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Dhikr & Du'a · Through the day

Difficulty & Distress

أدعية الكرب والهم

The words the Prophet ﷺ turned to when the weight came down

There is no fixed number and no fixed time. When distress comes, these are what you reach for. Some, like the du'a of Yunus, you can repeat as many times as your heart needs. Say the Arabic where you can, and read the meaning slowly so the words become your own and not just sounds.

A few of these are for a specific kind of distress: fear of a person, of oppressors, of those who plot against you. They are placed here together. Where a du'a asks you to name someone, name them quietly to Allah, and leave the matter with Him.

  1. 1

    The du'a of distress

    لَا إلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ الْعَظـيمُ الْحَلِـيمْ، لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ رَبُّ العَـرْشِ العَظِيـمِ، لَا إِلَـهَ إِلَّا اللَّهْ رَبُّ السَّمَـوّاتِ ورّبُّ الأَرْضِ ورَبُّ العَرْشِ الكَـريم

    Lā ilāha illallāh al-`Aẓīmul-Ḥalīm, lā ilāha illallāh Rabbu ‘l-`Arshi ‘l-'Aẓīm, lā ilāha illallāh Rabbus-samāwāti wa Rabbu ‘l-arḍ wa Rabbu ‘l-`Arshi ‘l-Karīm.

    There is none worthy of worship but Allah, the Mighty, the Forbearing. There is none worthy of worship but Allah, Lord of the Magnificent Throne. There is none worthy of worship but Allah, Lord of the heavens and Lord of the earth, and Lord of the Noble Throne.

    sahihAl-Bukhari 8/154, Muslim 4/2092

    The du'a al-karb. The Prophet ﷺ would say these words at times of great distress, declaring Allah's greatness and forbearance over whatever is pressing down. When everything feels larger than you, this names the One who is larger than it all.

  2. 2

    I hope for Your mercy

    اللّهُـمَّ رَحْمَتَـكَ أَرْجـو فَلا تَكِلـني إِلى نَفْـسي طَـرْفَةَ عَـيْن، وَأَصْلِـحْ لي شَأْنـي كُلَّـه لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أنْـت

    Allāhumma raḥmataka arjū falā takilnī ilā nafsī ṭarfata `ayn, wa aṣliḥ lī sha'nī kullah, lā ilāha illā ant.

    O Allah, I hope for Your mercy. Do not leave me to myself even for the blinking of an eye (i.e. a moment). Correct all of my affairs for me. There is none worthy of worship but You.

    hasanAbu Dawud 4/324, Ahmad 5/42

    A du'a for the moment you feel you cannot trust yourself to manage your own affairs. You ask Allah not to leave you to yourself for even a blink, and to set right everything that has gone wrong.

  3. 3

    The du'a of Yunus

    لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أنْـت سُـبْحانَكَ إِنِّي كُنْـتُ مِنَ الظّـالِميـن

    Lā ilāha illā anta subḥānaka innī kuntu minaẓ-ẓālimīn.

    There is none worthy of worship but You, glory is to You. Surely, I was among the wrongdoers.

    sahihAt-Tirmidhi 5/529

    The words the Prophet Yunus called out from inside the whale's darkness. The Prophet ﷺ said no Muslim ever supplicates with them for anything without Allah answering him. Repeat it when you are in your own dark place.

  4. 4

    Allah, Allah is my Lord

    اللهُ اللهُ رَبِّي لا أُشْـرِكُ بِهِ شَيْـئاً

    Allāh, Allāhu Rabbī lā ushriku bihi shay'a.

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

    sahihAbu Dawud 2/87

    Taught for moments of anguish and trouble: a simple, firm declaration that returns your heart to the only Lord, refusing to associate anything with Him no matter how the situation shakes you.

  5. 5

    Against those who wish you harm

    اللّهُـمَّ إِنا نَجْـعَلُكَ في نُحـورِهِـم، وَنَعـوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شُرورِهـمْ

    Allāhumma innā naj`aluka fī nuḥūrihim wa na`ūdhu bika min shurūrihim.

    O Allah, we place You before them, and we seek refuge in You from their evil.

    sahihAbu Dawud 2/89, and Al-Hakim graded it authentic and Ath-Thahabi agreed 2/142

    The Prophet ﷺ would say this when he feared a people: asking Allah to restrain them and seeking refuge in Him from their evil, rather than meeting their hostility with his own.

  6. 6

    You are my strength and my support

    اللّهُـمَّ أَنْتَ عَضُـدي، وَأَنْتَ نَصـيري، بِكَ أَجـولُ وَبِكَ أَصـولُ وَبِكَ أُقـاتِل

    Allāhumma anta `aḍudī, wa anta naṣīrī, bika ajūlu, wa bika aṣūlu, wa bika uqātil.

    O Allah, You are my strength and You are my support. For Your sake, I go forth and for Your sake, I advance and for Your sake, I fight.

    sahihAbu Dawud 3/42, At-Tirmidhi 5/572

    A du'a for facing an opponent or a struggle: you go forward, advance and stand not by your own power but by Allah's.

  7. 7

    Allah is sufficient for us

    حَسْبُـنا اللهُ وَنِعْـمَ الوَكـيل

    Ḥasbunallāhu wa ni`mal-wakīl.

    Allah is sufficient for us and the best of those on whom to depend.

    sahihAl-Bukhari, 5/172

    Hasbunallahu wa ni'mal-wakil. The words said by Ibrahim when he was thrown into the fire, and by the believers when they were warned of a gathered enemy. When people threaten and you feel outnumbered, this is enough.

  8. 8

    Be my support against an oppressor

    اللَّهُمَّ ربَّ السَّمَوَاتِ السَّبْعِ، وَرَبَّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيمِ، كُنْ لِي جَاراً مِنْ فُلاَنِ بْنِ فُلاَنٍ، وَأَحْزَابِهِ مِنْ خَلاَئِقِكَ، أَنْ يَفْرُطَ عَلَيَّ أَحَدٌ مِنْهُمْ أَوْ يَطْغَى، عَزَّ جَارُكَ، وَجَلَّ ثَنَاؤُكَ، وَلاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ

    Allāhumma Rabbas-samāwātis-sab`, wa Rabba ‘l-`Arshi ‘l-`Aẓīm, kun lī jāran min [here you mention the person's name], wa aḥzābihi min khalā'iqik, an yafruṭa `alayya aḥadun minhum aw yaṭghā, `azza jāruk, wa jalla thanā'uk, wa lā ilāha illā ant.

    O Allah, Lord of the seven heavens, Lord of the Magnificent Throne, be for me a support against [such and such a person] and his helpers from among your creatures, lest any of them abuse me or do me wrong. Mighty is Your patronage, and glorious are Your praises. There is none worthy of worship but You.

    sahihAl-Bukhari, al-Adab al-Mufrad

    For when you fear the wrong or abuse of a specific person. Name them quietly to Allah where the du'a leaves the space, and ask the Lord of the seven heavens to stand between you and their harm.

  9. 9

    Allah is mightier than what I fear

    3x

    الله أكبر، الله أعز من خلقه جميعاً ، الله أعز مما أخاف وأحذر ، أعوذ بالله الذي لا إله إلا هو ، الممسك السموات السبع أن يقعن على الأرض إلا بإذنه ، من شر عبدك فلان ، وجنوده وأتباعه وأشياعه ، من الجن والأنس ، اللهم كن لي جاراً من شرهم ، جل ثناؤك وعز جارك ، وتبارك اسمك ، ولا إله غيرك

    Allāhu Akbar, Allāhu a`azzu min khalqihi jamī`a, Allāhu a`azzu mimmā akhāfu wa aḥdhar, a`ūdhu billāhi ‘l-ladhī lā ilāha illā hū, almumsikis-samāwātis-sab`i an yaqa`na `ala ‘l-arḍi illā bi idhnih, min sharri `abdika [name of the person], wa junūdihi wa atbā`ihi wa ashyā`ih, mina ‘l-jinni wa ‘l-ins, Allāhumma kun lī jāran min sharrihim, jalla thanā'uk, wa `azza jāruk, wa tabāraka-smuk, wa lā ilāha ghayruk.

    Allah is the Most Great, Mightier than all His creation. He is Mightier than what I fear and dread. I seek refuge in Allah, Who there is none worthy of worship but Him. He is the One Who holds the seven heavens from falling upon the earth except by His command. [I seek refuge in You Allah] from the evil of Your slave [name of the person], and his helpers, his followers, and his supporters from among the jinn and mankind. O Allah, be my support against their evil. Glorious are Your praises and mighty is Your patronage. Blessed is Your Name, there is no true God but You. (Recite three times in Arabic.)

    sahihAl-Bukhari, 5/172

    A fuller refuge against the evil of a person you dread, and their helpers, from among the jinn and mankind. It reminds you, before it asks for anything, that Allah is mightier than the very thing you are afraid of.

  10. 10

    O Revealer of the Book, against the gathered foe

    اللَّهُمَّ مُنْزِلَ الْكِتَاب سَرِيعَ الْحِسَاب اهْزِم الأَحْزَاب اللَّهُمَّ اهْزِمْهُمْ وَ زَلْزِلْهُم

    Allāhumma munzila ‘l-kitāb, sarī`a ‘l-ḥisāb, ihzimi ‘l-aḥzāb, Allāhumma-hzimhum wa zalzilhum.

    O Allah, Revealer of the Book, Swift to account, defeat the groups (of disbelievers). O Allah, defeat them and shake them.

    sahihMuslim 3/1362

    The Prophet ﷺ called on Allah with these words against the confederates who came against Madinah. A du'a for when forces seem arrayed against the truth.

  11. 11

    Suffice me against them however You wish

    اللَّهُمَّ اكْفِنِيهِم بمَا شِئْت

    Allāhummak-finīhim bimā shi't.

    O Allah, suffice (i.e. protect) me against them however You wish.

    sahihMuslim 4/2300

    A short, total handing-over: you do not dictate the how, you simply ask Allah to deal with those who threaten you in whatever way He chooses.

  12. 12

    There is no ease but what You make easy

    اللَّهُمَّ لاَ سَهْلَ إِلاَّ مَا جَعَلْتَهُ سَهْلاً، وَأَنْتَ تَجْعَلُ الْحَزْنَ إِذَا شِئْتَ سَهْلاً

    Allāhumma lā saḥla illā ma ja`altahu saḥla wa anta taj`alu ‘l-ḥazna idhā shi'ta saḥla.

    O Allah, there is no ease other than what You make easy. If You please You ease sorrow.

    sahihIbn Hibban in his Sahih , and Ibn As- Sunni

    For the matter that looks impossible. You admit that ease itself is in Allah's hands, and that He can turn the very hardship you are facing into something soft and passable.

  13. 13

    It is the decree of Allah

    قَدَّرَ اللهُ وَما شـاءَ فَعَـل

    Qaddarallāhu wa mā shā'a fa`al.

    It is the Decree of Allah and He does whatever He wills.

    sahihMuslim 4/2052

    For when something unwanted has already happened. The Prophet ﷺ taught us to say this rather than 'if only I had...', which only opens the door to regret. It is acceptance, not defeat: the past is in His hands, so you turn your strength toward what is still ahead.

When the weight does not lift at once

Relief is promised, but its timing belongs to Allah, not to us. Sometimes the du'a is answered by the matter changing, and sometimes by your heart being made wide enough to carry it. Both are an answer. Keep asking, and do not read your delay as His refusal.

O Allah, You ease what You will, and nothing is hard for You. Lift from us what we cannot lift ourselves, widen our hearts in the waiting, and let us find that You were nearer to us in the difficulty than we knew.

Questions

What is the best du'a to say when I am anxious or distressed?
The Prophet ﷺ taught several. A central one is the du'a of distress (du'a al-karb): La ilaha illallah al-'Azim al-Halim... declaring Allah's greatness over whatever is pressing on you. The du'a of Yunus, La ilaha illa anta subhanaka inni kuntu min az-zalimin, is also reported as the supplication by which a believer's call is answered. Reach for whichever your heart can hold, and repeat it.
Is there a du'a for when someone is harming me or treating me unjustly?
Yes. Several here are for exactly that: asking Allah to be your support against an oppressor, to restrain those who wish you harm, and to suffice you against them however He wills. Where the du'a leaves a space, name the person quietly to Allah. You are not taking revenge into your own hands; you are handing the matter to the One who judges with perfect justice.
What should I say when something I did not want has already happened?
The Prophet ﷺ taught us to say Qaddarallahu wa ma sha'a fa'al, 'It is the decree of Allah, and He does what He wills,' and warned against saying 'if only I had...', because that opens the door to regret and to Shaytan. Accepting the decree does not mean you stop striving; it means you refuse to be tormented by what is already past.

Prophetic adhkar transcribed verbatim from Hisn al-Muslim (Sa'eed al-Qahtani) via sunnah.com; al-Bukhari and Muslim taken as sahih, jayyid/reliable as hasan. Recitation audio: the official Hisn al-Muslim audio (hisnmuslim.com) for the adhkar. Selection follows Hisn al-Muslim, with thanks to lifewithallah.com; framing is Buruja's own. FOR SCHOLAR REVIEW: confirm every Arabic text, reference, repetition count and grading before publication.

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