Duas for Anxiety and Stress

Sunna words for a looping mind — refuge from worry and grief, and trust that outruns fear.

Anxiety talks in loops: the same fear, repeated, each pass a little louder. The sunna answers it with words to hold onto. The duas on this page are not incantations that switch fear off — they are supplications the Prophet ﷺ taught for exactly this state: refuge from worry and grief, from incapacity and cowardice, from the burden of debt. Others come from the Quran itself: the closing prayer of Al-Baqarah, which asks Allah not to burden a soul beyond what it can carry, and the plea of the young men who fled to a cave with nothing but trust. Every Arabic text below is copied byte-for-byte from Niyat's reviewed dua library — never retyped — and each card links to the full page with its hadith or Quran reference, transliteration, and audio where available.

1. Dua to Remove Anxiety

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-dayni wa ghalabatir-rijal

Meaning. O Allah, I seek refuge in You from worry and grief, from incapacity and laziness, from miserliness and cowardice, from the burden of debt and from being overpowered by men.

The Prophet's ﷺ own refuge from the loop of worry: grief, incapacity, laziness, cowardice, and debt. Recite it whenever fear of what might happen outgrows what is actually happening.

Source: Sahih al-Bukhari 6363 — read the full dua page

2. Refuge from Anxiety and Grief

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْهَمِّ وَالْحَزَنِ

Transliteration. Allahumma inni a'udhu bika minal-hammi wal-hazan

Meaning. O Allah, I seek refuge in You from anxiety and grief.

The dhikr of the distressed, from the call of Yunus, peace be upon him. The Prophet ﷺ said no Muslim calls upon Allah with these words without being answered. There is no set count; say it until the chest loosens.

Source: Sahih al-Bukhari 2893 — read the full dua page

3. Pardon, mercy, and protection

لَا يُكَلِّفُ ٱللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا ۚ لَهَا مَا كَسَبَتْ وَعَلَيْهَا مَا ٱكْتَسَبَتْ ۗ رَبَّنَا لَا تُؤَاخِذْنَآ إِن نَّسِينَآ أَوْ أَخْطَأْنَا ۚ رَبَّنَا وَلَا تَحْمِلْ عَلَيْنَآ إِصْرًۭا كَمَا حَمَلْتَهُۥ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِنَا ۚ رَبَّنَا وَلَا تُحَمِّلْنَا مَا لَا طَاقَةَ لَنَا بِهِۦ ۖ وَٱعْفُ عَنَّا وَٱغْفِرْ لَنَا وَٱرْحَمْنَآ ۚ أَنتَ مَوْلَىٰنَا فَٱنصُرْنَا عَلَى ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلْكَٰفِرِينَ

Transliteration. lā yukallifu l-lahu nafsan illā wus'ʿahā lahā mā kasabat waʿalayhā mā ik'tasabat rabbanā lā tuākhidh'nā in nasīnā aw akhṭanā rabbanā walā taḥmil ʿalaynā iṣ'ran kamā ḥamaltahu ʿalā alladhīna min qablinā rabbanā walā tuḥammil'nā mā lā ṭāqata lanā bihi wa-uʿ'fu ʿannā wa-igh'fir lanā wa-ir'ḥamnā anta mawlānā fa-unṣur'nā ʿalā l-qawmi l-kāfirīna

Meaning. Allah does not charge a soul except [with that within] its capacity. It will have [the consequence of] what [good] it has gained, and it will bear [the consequence of] what [evil] it has earned. "Our Lord, do not impose blame upon us if we have forgotten or erred. Our Lord, and lay not upon us a burden like that which You laid upon those before us. Our Lord, and burden us not with that which we have no ability to bear. And pardon us; and forgive us; and have mercy upon us. You are our protector, so give us victory over the disbelieving people

The closing supplication of Surah Al-Baqarah, asking Allah not to burden the servants with what they cannot carry. Fitting when responsibilities feel heavier than capacity.

Source: Quran 2:286 — read the full dua page

4. Steadfast hearts

رَبَّنَا لَا تُزِغْ قُلُوبَنَا بَعْدَ إِذْ هَدَيْتَنَا وَهَبْ لَنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةً ۚ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلْوَهَّابُ

Transliteration. rabbanā lā tuzigh qulūbanā baʿda idh hadaytanā wahab lanā min ladunka raḥmatan innaka anta l-wahābu

Meaning. [Who say], "Our Lord, let not our hearts deviate after You have guided us and grant us from Yourself mercy. Indeed, You are the Bestower

A prayer for a heart that does not waver after guidance — for the anxiety of being unsure whether one is still on the right path.

Source: Quran 3:8 — read the full dua page

5. Reliance and protection

فَقَالُوا۟ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ تَوَكَّلْنَا رَبَّنَا لَا تَجْعَلْنَا فِتْنَةًۭ لِّلْقَوْمِ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ وَنَجِّنَا بِرَحْمَتِكَ مِنَ ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلْكَٰفِرِينَ

Transliteration. faqālū ʿalā l-lahi tawakkalnā rabbanā lā tajʿalnā fit'natan lil'qawmi l-ẓālimīna wanajjinā biraḥmatika mina l-qawmi l-kāfirīna

Meaning. So they said, "Upon Allah do we rely. Our Lord, make us not [objects of] trial for the wrongdoing people And save us by Your mercy from the disbelieving people

The words of believers told that an army had gathered against them: 'Allah is sufficient for us.' Recite when other people's power starts to feel like the threat.

Source: Quran 10:85-86 — read the full dua page

6. Mercy and right guidance

إِذْ أَوَى ٱلْفِتْيَةُ إِلَى ٱلْكَهْفِ فَقَالُوا۟ رَبَّنَآ ءَاتِنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةًۭ وَهَيِّئْ لَنَا مِنْ أَمْرِنَا رَشَدًۭا

Transliteration. idh awā l-fit'yatu ilā l-kahfi faqālū rabbanā ātinā min ladunka raḥmatan wahayyi lanā min amrinā rashadan

Meaning. [Mention] when the youths retreated to the cave and said, "Our Lord, grant us from Yourself mercy and prepare for us from our affair right guidance

The young men of the cave fled persecution with nothing and asked their Lord for mercy and right guidance. A dua for the fear of an uncertain future.

Source: Quran 18:10 — read the full dua page

7. Dua When Starting Work (Prayer of Musa)

رَبِّ اشْرَحْ لِي صَدْرِي ۝ وَيَسِّرْ لِي أَمْرِي ۝ وَاحْلُلْ عُقْدَةً مِنْ لِسَانِي ۝ يَفْقَهُوا قَوْلِي

Transliteration. Rabbi-shrah lee sadree, wa yassir lee amree, wahlul 'uqdatam min lisaanee, yafqahoo qawlee

Meaning. My Lord, expand for me my breast, and ease for me my task, and untie the knot from my tongue, that they may understand my speech.

Musa's prayer when the mission felt larger than his ability — for a tight chest, a hard task, and words that will not come out right.

Source: Surah Ta-Ha, 20:25-28 — read the full dua page

8. Dua for Well-Being in This World and the Next

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ الْعَافِيَةَ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِ، اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ الْعَفْوَ وَالْعَافِيَةَ فِي دِينِي وَدُنْيَايَ وَأَهْلِي وَمَالِي، اللَّهُمَّ اسْتُرْ عَوْرَاتِي وَآمِنْ رَوْعَاتِي، اللَّهُمَّ احْفَظْنِي مِنْ بَيْنِ يَدَيَّ وَمِنْ خَلْفِي وَعَنْ يَمِينِي وَعَنْ شِمَالِي وَمِنْ فَوْقِي، وَأَعُوذُ بِعَظَمَتِكَ أَنْ أُغْتَالَ مِنْ تَحْتِي

Transliteration. Allahumma inni as'alukal-'afiyata fid-dunya wal-akhirah. Allahumma inni as'alukal-'afwa wal-'afiyata fi deeni wa dunyaya wa ahli wa mali. Allahummastur 'awrati wa amin raw'ati. Allahummahfazni min bayni yadayya wa min khalfi wa 'an yameeni wa 'an shimali wa min fawqi, wa a'udhu bi 'azamatika an ughtala min tahti

Meaning. O Allah, I ask You for well-being in this world and the Hereafter. O Allah, I ask You for forgiveness and well-being in my religion, my worldly affairs, my family and my property. O Allah, conceal my faults and keep me safe from the things which I fear. O Allah, guard me from in front of me and behind me, on my right and on my left, and from above me; and I seek refuge in Your greatness from being struck down from beneath me.

Asks for 'afiyah — safety and health — in this life and the next, and specifically: 'conceal my faults and keep me safe from the things I fear.' Its sunna time is morning and evening.

Source: Abu Dawud 5074 — read the full dua page

Keep going

Each collection gathers duas for one theme; the full dua library holds all 84 duas with Arabic, transliteration, meaning, and audio.

Frequently asked questions

Which dua removes worry and grief?

The supplication Allahumma inni a'udhu bika minal-hammi wal-hazan (Sahih al-Bukhari 6363) seeks refuge from worry, grief, incapacity, laziness, miserliness, cowardice, and the burden of debt. It appears in full in the first card above.

What dhikr did the Prophet ﷺ teach for distress?

La ilaha illa anta subhanaka inni kuntu minaz-zalimin — the call of Yunus, peace be upon him. In Sahih al-Bukhari 2893 the Prophet ﷺ said no Muslim calls upon Allah with these words in any matter without Allah answering him.

Can I make dua for anxiety in my own language?

Yes. Allah understands every tongue. The Arabic wordings above carry the exact revealed or prophetic wording; speaking to Allah from the heart in your own words is also valid dua.

Every dua, sourced and reviewed

Niyat carries the full reviewed dua library — Arabic, transliteration, meaning, and audio.

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