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Home » Blog

Published: May 4, 2020. Post Updated: May 31, 2025

Home » Blog

13 Duas and Surahs for Anxiety, Depression, Distress and Sadness

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Duas and Surahs for Anxiety, Depression, Distress and Sadness - Including my experience, Ideas for quick relief, Surah, Duas, 99 Names of Allah to help you with Anxiety, Depression, Sadness, Grief, Panic Attacks, Sorrow and Overthinking.

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Duas and Surahs for Anxiety, Depression, Distress and Sadness

After I wrote about Anxiety over 5 years ago, many of you wrote to me to tell me about your own experiences.

This post is an extension and an overview of Duas and things that helped me then and now.

I wrangled with  Anxiety for many many years and I know my triggers well but my experience of anxiety has changed over the years. 

Anxiety attacks have become a rarity in my life (Alhamdulillah) but Anxiety still looms away in the background waiting to turn up uninvited to special events with me.

Thanks to Allah and a whole lot of inner work, I have learnt how to manage it better and one of the many ways I do that is by reciting Duas.

There are a few more things that I do that have helped me considerably including learning about healing,  making my own oils, making my own bath salts and adjusting my diet according to the seasons.

How Dua helps me with Anxiety 

When I felt like I was on the brink of giving up and there was no way out, Dua (Supplication) is one of the things that really helped me. 

At times of heightened anxiety, worry, fear and overwhelm, I turn back to these Duas over and over again until my heart feels lighter and I feel like I can breathe again.

What ALLAH says about Anxiety and Overthinking

When Allah wants to be good to someone, He tries him with some hardship.

Verily We have created man into toil and struggle.

For every misfortune, illness, anxiety, grief, or hurt that afflicts a Muslim, even the hurt caused by the pricking of a thorn – Allah removes some of his sins.

What are the main symptoms of Anxiety

'Anxiety is a persistent feeling of worry, fear or nervousness. Many people feel anxious at times, especially when faced with stressful events and changes to our lives, it’s a natural human response when we perceive that we are in danger.

However if these continuous feelings of anxiety impact your ability to carry out life as normal, you could have an anxiety disorder.

Anxiety might be becoming a problem if:

Your feelings of anxiousness last for a long time.

The feelings of worry are out of proportion to the situation

You avoid situations which may cause you to feel anxious

You feel distressed and unable to control these feelings

You regularly experience symptoms of anxiety such as panic attacks

It’s becoming difficult to enjoy and live your life in the way you want to.'

Definition via Mental Health UK. 

How can I reduce Anxiety immediately?

As well as reciting Duas you can try:

Breathwork

Use the 4 7 8 Breathing technique.
 
Close your mouth, inhale through your nose and count 4. Hold your breath for 7 seconds.
 
Exhale through your mouth, making a whoosh sound for 8 seconds. Repeat the process three XS.

Movement

Shake it off. Movement releases tension.
You can shake your entire body, stomp, punch a pillow, jump, run, pace - whatever you like! 

Smile

As impossible as it may seem (fake it if you have to), try to smile for 30 seconds. If you can only manage a few seconds that will help too.
 
When you smile, the body releases tiny molecules called neuropeptides to help fight off stress.
 
Then other neurotransmitters like dopamine, serotonin and endorphins enter into the body and Anxiety will begin to ease.

Try the 5-4-3-2-1 grounding technique

Name five things you can see, four things you can touch, three things you can hear, two things you can smell, and one thing you can taste. 

Put an Ice Cube/Pack in Your Hand or splash Cold Water on your face

Splashing cold water on your face repeatedly or putting an ice pack on your forehead, hand or the back of your neck can reduce anxiety.

Best Duas & Surahs for Anxiety, Depression, Distress & Sadness

The Dua for Yaqeen (Certainty)

Affirming that fate is not in our hands and everything happens only by the permission of Allah will InshaAllah provide some relief.

Dua for Yaqeen

8 Islamic Duas for Anxiety & Depression in Arabic and English

A list of Duas for Anxiety that have helped me along the way.

I hope they are as helpful to you as they have been for me.

There are some long Duas and some short Duas here. You don't need to know all of them!

  1. The Dua of Prophet Yunus عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ when he was in the belly of the whale.  

Dua of Yunus Alayhisalam

Translation

There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers.

2. Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Abbas (radiyallahu ‘anhuma) reports that when Nabi (ﷺ) was distressed he would recite the Dua below.

(Sahih Bukhari, Hadith: 6346 and Sahih Muslim, Hadith: 2730)

Dua recited by the Prophet saw when in distress

Translation

There is none worthy of worship but Allah the Mighty, the Forbearing. There is none worthy of worship but Allah, Lord of the Magnificent Throne.

3. Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (Radiyallahu ‘anhu) reports: “Whenever the Prophet (ﷺ) was worried about something, he would lift his head to the sky and say ‘Subhanallahil ‘Azim’.

(Sunan Tirmidhi, Hadith: 3436)

SubhanAllahil Azeem Dua

What does SubhanAllahil Azim mean?

Glory be to Allah. All praise is due to him - The Magnificent One.

4. Sayyiduna Abu Bakar (Radiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Nabi (ﷺ) said:

The du’a of a distressed person is as below.

(Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith: 5049. Declared authentic by Hafiz Ibn Hibban-rahimahullah-; Al Ihsan, Hadith: 970).

Dua of a distressed person

Translation 

O Allah! I hope for Your mercy, so do not entrust me to myself for the twinkling of an eye and set all my affairs straight, there is no deity except You“

5. Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Mas’ood (Radhiallaahu Anhu) narrated that whenever Rasulullah (ﷺ) used to be afflicted in any worry or concern, he used to recite the supplication below.

(Mustadrak al-Haakim vol.1 pg.509; Shu’ubul Iemaan of Imaam Bayhaqi Hadith No.:10231)

Dua Prophet saw recited when afflicted with worry or distress

Translation

O Living, O Self-Sustaining Sustainer! In Your Mercy do I seek relief.

6. Due to replace affliction, worry, anxiety with joy and happiness.

 (Ahmad and Ibn Hibban)

Dua for anxiety, grief and worry

 

Translation 

O Allah, I am Your slave and the son of Your male slave and the son of your female slave.

My forehead is in Your Hand ( you have control over me). I am subject to Your decree, and Your decision upon me is justice itself.

I ask You by every name that is Yours by which You have named Yourself, or which You revealed in Your Book,or which You have taught any one of Your creation, or which You have kept to Yourself in the knowledge of the unseen that is with You, to make the Qur’an the spring of my heart, and the light of my chest, the removal of my sorrow and the departure of my worries.”

A man once came to the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) and said:

“ O Messenger of Allah, whoever is deprived of these words has been wronged.” The Prophet( Allah bless him and give him peace) replied by saying “ Yes.

So say these words and teach them to others, for Allah will remove the grief of anyone who says it and seeks what is in it, and He will prolong their happiness.”

7.  Dua that relieves hardships and afflictions.

Dua to relieve hardship and affliction

Translation

O Allaah, I seek refuge in You from the anguish of tribulation, the lowest depths of misery, the bad of what is decreed and the malice of enemies.

8. The Dua of Prophet Ayub عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ.

He was ill for many years with a terrible disease. He was known for his patience in enduring one calamity after another and remaining steadfast in his belief in Allah SWT.

After a long time of suffering, he turned to his Lord asking for His Mercy with this dua.

Dua of Ayub Alayhisalam

Translation

Indeed, distress has touched me, and You are the most Merciful of the merciful ones.

99 Names for relief from Anxiety

I also used to recite some of the names of Allah to provide some relief.

These are the 4 I most commonly say:

As-Salam : The giver of peace

Al-Fattah : The remover of all difficulties

Al-Mujeeb : The one who answers

Al-Wali : The protector, Helper, Friend, patron

Which Surah is good for Anxiety?

Surah Ad-Duha was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) at a time when he had not received any revelation for six months, not even in the form of a dream.

The Prophet (ﷺ) was in a very disturbed state of mind, feeling negative and depressed and believing that Allah was displeased with him and had forgotten him.

Surah Ad-Duha was revealed to the Prophet (ﷺ) to provide relief and hope. It was a way to reassure the Prophet (ﷺ) that Allah had not abandoned him.

Through this Surah, we too can find relief from anxiety and sorrow.

Sura Duha

 

Translation

By the morning sunlight,

And [by] the night when it covers with darkness,

Your Lord [O Prophet] has not abandoned you, nor has He become hateful [of you].

And the next life is certainly far better for you than this one.

And your Lord will give you, and you will be satisfied.

Did He not find you as an orphan then sheltered you?

And He found you lost and guided [you],

And He found you poor and made [you] self-sufficient.

So as for the orphan, do not oppress [him].

And as for the beggar, do not repel [him].

And proclaim the blessings of your Lord.

3 more Surahs that have a calming effect

Surah Al-Inshirah 

Surah Rahman 

Surah Kahf 

I really hope these Duas, Surah and Asma - ul - Husna are beneficial for you. I pray that you find relief from anxiety.

May Allah grant you the very best of states and tranquillity of mind and heart. Aameen.

Talbina for Grief, Anxiety and Sadness

Eating or drinking Talbina is soothing for the soul and therefore can be beneficial for Anxiety/Depression.

Here is my Talbina recipe for it and I use the Talbina Powder from Roohts.

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  1. nafesa says

    May 04, 2020 at 9:47 pm

    slmz ramadan mubark
    do u have a pdf in the above duas.
    jazakAllah
    slmz n Duas

    Reply
    • Safira says

      May 05, 2020 at 12:32 pm

      Ws
      Ramadan Mubarak to you and your loved ones too,
      Thats a really good idea. JazakAllah for the suggestion. Hoping to put something together asap. xx

      Reply
      • nafesa says

        May 06, 2020 at 9:50 pm

        ameen

        Reply
  2. Nouhaïla says

    October 14, 2020 at 7:36 am

    Thank you so much!

    Reply
    • Safira says

      October 14, 2020 at 10:02 am

      You are so welcome xx

      Reply
  3. juliette Kvant says

    November 03, 2020 at 11:04 pm

    Salam can you do the english translate on the meaning of duas, what they say so i can understand what im saying. 🙂

    thanks <3

    Reply
    • Safira says

      November 04, 2020 at 7:02 am

      Wasalam,

      Yes InshaAllah I will do. Working on it at the moment. x

      Reply
  4. H~ says

    November 05, 2020 at 9:31 am

    Salam, thank you for this post. I get really irrational and negative intrusive thoughts-been battling it for ages now. I will practice these duas

    Reply
    • Safira says

      November 05, 2020 at 9:44 am

      Waalaykumusalam,
      I pray that they are useful to you and pray for your complete shifaa.
      I have some more posts around healing coming soon and I hope they will be of some benefit to you. x

      Reply
  5. Habeeba says

    November 21, 2020 at 12:39 pm

    Jazakallah khairan for this post am suffering from anxiety honestly but pls did you take any medication for it because of the symptoms present.

    Reply
    • Safira says

      November 22, 2020 at 10:55 am

      BarakAllah Fee Habeeba. May Allah grant you full shifaa and speedy recovery. I didn't take any medication for it. There are some more tips here: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/anxiety-and-panic-attacks/self-care-for-anxiety/ but I will also be doing a post about everything I did to help myself. I pray it helps you inshAllah. x

      Reply
  6. Ak says

    January 01, 2022 at 2:39 am

    You need to do ruqyah, recite Surah Baqarah and between every ayat, make a specific dua for shifa on any type of affliction you are going through.

    Repeat this dua between every ayat, continue doing so until you have finished your session or too tired to continue on. Repeat daily or regularly until Allah gives you shifa.

    If Surah Baqarah is difficult try the Kuls including surah Fatiha and make dua between each surah.

    Reply
  7. Faheem says says

    September 09, 2022 at 2:43 pm

    Having anxiety destroys us from the inside out. May Allah assist you and everyone else who is experiencing anxiety Ameen

    Reply
  8. Sherbanu shivji says

    March 02, 2024 at 8:29 pm

    Salam.
    I'm going through alot distress and financial problems. Need help what to read to help through difficult situation.

    Reply
    • Safira says

      March 03, 2024 at 6:12 am

      Wasalam Sherbanu,
      All of these Duas will be useful InshaAllah as well as Isitgfar and any Dua for Rizq such as the ones listed here https://www.amaliah.com/post/64873/duas-for-rizq-in-quran-and-sunnah-surah-waqiah. May Allah grant you ease. Aameen. x

      Reply
  9. Aya says

    September 08, 2024 at 8:03 am

    Salam, I have been reading over your article and it provides me so much anxiety relief. I have started using it to calm my anxiety as a way to distract me through reading as well as a way to remember Allah and get grounded. You do not understand the impact that this has had on my life, jazak Allah Kheran; I would love to read more about your experience and coping mechanisms. I think this topic is culturally so taboo that sometimes it’s very hard to not feel like something is broken inside of you. It’s so refreshing to hear that I’m not alone and it can get better, and that I don’t need to rely on medication and can instead recite the above and it has a faster and more effective calming effect.

    Reply
    • Safira says

      September 09, 2024 at 8:06 am

      Wasalam Aya,

      Thank you so much for leaving such a heart felt comment.
      I am so happy that this article has given you some relief Alhamdulillah.
      Re coping mechanisms. I haven't gone down the traditional medicine route but wouldn't advise against it if needed. Other then praying/dhikr, I try to keep in tune with myself by journaling and noticing when I feel a bit off. I also walk alot which helps so much. I use essential oils for relaxation when I feel anxious and try to up the Self Care when I need to. I have now started taking Magnesium Glycinate which helps with sleep as well as Anxiety. I hope that helps. I pray that Allah relieves you from Anxiety and any difficulties. x

      Reply

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