Anxiety is one of the most prevalent mental health issues in North America, with anxiety disorders increasingly becoming a global concern. Islam offers valuable insights and practical strategies to help manage anxiety and stress, emphasizing spiritual well-being, community support, and balanced living.
Anas (rA) narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said, “Whoever is mainly concerned about the hereafter, Allah will make him feel independent of others and will make him focused and content, and his worldly affairs will fall into place. But whoever is mainly concerned with this world, Allah will make him feel in constant need of others and will make him distracted and unfocused, and he will get nothing of this world except what is decreed for him.” (Jami’ al-Tirmidhi, no. 2389)
This narration suggests that the most effective way for believers to dispel stress and anxiety is to detach their hearts (not their actions) from this worldly life and focus on the eternal. However, anxiety and stress are natural emotions, even among the most pious believers. Islamic teachings acknowledge this and offer several supplications to provide solace and healing.
Du’a to Replace Anxiety with Peace: In an authentic narration, the Prophet ﷺ said, “There is absolutely no one among you who, when stricken with grief and anxiety, says:
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي عَبْدُكَ، ابْنُ عَبْدِكَ، ابْنُ أَمَتِكَ، نَاصِيَتِي بِيَدِكَ، مَاضٍ فِي حُكْمُكَ، عَدْلٌ فِي قَضَاؤُكَ، أَسْأَلُكَ بِكُلِّ اسْمٍ هُوَ لَكَ سَمَّيْتَ بِهِ نَفْسَكَ، أَوْ أَنْزَلْتَهُ فِي كِتَابِكَ، أَوْ عَلَّمْتَهُ أَحَدًا مِنْ خَلْقِكَ، أَوِ اسْتَأْثَرْتَ بِهِ فِي عِلْمِ الْغَيْبِ عِنْدَكَ، أَنْ تَجْعَلَ الْقُرْآنَ رَبِيعَ قَلْبِي، وَنُورَ صَدْرِي، وَجَلَاءَ حُزْنِي، وَذَهَابَ هَمِّي
Allahumma inni 'abduka, ibnu 'abdika, ibnu amatika, naasiyati biyadika, maadin fi hukmuka, 'adlun fi qada'uka, as'aluka bikulli ismin huwa laka, sammayta bihi nafsaka, aw anzaltahu fi kitabika, aw 'allamtahu ahadan min khalqika, awi asta'tharta bihi fi 'ilm il-ghaybi 'indaka, an taj'al al-Qur'ana rabia' qalbi, wa noora sadri, wa jalaa'a huzni, wa dhahaaba hammi.
"O Allah, I am Your servant, the child of Your male servant and female servant, my forelock is in Your hand, Your judgment upon me is assured, Your decree concerning me is just. I ask You by every single name that You have named Yourself with, revealed in Your book, taught to one of Your creation, or have kept in the unseen, to make the Qur’an the spring of my heart, the light of my chest, the banisher of my sadness, and the reliever of my anxiety."
except that Allah will remove his anxiety and grief and replace it with joy.” The Companions asked, “Shall we not learn it?” The Prophet ﷺ replied, “Indeed, whoever hears it should learn it.” (Musnad Ahmad, no. 3528)
The first theme of this du’a is submission. In declaring “I am Your slave, the child of Your male slave and the child of Your female slave,” we express our submission to Allah. Abu Huraira (rA) narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said, “Charity does not decrease wealth, no one forgives another except that Allah increases his honor, and no one humbles himself for the sake of Allah except Allah raises his status.” (Sahih Muslim, no. 2588)
The line “my forelock is in Your hand” emphasizes submission of the intellect to Allah, symbolizing our acceptance of our human limits and our trust in His control.
The du’a continues by asking Allah to make the Qur’an “the spring of my heart.” Just as spring revives life after winter, this supplication asks Allah to revive our hearts. Scholars explain that this entails making the Qur’an a part of our daily lives, as it guides us away from confusion and uncertainty. As the Qur’an promises, “Surely in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest” (Qur’an 13:28).
Du’a for Relief from Worries and Debts: Another powerful supplication for relieving anxiety and stress is based on an incident narrated by Abu Saeed al Khudri (rA). One day, the Prophet ﷺ saw Abu Umamah sitting in the mosque outside of prayer times and asked, “What is the matter?” Abu Umamah replied, “Worries and debts, O Messenger of Allah.” The Prophet ﷺ then taught him these words to say every morning and evening:
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ الْهَمِّ وَالْحَزَنِ، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ الْعَجْزِ وَالْكَسَلِ، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ الْجُبْنِ وَالْبُخْلِ، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ غَلَبَةِ الدَّيْنِ، وَقَهْرِ الرِّجَالِ.
"Allahumma inni a'oodhu bika min al-hammi wal-hazan, wa a'oodhu bika min al-'ajzi wal-kasal, wa a'oodhu bika min al-jubni wal-bukhl, wa a'oodhu bika min ghalabatid-dayni, wa qahrir-rijal.
O Allah, I seek refuge in You from anxiety and grief; I seek refuge in You from inability and laziness; I seek refuge in You from cowardice and stinginess; and I seek refuge in You from being overcome by debt and overpowered by men."
The Prophet ﷺ said that after Abu Umamah recited this regularly, Allah relieved his worries and settled his debt. (Sunan Abi Dawud, no. 1555)
This supplication addresses both emotions—“hamm” (anxiety about the future) and “hazan” (grief over the past). Additionally, it helps with practical struggles such as debt. Another helpful supplication for debt is:
اللّهُـمَّ اكْفِـني بِحَلالِـكَ عَنْ حَـرامِـك، وَأَغْنِـني بِفَضْـلِكِ عَمَّـنْ سِـواك
"Allahumma ikfini bi-halalika 'an haramik, wa aghnini bi-fadlika 'amman siwak.
O Allah, suffice me with what You have allowed instead of what You have prohibited, and make me independent of all others beside You." (Jami’ al-Tirmidhi, no. 5/560)
Through these supplications, we seek divine help in overcoming anxiety, grief, and financial burdens, while asking for the strength to face challenges with faith.
Times of stress remind us to turn to Allah, who is in control. Ibn Abbas (rA) narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said, “If anyone constantly seeks forgiveness, Allah will appoint for him a way out of every distress, relief from every anxiety, and will provide sustenance from unexpected sources.” (Sunan Abi Dawud, no. 1518)
By seeking forgiveness and making these supplications, Allah promises to relieve every hardship we face, showing His ultimate care and compassion.
For further guidance, refer to the video "Du’as to Relieve Anxiety and Manage Anger" by Sh. Omar Suleiman in the “A Du’a Away” series.