When the heart feels heavy and thoughts won't settle, these 15 duas — each drawn from the Quran or authenticated hadith, with sources — offer real words to turn to Allah with.
Allahumma inni a'udhu bika minal-hammi wal-hazani, 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 grief, weakness and laziness, miserliness and cowardice, the burden of debts and being overpowered by others."
Not a dua to recite in a moment, but the principle behind all of them — remembrance itself is where the heart settles.
Why These Words Help
Reciting dua isn't just ritual — it's naming what you're carrying and handing it to Allah, one sentence at a time. If you've ever recited words like these and wondered why nothing changed, that's worth its own read — see our guide on why isn't my dua being answered. Several of these were taught by the Prophet ﷺ specifically for moments of worry and overwhelm, others come directly from prophets in the Quran who faced far heavier trials than most of us ever will — Yunus (AS) in complete darkness, Ayyub (AS) in prolonged illness, Musa (AS) before a confrontation he feared. Their words were preserved for exactly the moments we face today.
A note from the developer
I built SabrTime because whenever I'd lie down at night, my heart would feel restless — and finding a simple dua app was surprisingly hard. Everything was either paid or full of ads. So I built one myself. These duas aren't just research to me — I recite the SubhanAllah dua myself, almost daily, whenever work pressure gets heavy. If even one of these helps you the way it's helped me, that's the whole point of building this.
How to Recite Them
There's no requirement to memorize all 15 at once. Pick one or two that speak to your situation, read the Arabic slowly even if it feels unfamiliar at first, and let the meaning settle as you repeat it. Many people find it natural to recite these after each prayer, before sleep, or in the quiet of the night — whenever the heart feels unsettled, the door of dua is open. Pairing dua with dhikr is a natural next step — our complete guide to tasbeeh covers how to build that into a daily habit, and if you want the meaning behind the everyday phrases you already say, see our guide to common duas.
These duas are a source of spiritual comfort, not a replacement for professional support. If anxiety feels persistent or overwhelming, speaking with a doctor or therapist alongside your dua is encouraged, not discouraged, in Islam.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is anxiety a sin in Islam?
No. Anxiety is a natural human response, not a sin. Several prophets in the Quran experienced deep distress — what matters is turning to Allah with it, not the feeling itself.
Which dua helps most with overthinking?
Many turn first to "Allahumma inni a'udhu bika minal-hammi wal-hazan" (dua #2 above), since it directly names anxiety and grief and was recited regularly by the Prophet ﷺ.
Can I recite these duas after salah?
Yes — right after the five daily prayers is one of the most common and recommended times for personal dua.
Which Surah is often mentioned in connection with anxiety?
Surah Ar-Ra'd, verse 28, is frequently cited, along with Surah Ash-Sharh which speaks to hardship being followed by ease.
Fifteen different words for fifteen different kinds of heaviness — pick the one that fits tonight, and let it be enough for tonight.
Sources: Surah Aal-e-Imran 3:173 · Sahih al-Bukhari 6369, 6384 · Surah Al-Anbiya 21:83, 21:87 · Abu Dawud 5090, 1518 · Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3524, 3505 · Ibn Hibban · Surah Ta-Ha 20:25–28 · Surah At-Tawbah 9:129 · Surah Al-Baqarah 2:201 · Sahih Muslim 918, 2704 · Al-Adab al-Mufrad · Ibn Majah 3819 · Surah Ar-Ra'd 13:28.
Keep these duas one tap away
SabrTime's dua library includes all 15, with Arabic, transliteration, and sources — free, no ads, no login.
