Anxiety, Distress and Sorrow

بِسْمِ اللّهِ الرَّحْمـَنِ الرَّحِيم
Bismillahir-Rahman-Nir-Rahim
(In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful)

1. Narrated Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) in Saheeh Bukhari. It is narrated in
many ahadeeth that the Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) would consistently make
this duaa, and many of the Companions heard him repeat it over and over.

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ الْهَمِّ وَالْحُزْنِ وَالْعَجْزِ وَالْكَسَلِ وَالْبُخْلِ
وَالْجُبْنِ وَضَلَعِ الدَّيْنِ وَغَلَبَةِ الرِّجَالِ  

 Allahumma inni a’udhu bika minal-hammi wal-Ḥuzni wal-‘ajazi wal-kasli wal-bukhli
wal-jubni wa ḍalaEid-dayni wa ghalabatir-rijal.

O Allah, I take refuge in You from anxiety and sorrow, weakness and laziness and miserliness and cowardice, the burden of debts and from being overpowered by men .

2. The second duaa is narrated by the Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) as one of the
“Da’waat al Makroob“, the supplications of the distressed.

اللَّهُمَّ رَحْمَتَكَ أَرْجُو فَلَا تَكِلْنِي إِلَى نَفْسِي طَرْفَةَ عَيْنٍ
وَأَصْلِحْ لِي شَأْنِي كُلَّهُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَا أَنْتَ

Allahumma rahmataka arju fala takilni ila nafsi tarfata ‘aynin wa aslih li sha’ni kullahu la ilaha ila anta

O Allah, it is Your mercy that I hope for, so do not leave me in charge of my affairs even for a blink of an eye, and rectify for me all of my affairs. None has the right to be worshiped except You.

3. Asma, daughter of ‘Amais, reported that the Prophet, peace be upon him,
asked shall I tell you words that you may say in times of pain or distress.

            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

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

5. Prophet, peace be upon him, said, “If any servant of Allah afflicted with distress or grief makes this supplication, his supplication will be accepted:

اللِّهُمَّ إنِّي عَبْدُكَ ، ابْنُ عَبْدِكَ ، ابْنُ أَمَتِكَ ، نَاصِيَتِي بِيَدِكَ ، مَاضِ فِيَّ حُكْمُكَ ، عَدْلٌ فِيَّ قَضَاؤُكَ ، أَسْأَلُكَ بِكُلِّ اسْمٍ هُوَ لَكَ ، سَمَّيْتَ بِهِ نَفْسَكَ ، أَوْ أنْزَلْتَهُ فِي كِتَاَبِكَ ، أَوْ عَلَّمْتَهُ أَحَدًا مِنْ خَلْقِكَ ، أَوِ اسْتَأْثَرْتَ بِهِ فِي عِلْمِ الْغَيْبِ عِنْدَكَ ، أنْ تَجْعَلَ الْقُرْآنَ رَبِيعَ قَلْبِي ، وَ نُورَ صَدْرِي ، وَ جَلاءَ حُزْنِي ، وَ ذَهَابَ هَمِّي

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