10 Important Duas For Removing Anxiety

In this article, we’re going to share a comprehensive set of duas for removing anxiety. Before we get to the duas, it’s important to conceptualise and rationalise the anxiety we all feel at some point in our life.

Why do we Feel Anxious?

We’ve all had that feeling of anxiousness before. Whether it’s before a big test, during a challenging situation, or even just during our daily lives, anxiety is something that everyone experiences from time to time. But why do we feel anxiety? Here are the most common reasons:

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1. We’re worried about the future: What if I fail? What if I make a mistake? What if something bad happens? These are all common concerns that can lead to feelings of anxiety.
2. We’re worried about the present: Am I doing this right? What if I’m not good enough? These worries can cause us to feel anxious in the moment.
3. We’re worried about other people’s opinions: What will they think of me? Will they judge me? These fears of judgement can lead to anxiety.
4. We’re afraid of change: What if this new job is too hard for me? What if I don’t like the new apartment? Change can be scary, and sometimes that leads to anxiety.
5. We’re afraid of being alone: What if I’m left out? What if no one likes me? These fears of loneliness can trigger anxiety.
6. Performance pressure: We’re worried about doing well at school, college, university or work
7. Financial and money-related anxiety
8. Relationship stress: Perhaps, we’re having a difficult time with our spouse, a parent or a long-term friend
9. Faith-based anxiety: We feel God doesn’t like us, we’re not good enough Muslims, or anxiety resulting from sins.

Whatever the source of your anxiety, Islam has a number of duas which can help alleviate the anxiety. There are two more important things we want to mention before the duas. These are important to ensure the anxiety duas have the best effect on us.

Anxiety is a Part of Life

Anxiety is a normal part of life and plays a crucial role in our functioning. It’s the body’s way of preparing us to deal with a threat by increasing our heart rate and blood flow and releasing stress hormones like adrenaline. This “fight or flight” response helps us to either confront the threat or get away from it. In other words, anxiety can help us to survive. Without anxiety, our motivation to get things done would not be there. It’s anxiety that motivates us to get to work or school on time or to take life events seriously, like funerals and weddings. A set amount of anxiety proves beneficial.

Additionally, Allah (SWT) promises to test us in this life, to prove our faith and iman:

Do people think they will be left alone after saying ‘We believe’ without being put to the test?”

(29:29)

So, one of the ways to deal with anxiety is to remind ourselves that the anxiety resulting from a test is deliberate and from God. God will not give us something which harms us. Tests come with the opportunity to increase our rank in God’s eyes. In fact, the Holy Prophet in Bukhari and Muslim says anxiety is a means of forgiveness:

Never a believer is stricken with a discomfort, an illness, an anxiety, a grief or mental worry or even the pricking of a thorn but Allah will expiate his sins on account of his patience”.

When Anxiety Becomes A Problem

Anxiety becomes problematic when it debilitates us. And this is a very real problem touching Muslims of all ages and genders.  According to a survey conducted by the Muslim Youth Helpline, a UK-based charity, over 60% of Muslims suffer from anxiety.

When anxiety gets in the way of normal functioning, one should seek professional help. The duas for anxiety listed below will work the best when we acknowledge these two important facets:

1. Understanding anxiety can result from a test from Allah to help us contextualise the anxiety to avoid spiralling
2. If anxiety does become severe, we should seek professional help from mental health professionals and recite the anxiety duas.

With this in mind, here are the best 10 duas for anxiety.

Dua to Remember the Power of God

A crucial aspect in dealing with worries and troubles is to remind ourselves of the power of God. Once we truly understand with our hearts God’s dominion over our affairs, we will start to feel better. This doesn’t happen overnight but with regular self-reminders. Here is a dua for anxiety taken from Mishkat al-Masabih, from the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH):

‘There is no might and no power except in God‘ is a remedy for ninety-nine diseases, the lightest of which is anxiety.”

As difficult as it is to live with anxiety, this short but powerful dua remedies conditions even greater than anxiety. We can easily incorporate the dua in our daily lives, before and after prayer, when waking up or sleeping – whenever you want.

Seeking Forgiveness for our SIns

For a genuine and sincere believer, sinning causes a great deal of anxiety. It goes without saying we should avoid repeating the sin for anxiety relief. In addition, the Prophet has said reciting any repentance dua will also remove the anxiety. Narrated in Sunan Abi Dawud:

If anyone constantly seeks pardon (from Allah), Allah will appoint for him a way out of every distress and a relief from every anxiety, and will provide sustenance for him from where he expects not.”

There isn’t a specific way to repent or language to repent in. Recite a dua in any language you want. As long as the dua is from the heart, God will iA remove the anxiety.

A Dua for Financial Anxiety

A low or lack of income coupled with debt is a major cause of anxiety. We may lose our job and fall behind on paying the bills. Self-employed people will know income can vary month to month. Here is a dua the Prophet would recite for financial anxiety (Sunan Abi Dawud):

O Allah, I seek refuge in You from grief and anxiety, from the hardships of debt, and from being overpowered by men.”

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A Dua for Any Type of Anxiety

Anas bin Malik reports in Tirmidhi that the Prophet would recite the following dua when feeling any type of anxiety:

O Living One, O Eternal One, in Thy mercy I seek help.”

Like the first dua to remember the power of God, the Prophet would seek relief via God’s perfect attributes and unlimited mercy. He knew any anxiety he felt was not greater than God’s power or mercy.

Invoke God’s Mercy to Relieve Anxiety

Imam Musa bin Jafar al Kazim (d. 183AH) would recommend simply reciting Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim to remove any type of anxiety. Imam Kazim says these words are so powerful that God did not even destroy Pharoah’s house because he had this inscribed on his front door. If God can delay the punishment of a man like Pharoah (who would call himself God), imagine how powerful this dua can be for our anxiety!

Three Short Duas for Anxiety

Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (d. 114AH) and his family would recite the dua for any type of anxiety:

Yaa kaa-inan qabla kulli shay- in waa yaa mukawwina kulli shay- in wa yaa baqiya ba’da kulli shay- in s’alli ala Muhammadin wa ahli baytihee waf-al-bee

O the (ever) existing who is a priori to all existence; O the creator (who says ‘be’ and it becomes) of all things, O the everlasting eternal even when everything (created) shall perish: Send blessings on Muhammad and his children and do for me…” (you would then mention the type of anxiety you want relief from.

You may also recite this short anxiety dua after tahajjud prayers:

SubhanAllahi Azeemi Wa Bihamdihee Astagfirullaha wa as asluhoo min fazlihee

Glory be to Allah and praise be to Him. I seek protection of Allah and I beseech Him to give me His bounties generously.”

One more short dua for anxiety From Imam Muhammad as-Sadiq (d. 148AH)

A’-dadtu likulli a’z’eematin laa ilaaha illallaahu wa likulli hammin wa ghammin laa h’awla wa laa quwwata illaa billaah muh’ammadun noorul awwalu wa a’liyaun nooruth thaanee wal a-immatul abraaru u’ddatun liliqaaa-illaahi wa h’ijaabun min a-daaa-illaahi d’alla kulli shay-in li-a’z’amatillaahi wa as-alullaaha a’zza wa jallal kifaayah.

I enumerate the merits of all that which are glorious and magnificent (to know that) there is no god save Allah; and for (removal of) pains and sorrows there is no power nor strength (in any) save in Allah. Muhammad is the first light, Ali the second light; and all the pious Imams (of the Ahlul Bayt) are a means to reach the presence of Allah and a protection from the enemies of Allah. All things are dwarfed in presence of the greatness of Allah. I seek sufficient (support) from Allah, the mighty, the glorious.”

Anxiety Dua From Imam Ali Ibn Abi Talib

Imam Ali was partially raised by the Prophet and would first-hand witness revelation and observe the manners of speaking to God. This is one of the reasons he was eloquent in reciting duas. He would recite this dua when feeling worried/anxious:

Allaahumma innaka annisul aaneeseena li-awliyaa-ika wa ah’z”Uruhum bil kifaayati lil mutawakkileena a’layka tashhaduhum fee sarra-irihim wea tat’t’ali-u fee z”Amaa–irihim wa ta’lamu mablagha bas’aa-irihim fa-asraaruhum laka makshoofatun wa quloobuhum ilayka malhoofatun in awh’ashat-humul ghurbatu aanasahum d’ikruka wa in s’ubbat a’layhimul mas’aa-ibu lajaaa-u ilal istijaarati bika I’lman bi-anna a’z’eematal umoori biyadika wa mas’aadirahaa a’n qaz” aaa-ika allaahumma in fahah-tu mas-alatee aw a’mihtu a’n t’alibatee fadullanee a’laa mas’aalih’ee wa khud’ biqalbee ilaa maraashidee fa laysa d’aalika binukrin min hidaayatika wa laa bibad-I’n min kifaayatika allaahummah-malnee a’laa a’fwika wa laa tah’milnee a’laa a’dlika

O Allah, verily You, unto those who love You, are more loving than any who loves; You are ever at hand to fulfill atonce the desires of those who rely on You; You take notice of their wishes, You perceive their innermost thoughts, You know the depth of their intelligence. You are fully aware of their confidential concerns. There hearts long for (relief from) You. Whenever miserable and forsaken Your remembrance comfort them in distress. Whenever misfortunes assult them, they turn to You, knowing well that the reins of all affairs are in Your hand and every affair rise from and flow out as soon as Your decision is made. O my Allah, if I falter in speaking my request and wander astray in describing my needs and wants, show me the way that leads to that which promotes my interests and turn my heart to its course, because it is neither against (the principles of) Your guidance nor Your act of giving succour can be described as unlikely. O my Allah, support me with Your pardon, do not burden me with Your justice.”

A Final Anxiety Dua from Sahifa Sajjadia

Sahifa Sajadiya is a collection of prayers and supplications composed by the Imam al-Sajjad (d. 95AH). It is regarded as one of the most important works of Islamic spirituality and is widely read by Muslims. The Sahifa includes supplications for all occasions, from morning and evening prayers to those for times of difficulty and need. This anxiety dua is longer than the others mentioned here and can be found online.

Duas are a powerful way to connect with Allah and seek His guidance during times of anxiety. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, try reciting one of these duas for anxiety to find some peace and relief.