Islam

Dua for Anxiety and Depression

Can dua treat anxiety or depression? Sure, it can. In this write-up, we shall tell you some best prayers (dua) that will help you cure your anxiety and depression.

These duas are taught in Qur’an and Hadith which are helpful for anxiety and depression.

Anxiety, panic attacks, and depression are mental ailments. Like all sorts of diseases, these are also medical in nature, and primarily one should seek help from certified doctors.

However, in some societies, the disease is considered taboo, and people seek alternate treatments rather than getting help from psychologists or psychiatrists.

Luckily, we do have alternative treatments in the form of dua and Quranic Surahs. As Allah SWT has mentioned in the Qur’an in Surah Al-Isra Ayat 82;

وَنُنَزِّلُ مِنَ ٱلْقُرْءَانِ مَا هُوَ شِفَآءٌۭ وَرَحْمَةٌۭ لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ۙ

And We send down of the Qur’an that which is healing and mercy for the believers

There is no denying the fact that Qur’an is a cure (shifaa) for all. Its recitation can cure all sorts of diseases. However, there are also some specific Surahs as well as Duas that are specifically helpful in anxiety and depression.


10 Most Effective Duas (Prayers) that will Cure your Anxiety and Depression

Anxiety and depression are basically the absence of peace of heart and mind. In Surah Ar-Ra’d, Allah SWT reminds us that the peace and comfort of the heart lie only in the remembrance of Allah.

الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَتَطْمَئِنُّ قُلُوبُهُم بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ ۗ أَلَا بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ الْقُلُوبُ

Those who believe and whose hearts find comfort in the remembrance of Allah. Surely in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find comfort.

Certainly, all dua (supplications) are in fact the remembrance of Allah that ultimately provide us comfort from stress, anxiety, and depression.

However, the following are the specific dua and Ayats from Qur’an that are helpful for anxiety and depression.

1. Prophet PBUH taught Prayers for Stress

Asma’ Binti ‘Umais r.a narrated that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said to me;

“Shall I not teach you some words to say when in distress?” 

اللهُ اللهُ ربِّي لَا أُشرِكُ به شيئًا

“Allah, Allah, my Lord, I do not associate anything with Him”

(Sunan Abi Daud)

2. Ayat-e-Kareema Cures Anxiety & Depression

Hazrat Yunus A.S. faced the worst sort of anxiety when he was stranded in the belly of a big fish. Indeed, our condition is much better than his, although we are stressed and facing anxiety because of our individual conditions.

Ayat-e-Kareema is the dua that Prophet Younus A.S kept on reciting in the belly and Allah provided him the exit from the apparently impossible.

لاَّ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ أَنتَ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّى كُنتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ

“There is no god but You, exalted are You! Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers.”

(Surah Al Anbiya, 21:87)

You can also seek help from Allah and get relief from anxiety and depression by reciting Ayat-e-Kareema frequently.

Like Ayat-e-Kareema, many other beautiful Quranic Verses are also helpful in treating distress, panic attacks, anxiety, and depression.

3. Various other prayers for Anxiety and Depression from Qur’an

Recite the following Quranic Verses to get instant relief from depression and anxiety.

رَبَّنَا عَلَيْكَ تَوَكَّلْنَا وَإِلَيْكَ أَنَبْنَا وَإِلَيْكَ الْمَصِيرُ

“Our Lord! In You, we have placed our trust, and to You, we turn in repentance, and to You is the final return.”

(Surah Al-Mumtahanah, 60:4)

This prayer will make your tasks easier for you and open up ways from the dead ends.

رَبِّ اشْرَحْ لِي صَدْرِي وَيَسِّرْ لِي أَمْرِي وَاحْلُلْ عُقْدَةً مِّن لِّسَانِي يَفْقَهُوا قَوْلِي

“Lord, lift up my heart and ease my task for me. Remove the impediment from my tongue so that they may understand my speech.”

(Surah Taha, 20:25-28)

This is the most beautiful verse that instantly provides relief from all sorts of problems and stress.

أَمَّن يُجِيبُ ٱلْمُضْطَرَّ إِذَا دَعَاهُ وَيَكْشِفُ ٱلسُّوٓءَ

Who listens to the (soul) distressed when it calls on Him, and Who relieves its suffering

Surah An-Naml – Ayat 62

رَبَّنَآ ءَاتِنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةًۭ وَهَيِّئْ لَنَا مِنْ أَمْرِنَا رَشَدًۭا

Our Lord! Grant us mercy from Yourself and guide us rightly through our ordeal.

(Surah Kahf – Ayat 10)

4. Dua to Cure Anxiety as mentioned in Ahadith

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “Nothing can change the divine decree except prayer.”

According to a Hadith, whoever would recite this 7 times in the morning or evening, Allah (SWT) will grant him/her sufficiency from which whatever matters that brings him or her grief:

حَسْبِيَ اللَّهُ لآ إلَهَ إلَّا هُوَ، عَلَيْهَ توَكَّلتُ، وَهُوَ رَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيمِ

“Allah is sufficient for me. There is none worthy of worship but Him. I have placed my trust in Him, and He is the lord of the Majestic Throne.”

(Sunan Abi Daud)

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ جَهْدِ الْبَلَاءِ، وَدَرَكِ الشَّقَاءِ، وَسُوءِ الْقَضَاءِ، وَشَمَاتَةِ الْأَعْدَاءِ

“O Allah, I seek refuge in You from severe calamity, from misery to fall upon me, from misfortune in the decree, and from the joys of the enemies.”

(Sahih Al-Bukhari)

According to a Hadith in Tirmidhi Shareef, during the time of distress, the Prophet (SAWW) used to say:

Ya Ḥayyu Ya Qayyūm, bi-Rahmatika astagheeth

O Ever-Living, O Sustainer, in Your Mercy I seek relief.

3 Quranic Surahs to treat Anxiety and Depression

As we have mentioned earlier, the whole Qur’an is a relief from anxiety and depression.

However, if someone would ask for some specific Surahs where Allah SWT is directly consoling all those suffering from distress, anxiety, or depression, there are two short and most relieving Surahs that we shall mention below.

1. Surah Duha

Surah Duha is the most recommended one for relief from anxiety and depression by most Islamic Scholars like Dr. Israr Ahmed.

Your Lord has neither forsaken you, nor does He hate you.”

Surah Duha

One must read this Surah with translation and he/she would find Allah Almighty consoling him/her.

2. Surah Alam Nashrah

Surah Nashrah is also equally relieving Surah at the time of stress, anxiety, and depression.

“So, surely with hardship comes ease.”

Surah Alam Nashrah

These Surahs are short and can easily be learned by heart. One should recite them whenever one is free and he/she would find himself/herself in comfort and relief all the time.

3. Other Surahs

Surahs like Surah Ar-Rahman and Surah Yaseen are also instant relief-providing in times of pain, suffering, and distress.

In short, the whole Qur’an is a relief.


Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What Dua is good for anxiety?

All the dua mentioned in this write-up (like Ayat-e-Kareema, etc) are good for anxiety. Each supplication invokes Allah’s mercy for us.

Which Surah is good for depression?

Overall, the whole Qur’an is a cure for depression. However, two Surahs – Surah Duha & Surah Alam Nashrah – are specifically relief providers at the time of depression.

About the author

Aakif

A versatile human being with a passion for reading and writing - always striving for growth, living in the moment but trying to keep pace with the evolving world.

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