Qur’an by topic

Qur’an verses about grief and sadness

'Do not grieve; indeed Allah is with us.' Verses for sad days, including the prophet who took his grief to Allah alone.

· 6 ayat

Sadness is not hidden in the Qur’an. A prophet complains of his grief to Allah, the Prophet ﷺ comforts his companion in a cave with 'do not grieve', and a promise repeats through the Book that those who follow guidance will have no fear and will not grieve. Each verse is shown in Arabic with the Saheeh International translation and a short note on what it says. If you are in crisis, please also reach out to someone you trust or a local helpline.

The verses

1. Surah At-Tawbah (9:40)

إِلَّا تَنصُرُوهُ فَقَدْ نَصَرَهُ ٱللَّهُ إِذْ أَخْرَجَهُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ثَانِىَ ٱثْنَيْنِ إِذْ هُمَا فِى ٱلْغَارِ إِذْ يَقُولُ لِصَٰحِبِهِۦ لَا تَحْزَنْ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَنَا ۖ فَأَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ سَكِينَتَهُۥ عَلَيْهِ وَأَيَّدَهُۥ بِجُنُودٍۢ لَّمْ تَرَوْهَا وَجَعَلَ كَلِمَةَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ٱلسُّفْلَىٰ ۗ وَكَلِمَةُ ٱللَّهِ هِىَ ٱلْعُلْيَا ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ

If you do not aid the Prophet - Allah has already aided him when those who disbelieved had driven him out [of Makkah] as one of two, when they were in the cave and he said to his companion, "Do not grieve; indeed Allah is with us." And Allah sent down his tranquillity upon him and supported him with angels you did not see and made the word of those who disbelieved the lowest, while the word of Allah - that is the highest. And Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise.

When he had been driven out of Makkah and was in the cave, the Prophet ﷺ said to his companion, 'Do not grieve; indeed Allah is with us,' and Allah sent down His tranquillity.

✦ Read in context — quran.com/9/40
2. Surah Ali 'Imran (3:139)

وَلَا تَهِنُوا۟ وَلَا تَحْزَنُوا۟ وَأَنتُمُ ٱلْأَعْلَوْنَ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ

So do not weaken and do not grieve, and you will be superior if you are [true] believers.

Said to the believers: do not weaken and do not grieve. The next verse speaks of a wound that has touched them.

✦ Read in context — quran.com/3/139
3. Surah Yusuf (12:86)

قَالَ إِنَّمَآ أَشْكُوا۟ بَثِّى وَحُزْنِىٓ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ وَأَعْلَمُ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ

He said, "I only complain of my suffering and my grief to Allah, and I know from Allah that which you do not know.

Yaqub's answer when his sons tell him he will waste away remembering Yusuf: 'I only complain of my suffering and my grief to Allah.'

✦ Read in context — quran.com/12/86
4. Surah Al-Baqarah (2:38)

قُلْنَا ٱهْبِطُوا۟ مِنْهَا جَمِيعًۭا ۖ فَإِمَّا يَأْتِيَنَّكُم مِّنِّى هُدًۭى فَمَن تَبِعَ هُدَاىَ فَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ

We said, "Go down from it, all of you. And when guidance comes to you from Me, whoever follows My guidance - there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve.

Said as Adam and his wife are sent down from the Garden: whoever follows Allah's guidance will have no fear and will not grieve.

✦ Read in context — quran.com/2/38
5. Surah Yunus (10:62)

أَلَآ إِنَّ أَوْلِيَآءَ ٱللَّهِ لَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ

Unquestionably, [for] the allies of Allah there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve

The allies of Allah have nothing to fear and will not grieve.

✦ Read in context — quran.com/10/62
6. Surah Fussilat (41:30)

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ قَالُوا۟ رَبُّنَا ٱللَّهُ ثُمَّ ٱسْتَقَٰمُوا۟ تَتَنَزَّلُ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةُ أَلَّا تَخَافُوا۟ وَلَا تَحْزَنُوا۟ وَأَبْشِرُوا۟ بِٱلْجَنَّةِ ٱلَّتِى كُنتُمْ تُوعَدُونَ

Indeed, those who have said, "Our Lord is Allah " and then remained on a right course - the angels will descend upon them, [saying], "Do not fear and do not grieve but receive good tidings of Paradise, which you were promised.

Angels descend on those who said 'Our Lord is Allah' and stayed upright: 'Do not fear and do not grieve, but receive good tidings of Paradise.'

✦ Read in context — quran.com/41/30

Keep going

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Frequently asked questions

Which Qur’an verse says do not grieve?

Several. Qur’an 9:40 has the Prophet ﷺ saying to his companion 'Do not grieve; indeed Allah is with us', and 3:139 says 'do not weaken and do not grieve'.

What does the Qur’an say about sadness?

It shows prophets feeling it openly. Yaqub says 'I only complain of my suffering and my grief to Allah' (12:86). It also promises that those who follow guidance will not grieve (2:38).

Is it allowed to be sad in Islam?

The Qur’an records the grief of a prophet without blame (12:86) and turns it toward Allah. Grief brought to Allah is shown as part of faith, not a failure of it.

Read the full Qur’an with translation and audio in Niyat.

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