Dua for Anxiety and Sadness — The Prophet’s ﷺ Own Words for a Heavy Heart

Anxiety and sorrow are part of every human life — even the Prophets felt grief. What Islam gives us is not the absence of pain, but the words that carry us through it. Allah says:

“And when My servants ask you about Me — indeed I am near. I respond to the call of the supplicant when he calls upon Me.” (Quran 2:186)

Here are the most powerful authentic duas for anxiety and sadness, exactly as the Prophet ﷺ taught them.

1. The Comprehensive Dua Against Anxiety, Sadness and Debt

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

Transliteration: Allahumma inni a’udhu bika minal-hammi wal-hazan, wal-‘ajzi wal-kasal, wal-bukhli wal-jubn, wa dala’id-dayn, wa ghalabatir-rijal.

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

The Prophet ﷺ used to say this dua frequently.

(Sahih al-Bukhari 6363 · Sahih Muslim 2706)

2. The Dua of Prophet Yunus (AS) from the Darkness

لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي كُنْتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ

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

Meaning: “There is no god but You; glory be to You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers.” (Quran 21:87)

The Prophet ﷺ said: “No Muslim supplicates with it concerning anything except that Allah answers him.”

(Jami’ at-Tirmidhi 3505 — Sahih)

3. Ya Hayyu Ya Qayyum — The Dua of the Distressed

يَا حَيُّ يَا قَيُّومُ بِرَحْمَتِكَ أَسْتَغِيثُ

Transliteration: Ya Hayyu ya Qayyum, bi-rahmatika astagheeth.

Meaning: “O Ever-Living, O Sustainer of all — by Your mercy I seek help.”

The Prophet ﷺ advised his daughter Fatimah (RA) to say this in the morning and evening, and he himself turned to it in distress.

(Jami’ at-Tirmidhi 3524 — Hasan)

4. The Dua the Prophet ﷺ Taught for Times of Distress

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

Transliteration: Allahumma rahmataka arju fala takilni ila nafsi tarfata ‘ayn, wa aslih li sha’ni kullah, la ilaha illa ant.

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

(Sunan Abu Dawud 5090 — Hasan)

5. Hasbunallah — The Words of the Prophets in Crisis

حَسْبُنَا اللَّهُ وَنِعْمَ الْوَكِيلُ

Transliteration: Hasbunallahu wa ni’mal-wakeel.

Meaning: “Allah is sufficient for us, and He is the best Disposer of affairs.” (Quran 3:173)

Ibn Abbas (RA) said these were the words of Ibrahim (AS) when he was cast into the fire, and of Muhammad ﷺ when the people were threatened with a gathered army — and Allah sufficed them.

(Sahih al-Bukhari 4563)

What Else Relieves Anxiety? The Sunnah Toolkit

• Abundant istighfar. “Whoever holds fast to seeking forgiveness, Allah makes for him a way out of every distress and a relief from every anxiety, and provides for him from where he does not expect.” (Sunan Abu Dawud 1518 · Sunan Ibn Majah 3819)
• The five daily prayers on time. “O you who believe, seek help through patience and prayer.” (Quran 2:153)
• Remembering the promise: “So, undoubtedly, along with the hardship there is ease. Undoubtedly, along with the hardship there is ease.” (Quran 94:5–6)
• Physical Sunnah habits: sleep, walking, and not isolating yourself — the Prophet ﷺ sought refuge from sorrow, and he also acted on worldly causes. Persistent low mood deserves both dua and medical attention; the two are not rivals.

Common Questions

Which is the single best dua for anxiety?

Begin with the first dua (Bukhari 6363) — it gathers anxiety, grief, laziness and debt into one short sentence the Prophet ﷺ himself repeated often.

How many times should I repeat these duas?

There is no fixed count for these; repeat them in the morning and evening, and whenever the heart feels heavy, until calm comes.

Can I make dua in my own language?

Yes. The heart’s presence matters most. Learn the Arabic steadily, and pour out your heart in your own words as well.

Conclusion

Your sadness is seen by the One who says “I am near.” Take these words of the Prophet ﷺ as your daily medicine — morning and evening, in ease and in hardship — and trust that no dua raised with a present heart is ever wasted.

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