Prophets wept, felt fear and grieved, and the Quran records their words. This guide gathers the authentic duas and verses for a troubled heart, explains how faith and professional care work together, and lists where to get urgent help.

Key takeaways

• The Prophet regularly sought refuge from "worry and grief" (al-hamm wal-hazan), according to Sahih al-Bukhari 6369.
• The dua of Prophet Yunus from inside the whale, recorded in Quran 21:87, is answered when a Muslim calls with it, according to Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3505 (graded sahih).
• The Quran says "by the remembrance of Allah hearts are assured" in Quran 13:28.
• Surah ash-Sharh repeats the promise "with hardship [will be] ease" twice, in 94:5-6.
• The Prophet taught that God created a treatment for every disease, according to Sahih al-Bukhari 5678, which scholars apply to mental health care too.
• Dua and therapy are not rivals. If you are in danger, contact a crisis line such as 988 in the US first.

Is anxiety a lack of faith in Islam?

No. The Quran describes believers and prophets under heavy emotional strain. Prophet Yaqub said, "I only complain of my suffering and my grief to Allah" (12:86), after years of losing his son. Prophet Musa told God he was afraid (20:45). Even the Prophet Muhammad, hiding in a cave from his pursuers, had to comfort his companion: "Do not grieve; indeed Allah is with us" (9:40).

The Quran also says plainly that tests are part of life: "We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient" (2:155). Feeling fear is human. What faith offers is a place to take that fear.

A hadith in Sahih al-Bukhari 5641 adds that no fatigue, sorrow, sadness, hurt or distress touches a Muslim, "even if it were the prick he receives from a thorn," without God expiating some of their sins for it. Pain is not wasted. Our article on why God allows suffering looks at this question in more depth.

The Prophet's dua against worry and grief

This is the most widely taught dua for anxiety. Anas ibn Malik reported that the Prophet used to say it, and it is recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari 6369.

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

Transliteration: Allahumma inni a'udhu bika minal-hammi wal-hazan, wal-'ajzi wal-kasal, wal-jubni wal-bukhl, wa dala'id-dayni wa ghalabatir-rijal.

Translation: "O Allah, I seek refuge with You from worry and grief, from incapacity and laziness, from cowardice and miserliness, from being heavily in debt and from being overpowered by other people."

Scholars point out the pairs in this dua. Hamm (hamm, همّ) is worry about what might happen. Huzn (hazan, حزن) is grief over what already happened. Between them they cover the two directions anxiety pulls a person: dread of the future and regret over the past. It also names practical causes of stress, such as debt.

The dua of Yunus: a prayer from the darkest place

Prophet Yunus (Jonah) called out from inside the whale, "within the darknesses," as the Quran describes it:

And [mention] the man of the fish, when he went off in anger and thought that We would not decree [anything] upon him. And he called out within the darknesses, "There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers."

— Quran 21:87

Transliteration: La ilaha illa anta, subhanaka, inni kuntu minaz-zalimin.

The next verse says God answered him and "saved him from the distress." In Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3505, graded sahih, the Prophet said no Muslim calls upon God with this dua for anything without God responding to him.

Other authentic duas for distress

The dua of distress (dua al-karb)

Ibn Abbas reported that the Prophet would say this at times of distress, recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari 6346:

لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ الْعَظِيمُ الْحَلِيمُ، لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ رَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيمِ، لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ رَبُّ السَّمَوَاتِ، وَرَبُّ الأَرْضِ، وَرَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْكَرِيمِ

Transliteration: La ilaha illallahul-'Azimul-Halim, la ilaha illallahu Rabbul-'arshil-'azim, la ilaha illallahu Rabbus-samawati wa Rabbul-ardi wa Rabbul-'arshil-karim.

Translation: "There is no god but Allah, the Magnificent, the Forbearing. There is no god but Allah, Lord of the Mighty Throne. There is no god but Allah, Lord of the heavens, Lord of the earth and Lord of the Noble Throne."

Notice that it asks for nothing. It simply reminds the heart how large God is, which shrinks the problem back to its real size.

"Do not leave me to myself for the blink of an eye"

Abu Dawud 5090 records the Prophet calling these "the supplications of the distressed." Al-Albani graded its chain hasan, though some hadith scholars considered it weak.

Transliteration: Allahumma rahmataka arju, fa la takilni ila nafsi tarfata 'ayn, wa aslih li sha'ni kullahu, la ilaha illa anta.

Translation: "O Allah, it is Your mercy that I hope for, so do not leave me to myself even for the blink of an eye, and set right all my affairs. There is no god but You."

A short dua for overwhelming moments

In Abu Dawud 1525, graded sahih by al-Albani, the Prophet taught Asma bint Umays words to say in distress: Allahu, Allahu rabbi, la ushriku bihi shay'a, "Allah, Allah is my Lord. I do not associate anything with Him."

The dua of Ibn Mas'ud for grief

Musnad Ahmad 3712, graded sahih by al-Albani, records a longer dua in which the believer affirms being God's servant, that "my forelock is in Your hand," and that His decree over them is just. They then ask God, by every name He has, to make the Quran "the spring of my heart, the light of my chest, the departure of my sorrow and the release of my anxiety." The hadith says God removes the grief of whoever says it and replaces it with relief.

Quran verses for anxiety

These verses are among those Muslims return to most when worry takes hold.

The central verse is 13:28:

Those who have believed and whose hearts are assured by the remembrance of Allah. Unquestionably, by the remembrance of Allah hearts are assured."

— Quran 13:28

Surah ash-Sharh was revealed to comfort the Prophet himself during a heavy period in Makkah. Read the whole of Surah ash-Sharh, only eight verses long, and the repetition of "with hardship [will be] ease" lands with full force.

How to deal with stress in Islam: a daily routine

Duas work best as part of a rhythm, not only in emergencies. Here is a simple routine many Muslims find steadying.

1. Pray on time. The five prayers break the day into short sections, each with a pause to reset. Our guide on how to pray salah covers the steps.
2. Say the morning and evening remembrance. Include the dua against worry and grief. Our daily duas guide lists the others.
3. Keep up dhikr through the day. Short phrases like SubhanAllah and Alhamdulillah keep the heart returning to God. See what dhikr is for the forms and their sources.
4. Name your worry to God. Like Yaqub, complain to Him directly, in your own language. Dua does not have to be in Arabic.
5. Use the night. The last third of the night is a traditional time for private prayer, explained in our guide to Tahajjud.
6. Take the practical step. Pay the bill, make the call, book the appointment, then leave the result to God.

That last step is the Islamic idea of tawakkul (tawakkul, توكل): reliance on God after doing what is in your hands. When a man asked whether to tie his camel or leave it loose and trust God, the Prophet replied, "Tie it and rely upon Allah," in Jami' at-Tirmidhi 2517, graded hasan. Read more in our article on tawakkul, and on its partner virtue, sabr or patience.

God's name As-Salam, the Source of Peace, is a fitting name to call on in this dua. So is Al-Wakil, the Trustee, the One you hand your affairs to.

Islam and depression: is it okay to see a therapist or take medication?

Yes. Mainstream Islamic scholarship holds that seeking treatment is permitted and often encouraged. The Prophet said, "There is no disease that Allah has created, except that He also has created its treatment," in Sahih al-Bukhari 5678. Scholars apply this to illnesses of the mind as well as the body.

The idea is not new. More than a thousand years ago, the Muslim scholar Abu Zayd al-Balkhi (d. 934) wrote Sustenance of the Body and Soul, one of the earliest works to treat anxiety, sadness and obsessive thoughts as conditions with their own causes and remedies, alongside physical illness.

Taking medication for depression or anxiety is no more a failure of faith than taking insulin for diabetes. Many Muslims prefer a counselor who understands their faith.

These services are valuable, but the therapy providers are not emergency services.

When to get urgent help

If you are thinking about ending your life, are worried you might hurt yourself or someone else, or someone you know is in immediate danger, contact a crisis service or emergency services now. Dua is never a reason to delay that call. Protecting life is one of the highest aims of Islamic law, and reaching out for help is part of protecting it.

Signs that it is time to seek professional help, even when there is no immediate danger, include anxiety that disrupts sleep, work or relationships for weeks, panic attacks, losing interest in things you used to enjoy, or relying on substances to cope. Telling a doctor is a good first step.

Read these verses on Quran Universe

You can read each verse in this guide on Quran Universe with Arabic text, word-by-word meaning and Tafsir Ibn Kathir. Start with Surah ash-Sharh, the dua of Yunus at 21:87 and 13:28. For the many duas the Quran records in the mouths of believers, see our full list of Rabbana duas from the Quran.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best dua for stress and anxiety?

The most widely taught is the Prophet's dua against worry and grief: "O Allah, I seek refuge with You from worry and grief, from incapacity and laziness, from cowardice and miserliness, from heavy debt and from being overpowered by others." It is recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari 6369. The dua of Yunus from Quran 21:87 is also widely recited, and Tirmidhi 3505 says God answers it.

What does the Quran say about anxiety?

The Quran does not use a modern clinical term, but it speaks often of fear, grief and tightness of the chest. It says hearts find rest in the remembrance of God (13:28), that hardship comes with ease (94:5-6), and that no soul is burdened beyond its capacity (2:286). It also records prophets expressing fear and grief openly.

Is depression a sin or a lack of faith in Islam?

No. Depression is an illness and a test, not a sin. Prophet Yaqub grieved so deeply that the Quran mentions it, and he was a prophet. A hadith in Sahih al-Bukhari 5641 says sorrow and distress that afflict a Muslim expiate their sins. Seeking treatment is encouraged, based on the hadith that God created a cure for every disease.

Is there a dua for pain?

Yes. Sahih Muslim records that the Prophet told a companion in pain to place his hand where it hurt, say "Bismillah" three times, then seven times say A'udhu billahi wa qudratihi min sharri ma ajidu wa uhadhir: "I seek refuge with Allah and with His power from the evil that I find and that I fear." The dua against worry and grief also helps with emotional pain.

Can a Muslim see a therapist?

Yes. Most scholars hold that therapy and medication are permitted and fit the prophetic teaching that every disease has a treatment (Sahih al-Bukhari 5678). Many Muslims choose a faith-sensitive counselor through services such as the Khalil Center or the Institute for Muslim Mental Health directory. In an emergency, call a crisis line such as 988 in the US.