MUSLIMCBT / PRACTICAL READING
Du’a for Anxiety and Sadness: Arabic, Meanings and Sources
When you are worried or sad, finding words can be difficult. The Qur’an and Sunnah contain supplications that name sorrow, ask for mercy and express reliance on Allah. This page gives a small selection with Arabic, transliteration, meanings and direct sources.
Here, “anxiety and sadness” describes the reader’s experience of distress. These texts are presented as worship and spiritual support. They do not establish a treatment for a diagnosed anxiety disorder or depression.
Begin with one understood supplication
Choose a du’a you can read with attention. Read its meaning before reciting, and bring your own needs to Allah in words you understand. You do not have to learn the whole collection before beginning.
When worry and grief feel heavy
Transliteration
Allahumma inni a‘udhu bika mina-l-hammi wa-l-hazan, wa-l-‘ajzi wa-l-kasal, wa-l-jubni wa-l-bukhl, wa dala‘i-d-dayn, wa ghalabati-r-rijal.
Meaning
O Allah, I seek Your protection from worry and sorrow, inability and idleness, cowardice and stinginess, the crushing weight of debt, and being overpowered by others.
Anas ibn Malik reported that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, used to make this supplication.
Reflect: Which burden am I carrying today? Name it honestly, then identify one manageable step or one person who could help.
Hoping for His mercy
Transliteration
Allahumma rahmataka arju, fa la takilni ila nafsi tarfata ‘ayn, wa aslih li sha’ni kullahu, la ilaha illa Ant.
Meaning
O Allah, I hope for Your mercy. Do not leave me to myself even for the blink of an eye. Set all my affairs right for me. There is no deity worthy of worship except You.
This is taught as a supplication for someone in distress.
Sunan Abi Dawud 5090 · hasan in chain, al-Albani
A brief supplication
Transliteration
Ya Hayyu, ya Qayyum, bi-rahmatika astaghith.
O Ever-Living, O Sustainer of all, I seek help through Your mercy.
Jami‘ at-Tirmidhi 3524 · hasan, Darussalam
Bringing pain and fear to Allah
The call of Ayyub, peace be upon him
Transliteration
Anni massaniya-d-durru wa Anta arhamu-r-rahimin.
Harm has touched me, and You are the most merciful of those who show mercy.
This supplication names suffering and appeals to Allah’s mercy.
Qur’an 21:83 · supplication excerpt
Words of reliance
Transliteration
Hasbuna-llahu wa ni‘ma-l-wakil.
Allah is enough for us; how excellent He is as the One entrusted with our affairs.
The believers say these words when warned of a gathering against them. Reliance on Allah can accompany sensible action and seeking protection.
What about istighfar?
Istighfar means asking Allah for forgiveness. In Sahih al-Bukhari 6307, the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, describes seeking forgiveness and turning to Allah more than seventy times a day. It is a practice of return to Allah in ordinary life.
Sayyid al-Istighfar, recorded in Bukhari 6306, holds gratitude, acknowledgement and a request for forgiveness together. Read the complete wording and its meaning carefully; the reported virtue has conditions stated in the narration.
Sahih al-Bukhari 6307 · Sahih al-Bukhari 6306
What about salawat?
The Qur’an calls believers to send blessings and peace upon the Prophet. Sahih Muslim 408 records that Allah blesses tenfold the person who sends one blessing upon him. These are clear reasons to make room for salawat with love and attention.
Qur’an 33:56 · Sahih Muslim 408
A gentle way to use this page
- Choose one supplication and read its meaning.
- Make du’a sincerely at a comfortable pace.
- Attend to what the situation needs: an ordinary task, rest, a conversation or suitable support.
This is an editorial suggestion for organising practice, not a narrated sequence or a prescribed count. You can bring spiritual practice and practical effort into the same day.
The 18-page Turning to Allah in Difficult Times companion develops this collection with complete supplications, the Salat Ibrahimiyyah, source notes and reflection prompts. It accompanies the current Healing the Heart & Mind bundle.
Try a real page before deciding
The free five-page starter includes an opening extract, a completed example and a matching thought record in print or fillable format.
Download the free starter kit →Educational self-help for adults. The programme does not provide diagnosis or clinical treatment. Read the source and review policy.
Reviewed and updated: September 17, 2026 by Ibnu Nahid. MuslimCBT's review process is described in our methodology. No external clinical or scholarly review has been completed for this page.