Life in this world is not always the same; sometimes it brings happiness, and sometimes sorrow. The phases of happiness and grief are part of life. Happiness keeps coming and vanishing, and so does sorrow. It's a matter of human psychology that individuals often see success and happiness as the result of their own efforts. Contrary to that, failure and sorrow are mostly attributed to fate. In fact, both situations are a mix of one's efforts and destiny. Being a Muslim, it is our firm belief that nothing happens without the Will and Command of Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ, whereas it is the duty of a believer to keep trying. Several Quranic verses support this concept, such as the 39th verse of Surah An-Najm.
Translation - That a man receives but only that for which he strives.
The same concept is narrated in the 11th verse of Surah Ar-R’ad, in a different way:
Translation of relevant part - ….. Verily God does not change the state of a people till they change themselves…
Similarly, the Quran also tells us that happiness and sorrow both come from Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ as tests and trials for the believers. The 155th verse of Surah Al-Baqarah explains it as follows:
Translation - Be sure We shall try you with something of fear and hunger and loss of wealth and life and the fruits (of your labour); but give tidings of happiness to those who have patience.
From the above verses, we can understand the following:
So, the question arises, what should we do while facing the state of anxiety and sorrow? As true believers, we need to get the solution from the Quran and Sunnah, the main and basic sources of guidance. The 28th verse of Surah Ar-R'ad guides us as follows:
Translation - Such are the ones who believe (in the message of the Prophet) and whose hearts find rest in the remembrance of Allah. Surely in Allah's remembrance do hearts find rest.
So, the best way to come out of the state of anxiety and sorrow is “remembrance of Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ”. And the best way to remember Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ is supplication (Dua). The Quran and Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ, conveyed to us through various authentic Hadiths, teach us different Duas for depression and sadness, for grief and sorrow, for hardship and sadness, and for distress and sadness.
Anxiety and sorrow are natural emotions that all humans experience. In such times, turning towards Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) and making supplications for anxiety and sorrow is a practice that a lot of Muslims follow. To look for solace in prayer or to make dua in abundance can help one find support and comfort. Dua offers encouragement, gives one the strength to face hardship, and time to reflect on how everything is Allah's Will.
Although there are so many Duas for stress and anxiety, some of them, as mentioned below, are quite popular and strongly recommended by scholars for recitation during times of anxiety and sorrow.
Praying and making dua for anxiety and sorrow can serve as a lifeboat during difficult times. It is a means of support and guidance from Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) that allows one to leave the matters in the hands of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) with this faith that one is not alone in their grief. The duas listed below are verified by authentic hadith. The Holy Prophet (ﷺ) used to recite this dua to seek refuge from grief and sorrow in this world and the hereafter (Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3484).
Praying and making dua is an integral part of Islam and any faith. It is a source of connection that allows a believer the liberty to ask Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) for His Mercy, forgiveness, and kindness rather than just the provision of this world.
Another very powerful Dua to come out of the state of sorrow, grief, anxiety, and stress was also taught by the Prophet, as reported in Hadith 3505 of Jami At-Tirmidhi.
Joy & Distress Duas
Allaahumma 'innee 'abduka, ibnu 'abdika, ibnu 'amatika, naasiyatee biyadika, maadhin fiyya hukmuka, 'adlun fiyya qadhaa'uka, 'as'aluka bikulli ismin huwa laka, sammayta bihi nafsaka, 'aw 'anzaltahu fee kitaabika, 'aw 'allamtahu 'ahadan min khalqika, 'awista'tharta bihi fee 'ilmil-ghaybi 'indaka, 'an taj'alal-Qur'aana rabee'a qalbee, wa noora sadree, wa jalaa'a huznee, wa thahaaba hammee .
O Allah, I am Your slave and the son of Your male slave and the son of your female slave. My forehead is in Your Hand (i.e. You have control over me). Your Judgment upon me is assured and Your Decree concerning me is just. I ask You by every Name that You have named Yourself with, revealed in Your Book, taught any one of Your creation or kept unto Yourself in the knowledge of the unseen that is with You, to make the Qur'an the spring of my heart, and the light of my chest, the banisher of my sadness and the reliever of my distress.
Allaahumma 'innee 'a'oothu bika minal-hammi walhazani, wal'ajzi walkasali, walbukhli waljubni, wa dhala'id-dayni wa ghalabatir-rijaal.
O Allah, I seek refuge in you from grief and sadness, from weakness and from laziness, from miserliness and from cowardice, from being overcome by debt and overpowered by men.
This Dua is mentioned in Hadith 5090 of Sunan Abi Dawood.
This Dua is mentioned in Hadith 3505 of Jami At-Tirmidhi.
When caught by anxiety and sorrow, Muslims seek refuge in Allah’s سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ, mercy and protection. This is achieved by reciting specifically recommended Duas for anxiety and sorrow, as reported in various authentic Hadiths. Recitation of any of these authentic Duas brings profound spiritual benefits, as summarized here:
Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى), through His words, taught to us by the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), reminds us that we are never alone, and the first and foremost etiquette to make dua for anxiety and sorrow is to do so with complete faith that Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) is listening to us. The best way to make dua is to raise one's hands and to address Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) with His names and do not hold back. Make dua with your heartful and with the faith that Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) is all-knowing and all-hearing.
Some of the etiquettes of reciting Dua for anxiety and sorrow are summarized as follows:
Grief and worrying greatly impact our physical and mental well-being. While these emotions are a natural part of our lives, they can take the best of us, and in times when one feels helpless, making dua for anxiety and grief serves as a way to ask for strength.
If you find yourself struggling, seek help from those around you, be it family or professionals. However, also use this time to seek help and strength from Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى). Finding resort in faith by making supplication in abundance cannot just restore your faith but also strengthen one's connection with Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى).
The benefits also include feeling calm or at peace, knowing that Allah is (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) the sole disposer of one's affairs and He will always make things work by providing you with the best. Making dua can also serve as a grounding tool that can help you feel a sense of relief or a sense of belonging, that you are not alone but are loved by Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى).
To get relief from depression and sadness, any of the Duas, as reported in authentic Hadiths, can be recited, such as "Allaahumma 'innee 'a'oothu bika minal-hammi walhazani, wal'ajzi walkasali, walbukhli waljubni, wa dhala'id-dayni wa ghalabatir-rijaal” or “Lā ilāha illā anta subḥānaka innī kuntu minaẓ-ẓālimīn”.
The best practice is to recite any Dua in the original Arabic text, as reported in authentic Hadiths. However, some scholars are of the view that Duas can be recited in any other language, including English, when making personal Duas.
Getting medical treatment or professional help to get out of anxiety is permissible in Islam. The best practice is to recite Dua for anxiety and then seek professional medical assistance. Islam does not prohibit medical treatment whenever required.
Yes, making any personal Dua is permissible in Islam. While the best of the Duas is the one which is taught by the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ, there is nothing wrong if one wants to recite his self-worded Duas, unless they do not violate the basic Islamic principles.
Yes, you can recite more than one Du'a at a time, as mentioned in authentic Hadiths.