Whether you are worried about exams, struggling to find work, missing family back home or about to board a long flight, turning to Allah is the first and most powerful step. This guide brings together authentic duas for anxiety, stress, travel and rizq (provision), each with Arabic, transliteration, English meaning and a checked hadith or Quran reference.
Duas for Anxiety, Worry and Stress
1. The dua against worry and grief
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْهَمِّ وَالْحَزَنِ، وَالْعَجْزِ وَالْكَسَلِ، وَالْبُخْلِ وَالْجُبْنِ، وَضَلَعِ الدَّيْنِ، وَغَلَبَةِ الرِّجَالِ
Allahumma inni a’udhu bika minal-hammi wal-hazan, wal-‘ajzi wal-kasal, wal-bukhli wal-jubn, wa dala’id-dayn, wa ghalabatir-rijal.
Meaning: O Allah, I seek refuge in You from worry and grief, from helplessness and laziness, from miserliness and cowardice, from the burden of debt and from being overpowered by people.
Reference: the Prophet ﷺ used to say this dua often (Sahih al-Bukhari 6369).
2. The dua of the distressed
اللَّهُمَّ رَحْمَتَكَ أَرْجُو فَلَا تَكِلْنِي إِلَى نَفْسِي طَرْفَةَ عَيْنٍ، وَأَصْلِحْ لِي شَأْنِي كُلَّهُ، لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ
Allahumma rahmataka arju, fala takilni ila nafsi tarfata ‘ayn, wa aslih li sha’ni kullahu, la ilaha illa anta.
Meaning: O Allah, it is Your mercy that I hope for, so do not leave me to myself even for the blink of an eye, and set right all of my affairs. There is no god but You.
Reference: taught by the Prophet ﷺ as the supplication of one in distress (Sunan Abi Dawud 5090, graded hasan).
3. The dua of Prophet Yunus (Dhun-Nun)
لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي كُنْتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ
La ilaha illa anta, subhanaka, inni kuntu minaz-zalimin.
Meaning: There is no god but You, glory be to You; indeed I have been among the wrongdoers.
Reference: Quran 21:87. The Prophet ﷺ said that no Muslim calls upon Allah with it for anything except that Allah answers him (Jami at-Tirmidhi 3505, graded sahih).
A reminder from the Quran
“Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest” (Quran 13:28). Short, regular dhikr such as SubhanAllah, Alhamdulillah and Astaghfirullah throughout the day can steady a restless mind.
Dua and professional help go together. If anxiety, low mood or panic is affecting your sleep, studies or work, please speak to a doctor or counsellor. Seeking treatment is fully compatible with trust in Allah.
Duas for Travel
When you sit in the car, train or plane
سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي سَخَّرَ لَنَا هَذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لَهُ مُقْرِنِينَ، وَإِنَّا إِلَى رَبِّنَا لَمُنْقَلِبُونَ
Subhanal-ladhi sakhkhara lana hadha wa ma kunna lahu muqrinin, wa inna ila Rabbina lamunqalibun.
Meaning: Glory be to the One who has placed this at our service, and we could not have done it ourselves. And surely to our Lord we will return. (Quran 43:13–14)
The full travel dua
When the Prophet ﷺ set out on a journey, he said Allahu Akbar three times, recited the verse above and then said:
اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَسْأَلُكَ فِي سَفَرِنَا هَذَا الْبِرَّ وَالتَّقْوَى، وَمِنَ الْعَمَلِ مَا تَرْضَى، اللَّهُمَّ هَوِّنْ عَلَيْنَا سَفَرَنَا هَذَا وَاطْوِ عَنَّا بُعْدَهُ، اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ الصَّاحِبُ فِي السَّفَرِ وَالْخَلِيفَةُ فِي الْأَهْلِ
Allahumma inna nas’aluka fi safarina hadhal-birra wat-taqwa, wa minal-‘amali ma tarda. Allahumma hawwin ‘alayna safarana hadha watwi ‘anna bu’dah. Allahumma antas-sahibu fis-safar, wal-khalifatu fil-ahl.
Meaning: O Allah, we ask You on this journey for righteousness and piety, and for deeds that please You. O Allah, make this journey easy for us and shorten its distance. O Allah, You are the Companion on the journey and the Guardian of the family.
Reference: Sahih Muslim 1342 (the hadith continues with further words seeking refuge from the hardships of travel).
Duas for Rizq (Provision) and Halal Income
1. Asking Allah to make halal enough
اللَّهُمَّ اكْفِنِي بِحَلَالِكَ عَنْ حَرَامِكَ، وَأَغْنِنِي بِفَضْلِكَ عَمَّنْ سِوَاكَ
Allahummakfini bi halalika ‘an haramik, wa aghnini bi fadlika ‘amman siwak.
Meaning: O Allah, let what You have made lawful be enough for me so that I do not need what You have made unlawful, and by Your grace make me independent of all besides You.
Reference: taught by Ali (RA) from the Prophet ﷺ to a man struggling with debt (Jami at-Tirmidhi 3563, graded hasan).
2. The morning dua for knowledge, provision and accepted deeds
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ عِلْمًا نَافِعًا، وَرِزْقًا طَيِّبًا، وَعَمَلًا مُتَقَبَّلًا
Allahumma inni as’aluka ‘ilman nafi’an, wa rizqan tayyiban, wa ‘amalan mutaqabbalan.
Meaning: O Allah, I ask You for beneficial knowledge, good and pure provision, and deeds that are accepted.
Reference: the Prophet ﷺ said this after the Fajr prayer (Sunan Ibn Majah 925, graded sahih).
3. A dua from the Quran for good in both worlds
رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ
Rabbana atina fid-dunya hasanatan wa fil-akhirati hasanatan wa qina ‘adhaban-nar. Our Lord, give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and protect us from the punishment of the Fire. (Quran 2:201)
Allah also promises: “Whoever is mindful of Allah, He will make a way out for him and provide for him from where he does not expect” (Quran 65:2–3). Dua works best alongside effort: applying for jobs, learning skills and staying away from interest and doubtful income.
Tips to Make Your Dua More Meaningful
- Begin by praising Allah and sending blessings on the Prophet ﷺ.
- Make dua in your own language too; Allah understands every heart.
- Look for accepted times: the last third of the night, between the adhan and iqamah, while fasting and on Friday afternoons.
- Be patient. An answer may come as what you asked for, as something better, or as protection from a harm you could not see.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I read these duas without knowing Arabic?
Yes. Reading the transliteration is fine while you learn, and understanding the meaning is what matters most. You can also make the same request in English or Urdu.
What is the best dua for anxiety?
The dua against worry and grief from Sahih al-Bukhari 6369 and the dua of Yunus (Quran 21:87) are two of the best known and most authentic.
Is there a dua to get a job?
The rizq duas above, especially the one from Jami at-Tirmidhi 3563, are commonly used by people looking for halal work, along with the Quranic dua of Musa: Rabbi inni lima anzalta ilayya min khayrin faqir (Quran 28:24).