16 Best Duas for Stress & Anxiety

Find the perfect dua to calm your mind and ease your fears

Co-authored by Belal Elkadri and Maryana Lucia Vestic, MFA, M.Phil.

Last Updated: May 3, 2025 Fact Checked

Do you find yourself experiencing stress, anxiety, and worry? Find spiritual strength by performing one of these 16 duas for anxiety and stressful situations. Below you can reference the Arabic verse and find help with pronunciation, the English translation, and the meaning behind each dua.

Dua for Anxiety & Ease

Say اللّهُمَّ لا سَهْلَ إلا ما جَعَلْتَهُ سَهْلا وَأنتَ تَجْعَلُ الحَزْنَ إذا شِئْتَ سَهْلا (Allahumma la sahla illa maa ja’altahu sahlan, wa Anta taj’alu l-hazna idha shi’ta sahla.) It means, “O Allah! There is no ease except that which You make easy, and indeed You, when You want, make difficulties easy.”

1

Dua for Anxiety & Nervousness

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Say ‏اللّهُـمَّ إِنِّي عَبْـدُكَ ابْنُ عَبْـدِكَ ابْنُ أَمَتِـكَ نَاصِيَتِي بِيَـدِكَ، مَاضٍ فِيَّ حُكْمُكَ، عَدْلٌ فِيَّ قَضَاؤكَ أَسْأَلُـكَ بِكُلِّ اسْمٍ هُوَ لَكَ سَمَّـيْتَ بِهِ نَفْسَكَ أِوْ أَنْزَلْتَـهُ فِي كِتَابِكَ، أَوْ عَلَّمْـتَهُ أَحَداً مِنْ خَلْقِـكَ أَوِ اسْتَـأْثَرْتَ بِهِ فِي عِلْمِ الغَيْـبِ عِنْـدَكَ أَنْ تَجْـعَلَ القُرْآنَ رَبِيـعَ قَلْبِـي، وَنورَ صَـدْرِي وجَلَاءَ حُـزْنِي وذَهَابَ هَمِّـي.
- Pronunciation: Allahhumma innee ‘abduka, ibnu ‘abdika, ibnu amatika, nasiyatee biyadik, madhin fiyya hukmuka, ‘adlun fiyya qada-ok, as-aluka bikulli ismin huwa lak, sammayta bihi nafsak, aw anzaltahu fee kitabik, aw AAallamtahu ahadan min khalqik awis-ta/tharta bihi fee AAilmil-ghaybi AAindak, an tajAAalal-Qurana rabeeAAa qalbee, wanoora sadree, wajalaa huznee wathahaba hammee.
- English translation: “O Allah, I am Your servant, son of Your servant, son of Your maidservant, my forelock is in Your hand (i.e. You have total mastery over me), Your command over me is forever executed and Your decree over me is just. I ask You by every name belonging to You which You named Yourself with, or revealed in Your book, or You taught to any of Your creation, or You have preserved in the knowledge of the unseen with You, that You make the Quran the life of my heart and the light of my breast, and a departure for my sorrow and a release for my anxiety.”
- Benefits: This dua is a plea to Allah stating that your life is in His hands. Reciting the dua prays for the Quran to fill your heart, help you overcome anxiety and leave sorrow behind.^{[1]
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Dua When Distressed

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Say ‏اللَّهُمَّ رَحْمَتَكَ أَرْجُو فَلَا تَكِلْنِي إِلَى نَفْسِي طَرْفَةَ عَيْنٍ وَأَصْلِحْ لِي شَأْنِي كُلَّهُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَا أَنْتَ.
- Pronunciation: Allahumma rahmataka arju fala takilni ila nafsi tarfata ‘aynin wa aslih li sha’ni kullahu la ilaha ila anta.
- English translation: “O Allah, I hope for Your mercy. Do not leave me to myself even for a blink of an eye. Correct all of my affairs for me. There is none worthy of worship except You.”
- Benefits: This dua asks Allah to help you trust in him and not overly rely on your own thoughts. If you feel that you’re lacking wisdom or being led by your desires, this would be a good dua for you. You’re asking for Allah’s mercy to take care of your problems.^{[2]
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Dua for Refuge From Anxiety & the Burden of Debts

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Say ‏اللّهُـمَّ إِنِّي أَعْوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الهَـمِّ وَ الْحُـزْنِ، والعًجْـزِ والكَسَلِ والبُخْـلِ والجُـبْنِ، وضَلْـعِ الـدَّيْنِ وغَلَبَـةِ الرِّجال.
- Pronunciation: Allahhumma innee aaoothu bika minal-hammi wal huzni, wal ‘ajzi wal kasali wal bukhli wal jubni, wa zalaid-dayni wa ghalabatir-rijaal.
- English translation: “O Allah, I take refuge in you from anxiety and sorrow, weakness and laziness, miserliness and cowardice, the burden of debts and from being overpowered by men.”^{[3]
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- Benefits: This dua allows you to seek comfort and refuge in Allah from the things that wear you down, like anxiety, sorrow, weakness, and debts. By asking dua, you can help yourself find freedom from others overtaking you spiritually and emotionally.^{[4]
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Dua to Dispel the Gloom of Depression

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Say اللهم اخرجني من الظلمات إلى النور‏.
- Pronunciation: Allahumma Akhrijnee min aldulumaat ilaa alnur.
- English translation: “Oh Allah take me out of darkness and into the light.”
- Benefits: This dua works in the same as a dua for pain, in that it seeks assistance from Allah when you’re lost in the darkness of your being. You can pray to find the light and move on from the negative feelings you’re experiencing.

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Dua for Relief From Sadness

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Say ‏اللهمّ فارج الهم، كاشف الغم، مذهب الحزن، اكشف اللهمّ عنّي همّي وغمّي ، وأذهب عنّي حزني.
- Pronunciation: Allahumma Faarij alhamm, kaashif alGamm, muzhib alhuzn, ikshif Allahumma 3annee hammee wa Gammee, wa azhib 3annee huznee.
- English translation: “Oh Allah, Reliever of anxiety, Remover of distress, Dispeller of grief! Remove my anxiety, distress, and dispel from me my sadness.”
- Benefits: This dua can be said when you’re overcome with anxiety, along with sadness and distress. It asks Allah to free you from these negative emotions so you can be closer to Allah and better trust in Him (and yourself).^{[5]
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Dua to Make Affairs Easy

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Say اللّهُمَّ لا سَهْلَ إلا ما جَعَلْتَهُ سَهْلا وَأنتَ تَجْعَلُ الحَزْنَ إذا شِئْتَ سَهْلا.
- Pronunciation: Allahumma la sahla illa maa ja’altahu sahlan, wa Anta taj’alu l-hazna idha shi’ta sahla.
- English translation: “O Allah! There is no ease except that which You make easy, and indeed You, when You want, make difficulties easy.”
- Benefits: This dua recognizes that Allah has the ability to make things easy, whereas you do not. Put your trust in Allah to transform your difficulties into easy tasks, so you feel a sense of relief. If you're experiencing stress because you're taking a test, saying a dua for an exam can also bring you comfort.^{[6]
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Dua to Ease Your Destiny

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Say اللهم إن كان هذا الأمر خيرا لي فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ‏.
- Pronunciation: Allahumma in kaana haatha alAmr khayran lee fa iQ-dirhu lee wa yassirhu lee summa baarik lee feehi.
- English translation: “Oh Allah, if my intended action is best for me, make it destined and easy for me, and grant me Your Blessings in it.”
- Benefits: This dua asks Allah to give you the knowledge you need to make your future easier and more peaceful. You’re asking for Allah’s blessings and for the ability to understand what your next actions should be, so you’re not worried about them.^{[7]
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Dua for Well-Being & Divine Protection

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Say ‏اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ الْعَافِيَةَ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالآخِرَةِ اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ الْعَفْوَ وَالْعَافِيَةَ فِي دِينِي وَدُنْيَاىَ وَأَهْلِي وَمَالِي اللَّهُمَّ اسْتُرْ عَوْرَاتِي وَآمِنْ رَوْعَاتِي اللَّهُمَّ احْفَظْنِي مِنْ بَيْنِ يَدَىَّ وَمِنْ خَلْفِي وَعَنْ يَمِينِي وَعَنْ شِمَالِي وَمِنْ فَوْقِي وَأَعُوذُ بِعَظَمَتِكَ أَنْ أُغْتَالَ مِنْ تَحْتِي.
- Pronunciation: Allāhumma innī asʾaluka al-ʿāfiyah fī al-dunyá wa-al-ākhirah allāhumma innī asʾaluka al-ʿafwah wa-al-ʿāfiyah fī dīnī wa-dunyāya wa-ahlī wa-mālī allāhumma ustur ʿawrātī wa-āmin rawʿātī allāhumma iḥfaẓnī min bayni yadayya wa-min khalfī wa-ʿan yamīnī wa-ʿan shimālī wa-min fawqī wa-aʿūdhu bi-ʿaẓamatika an ughtāla min taḥtī.
- English translation: “O Allah, I ask You for well-being in this world and the Hereafter. O Allah, I ask You for pardon and well-being in my religion, my worldly affairs, my family and my property. O Allah, conceal my faults and keep me safe from what 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 Magnificence from being swallowed up from beneath me.”
- Benefits: This dua is helpful when you're dealing with stress related to illness or affliction; it applies to both physical and mental afflictions that you wish to be free from.^{[8]
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Dua for Calmness of Heart From Being Anxious

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Say ‏رَبِّ اشْرَحْ لِي صَدْرِي وَيَسِّرْ لِي أَمْرِي وَاحْلُلْ عُقْدَةً مِّن لِّسَانِي يَفْقَهُوا قَوْلِي.
- Pronunciation: Rabbi-shrah li sodri, wa yassir li amri, wahlul uqdatan min lisani yafqohu qawli.
- English translation: “Lord, lift up my heart and ease my task for me. Remove the impediment from my tongue so that they may understand my speech.”
- Benefits: This dua is a prayer for calm to come upon your heart. It asks Allah to make your difficult task easier and prays for others to understand you better.^{[9]
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Dua to Find Trust in Allah

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Say اللهُ اللهُ رَبِّ لا أُشْـرِكُ بِهِ شَيْـئاً‏.
- Pronunciation: Allahu Allahu rabbi, La ushriku bihi shai.
- English translation: “Allah! Allah is my Lord! I do not associate anything with Him!”
- Benefits: This dua is a straightforward way to pledge your allegiance to Allah. When you’re feeling stress or anxiety, reaffirming your faith in the divine can bring you both strength and peace.^{[10]
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Dua in Times of Debt & Loss

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Say اللَّهُمَّ اكْفِنِي بِحَلاَلِكَ عَنْ حَرَامِكَ، وَأَغْنِنِي بِفَضْلِكِ عَمَّنْ سِوَاكَ‏.
- Pronunciation: Allaahummak-finee bihalaalika 'an haraamika wa 'aghninee bifadhlika 'amman siwaaka.
- English translation: “O Allah, suffice me with what You have allowed instead of what You have forbidden, and make me independent of all others besides You.”
- Benefits: This dua is ideal when you’re going through a period of financial difficulty or loss. It can help provide you with the strength you need to move forward into the next chapter of your life.^{[11]
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Dua For Things Not in Your Control

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Say لا إلهَ إلا اللهُ العَليمُ الحَليم لا إلهَ إلا اللهُ ربُّ العَرْشِ العَظِيْم لا إلهَ إلا اللهُ ربُّ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَرَبُّ الأَرْضِ ربُّ العَرْشِ الكَرِيْم‏.
- Pronunciation: La ilaha illa Allahu l-Alimu l-Halim. La ilaha illa Allahu Rabbu l-Arshi l-Azim. La ilaha illa Allahu Rabbu s-samawati wa Rabbu l-ardi wa Rabbu l-Arshi l-Karim.
- English translation: “There is no deity but Allah, the Knowing, the Clement. There is no deity but Allah, Lord of the Magnificent Throne. There is no deity but Allah, Lord of the heavens and Lord of the earth and Lord of the Noble Throne.”
- Benefits: This dua emphasizes your belief in Allah. When you’re feeling anxiety, say this dua to remember that only Allah knows why certain situations in life arise and to trust in them.^{[12]
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Dua for Optimism in Times of Adversity

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Say ‏اللهم إليك أشكو ضعف قوتي وقلة حيلتي وهواني على الناس يا أرحم الراحمين أنت ربُّ المستضعفين وانت ربّي.
- Pronunciation: Allahuma ilayka ashku da'fa quwwati wa qillata heelatee wa hawanee 3ala an-naas ya arhamur rahimeen annta Rabbul mustad'afeen wa anta rabbi.
- English translation: “To You, my Lord, I complain of my weakness, lack of support and the humiliation I am made to receive. Most compassionate and merciful! You are the Lord of the weak, and you are my Lord.”
- Benefits: This dua is ideal when you’re feeling stress due to hard times you’re experiencing. You’re asking for Allah’s compassion and mercy so you can go from feeling weak to being strong.^{[13]
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Dua of Prophet Yunus a.s.

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Say ‏لاَّ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ أَنتَ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّى كُنتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ.
- Pronunciation: La ilaha illa anta subhanaka inni kuntu minaz zalimin.
- English translation: “There is no god but You, exalted are You! Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers.”
- Benefits: Use this dua to follow the invocation the Prophet Yunus made while in the belly of a whale. It can bring you strength during whatever challenge you’re facing in your life.^{[14]
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Dua for Seeking Refuge From Severe Calamity, Misery, and Misfortune

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Say ‏اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ جَهْدِ الْبَلَاءِ، وَدَرَكِ الشَّقَاءِ، وَسُوءِ الْقَضَاءِ، وَشَمَاتَةِ الْأَعْدَاءِ.
- Pronunciation: Allahumma inni a’uzu bika min jahdil-bala’, wa darki shaqa’, wa su’il-qadha’, wa shamatatil-a’da’.
- English translation: “O Allah, I seek refuge in You from severe calamity, from misery to fall upon me, from misfortune in the decree, and from the joys of the enemies.”
- Benefits: This dua involves asking Allah for help when you need to overcome calamity and misery in your life. You’re asking for safety and the prevention of bad things overcoming you; you’re also praying that your enemies don’t experience happiness at your expense.^{[15]
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Dua to Remove Confusion From Your Heart

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Say اللهمّ اجعل في قلبي نوراً، وفي لساني نوراً، واجعل في سمعي نوراً، واجعل في بصري نوراً، واجعل من خلفي نوراً، ومن أمامي نوراً، واجعل من فوقي نوراً، ومن تحتي نوراً، اللهمّ أعطني نوراً.
- Pronunciation: Allahumma Ij3al fee qalbee noora, wa fee lisaanee noora, wa ij3al fee sam3ee noora, wa ij3al fee baSaree noora, wa ij3al min khalfee noora, wa min amaamee noora, wa ij3al min fawqee nooraa, wa mmin tahtee noora, Allahumma a3Tinee noora.
- English translation: “Oh Allah! Place in my heart, light. Place in my tongue, light. Place in my hearing, light. Place in my sight, light. Place behind me, light. Place before me, light. Place above me, light. Place under me, light. Oh Allah grant me light!”
- Benefits: Try this dua when you're experiencing stress and worry due to confusion. By reciting the dua, you can invite Allah's light into your being so your feelings stop causing you distress.