It is the practice of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) to recite the Sunnah supplications in times of difficulty and distress, as these words are proven by divine revelation and are unparalleled in their effectiveness. Whether it is a matter of financial hardship, mental stress, or a sudden calamity, the Quran and Hadith provide guidance for every problem. When a Muslim directly seeks help from Allah, his spiritual connection is strengthened.
These Duas are most comprehensive and beautiful in the Holy Quran, which is part of verse number 201 of Surah Al-Baqarah. It is commonly called “Du’a-e-Rabbana”. Hazrat Anas bin Malik (RA) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to recite this Duas frequently.
Dua for Good in This World and the Afterlife
رَبَّنَا ءَاتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ .
Transliteration: “Rabbana atina fid-dunya hasanatan wa fil ‘akhirati hasanatan waqina ‘adhaban-nar.”
Translation: “Our Lord! Grant us the good of this world and the Hereafter, and protect us from the torment of the Fire.”
Dua for Extreme Distress
يَا حَيُّ يَا قَيُّومُ بِرَحْمَتِكَ أَسْتَغِيثُ
Transliteration: Ya Hayyu Ya Qayyum, bi-rahmatika astagheeth.
Translation: “O Ever-Living, O Self-Sustaining, by Your mercy I seek help.”
Dua for Relief and Ease
اللَّهُمَّ لَا سَهْلَ إِلَّا مَا جَعَلْتَهُ سَهْلًا، وَأَنْتَ تَجْعَلُ الْحَزْنَ إِذَا شِئْتَ سَهْلًا
Transliteration: Allahumma la sahla illa ma ja’altahu sahla, wa anta taj’alul-hazna idha shi’ta sahla.
Translation: “O Allah, there is no ease except in what You have made easy, and You make the difficulty, if You wish, easy.”
Dua for Seeking Sufficiency in Allah
This verse is part of the blessed Surah Al-Imran (verse 173). It was revealed about the companions who, despite hearing the news of the large number of enemies and their terrible intentions, instead of being afraid, relied on Allah and said, “Allah is sufficient for us.”
حَسْبُنَا اللَّهُ وَنِعْمَ الْوَكِيلُ
Transliteration: Hasbunallahu wa ni’mal wakeel.
Translation: “Sufficient for us is Allah, and [He is] the best Disposer of affairs.” (Surah Al-Imran, 3:173)
These words bring a person out of “depression.” When a person says that Allah is sufficient, unnecessary thoughts disappear from his mind and he feels an invisible support that makes him mentally strong.
Dua for Anxiety and Sorrow
It is narrated from Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to frequently this dua:
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْهَمِّ وَالْحَزَنِ، وَالْعَجْزِ وَالْكَسَلِ، وَالْبُخْلِ وَالْجُبْنِ، وَضَلَعِ الدَّيْنِ وَغَلَبَةِ الرِّجَالِ
Transliteration: Allahumma inni a’udhu bika minal-hammi wal-hazani, wal-‘ajzi wal-kasali, wal-bukhli wal-jubni, wa dala’id-dayni wa ghalabatir-rijal.
Translation: “O Allah, I seek refuge in You from anxiety and sorrow, weakness and laziness, miserliness and cowardice, the burden of debts and from being overpowered by men.”
Dua in times of difficulty (Ism-e-Azam)
Prophet Yunus (peace be upon him) recited this Duain the belly of the fish, about which the Prophet (peace be upon him) said that any Muslim who recites with these words will be accepted by Allah. The Prophet (PBUH) said:
“The Dua of Dhun-Nun (Prophet Yunus) when he supplanted, while he was in the belly of the whale… No Muslim ever prays to his Lord with these words for anything, but He answers his prayer.”
It is a beautiful and powerful supplication found in the Quran (Surah Al-Anbiya, 21:87).
لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي كُنْتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ
Transliteration: La ilaha illa anta subhanaka inni kuntu mina-dhalimin.
Translation: “There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers.”