Islam does not expect its followers to suppress their emotions. The Prophet ﷺ experienced grief, worry, and hardship, and he taught the Companions specific supplications for these moments. Unlike general prayers for wellbeing, these duas address the heart directly — naming anxiety (hamm), sorrow (huzn), and distress (karb) by name and placing them before Allah. Each supplication below is authentically narrated, and together they form a practical toolkit for the Muslim in difficulty.

Dua al-Karb: The Prophetic Supplication of Distress

Ibn Abbas (RA) narrated in Bukhari and Muslim that the Prophet ﷺ would say the following when he was distressed. Known as Dua al-Karb — the supplication of distress — it affirms Allah's supremacy in three layers, moving from His personal attributes, to His Throne, to His mastery over all of creation.

لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ الْعَظِيمُ الْحَلِيمُ، لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ رَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيمِ، لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ رَبُّ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَرَبُّ الْأَرْضِ وَرَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْكَرِيمِ
La ilaha illa Allahu al-'Azim al-Halim, la ilaha illa Allahu Rabb al-'Arsh al-'Azim, la ilaha illa Allahu Rabb al-samawati wa Rabb al-ardi wa Rabb al-'Arsh al-karim

There is no god but Allah, the Magnificent, the Forbearing. There is no god but Allah, Lord of the Magnificent Throne. There is no god but Allah, Lord of the heavens and the earth, and Lord of the Noble Throne. (Bukhari and Muslim, narrated by Ibn Abbas RA)

What makes this dua powerful is its structure: the declaration of Allah's oneness is repeated three times, each time paired with a different divine attribute. As you recite, let each phrase settle — you are not just saying words, you are reminding your heart of who holds the situation you are struggling with.

Seeking Refuge from Anxiety: A Daily Prophetic Practice

Among the supplications the Prophet ﷺ regularly recited was one that directly seeks refuge from the very experiences you may be going through right now. Narrated by Anas ibn Malik (RA) in Bukhari, it names anxiety (hamm) and sorrow (huzn), weakness and laziness, miserliness and cowardice, and the burden of debt — a deliberate catalogue of common human struggles.

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْهَمِّ وَالْحَزَنِ، وَالْعَجْزِ وَالْكَسَلِ، وَالْبُخْلِ وَالْجُبْنِ، وَضَلَعِ الدَّيْنِ وَغَلَبَةِ الرِّجَالِ
Allahumma inni a'udhu bika minal-hammi wal-huzni, wal-'ajzi wal-kasali, wal-bukhli wal-jubni, wa dala'id-dayni wa ghalabatir-rijal

O Allah, I seek refuge in You from anxiety and sorrow, from weakness and laziness, from miserliness and cowardice, and from the burden of debts and from being overpowered by men. (Bukhari, narrated by Anas ibn Malik RA)

The Prophet ﷺ said this supplication regularly, making it part of his daily practice. Hamm refers to future-oriented worry; huzn refers to grief about the past or present — two distinct emotional states, both named and both addressed. Consider adding this to your morning routine alongside the morning adhkar.

The Dua of Prophet Yunus (AS): Rising from the Depths

لَّا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنتَ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي كُنتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ
La ilaha illa anta subhanaka inni kuntu mina adh-dhalimin

There is no deity except You; glory be to You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers. (Quran 21:87)

When Prophet Yunus (AS) called out from the belly of the whale, he combined three elements in a single breath: the declaration of tawhid, glorification of Allah, and a humble acknowledgement of his own shortcoming. Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas (RA) narrated in Tirmidhi that the Prophet ﷺ said no Muslim who calls upon Allah with these words will go unanswered. Its power lies in its sincerity — there is no request for any specific outcome, only complete trust in Allah's wisdom.

Hasbunallahu wa Ni'mal-Wakil: Total Reliance on Allah

حَسْبُنَا اللَّهُ وَنِعْمَ الْوَكِيلُ
Hasbuna Allahu wa ni'mal-wakil

Sufficient for us is Allah, and He is the best Disposer of affairs. (Quran 3:173)

Prophet Ibrahim (AS) said these words when he was thrown into the fire. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and his Companions said them when warned that armies had gathered against them — and they returned stronger rather than broken (Quran 3:173–174). Seven words that encapsulate the fullness of tawakkul. Whether you face illness, financial difficulty, relationship strain, or existential uncertainty, this phrase is a reset — a turning of the heart back to the only One who can truly carry what you cannot.

Making the Most of These Duas

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Heart before tongue
Say each dua with reflection, not just repetition. Think about the meaning of each phrase as you say it. Presence of heart transforms words into genuine supplication.
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Repeat three times
Many narrations record the Prophet ﷺ repeating supplications three times. Odd numbers are beloved in Islamic practice, though there is no prescribed maximum.
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Best moments
After obligatory prayers, during sujud (prostration), and in the last third of the night are among the times when duas are most likely to be accepted.
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Wudu and focus
While ritual purity is not a formal condition for dua, being in a state of wudu increases focus and sincerity, bringing you closer to Allah as you call on Him.

These supplications become most powerful as part of a consistent daily practice. Browse the best daily duas from the Sunnah to build a fuller routine of remembrance. May Allah relieve every heart that sincerely turns to Him.

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