اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ الْهَمِّ وَالْحَزَنِ، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ الْعَجْزِ وَالْكَسَلِ، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ الْجُبْنِ وَالْبُخْلِ، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ غَلَبَةِ الدَّيْنِ وَقَهْرِ الرِّجَالِ.
O Allah, I seek refuge in You from distress and sorrow, and I seek refuge in You from helplessness and laziness, and I seek refuge in You from cowardice and stinginess, and I seek refuge in You from the overwhelming of debt and the subjugation of men.
Allahumma inni a'udhu bika min al-hammi wal-hazan, wa a'udhu bika min al-'ajzi wal-kasal, wa a'udhu bika min al-jubni wal-buhl, wa a'udhu bika min ghalabatid-dayni wa qahrir-rijal.
When to Read
This powerful dua is an essential tool for every Muslim facing any form of difficulty. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught this to his companion Abu Bakrah (may Allah be pleased with him) when he was troubled by something. Recite it when you feel overwhelmed by worries, when faced with inertia that prevents you from acting, when fear paralyzes you, or when faced with financial burdens or oppressive people. It's meant to be a refuge whenever hardship strikes, big or small.
How to Read
Make this dua with sincerity and full presence of heart. Raise your hands as you would when making any supplication, facing the Qiblah if possible. Utter the words with conviction, believing that Allah (SWT) is the only one who can truly relieve your distress. Repeat it consistently, especially during times of ease, so that your tongue is accustomed to seeking Allah’s refuge when difficulties arise.
Virtues & Benefits
This supplication encompasses seeking refuge from eight specific, yet broad, categories of hardship: * **Distress (Ham) and Sorrow (Hazan):** These cover mental and emotional burdens, anxiety about the future, and sadness over past events. * **Helplessness ('Ajz) and Laziness (Kasal):** These relate to the inability to act or the lack of motivation to do what is necessary, often leading to missed opportunities and increased troubles. * **Cowardice (Jubn) and Stinginess (Buhl):** These are internal struggles that can prevent one from standing up for truth, fulfilling responsibilities, or being generous with what Allah has provided. * **Overwhelming Debt (Ghalabat ad-Dayn):** Financial burdens can be a source of immense stress and worry. * **Subjugation of Men (Qahr ar-Rijal):** This refers to being overpowered, oppressed, or controlled by others, whether it's through injustice, tyranny, or manipulation. By seeking refuge in Allah from these eight things, the dua provides a comprehensive shield against many common sources of human suffering. The Prophet ﷺ himself turned to Allah in this manner, showing us the most effective way to face life's challenges.
Source & Authentication
The narration is as follows: Narrated Abu Bakrah (may Allah be pleased with him): The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "The supplication of the distressed is: 'O Allah, I seek refuge in You from distress and sorrow, helplessness and laziness, cowardice and stinginess, and the overwhelming burden of debt and the domination of men.' And he (ﷺ) used to say this supplication." — Sahih al-Bukhari 6369