Duas to read in pain and worry (as taught by the Prophet SAW)
Dua 1: When you are in physical pain
Put your hand on the place where you feel pain and say:
بِسمِ اللهِ
Bismillah
[In the Name of Allah (three times)]
أَعُوذُ بِاللهِ وَقُدْرَتِهِ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا أَجِدُ وَأُحَاذِرُ
A’uzubillahi Wa Qudratihi Min Sharri Ma Ajidu Wa Uhadziru
Meaning: I seek refuge in Allah and in His Power from the evil of what I experience and that of what I guard against.
(Muslim)
Dua 2: When you are unable to go to sleep or get up in the middle of the night
Say:
أعوذُ بِكلماتِ اللَّهِ التَّامَّة من غضبِه وعقابِه وشرِّ عبادِه ومن همزاتِ الشَّياطينِ وأن يحضرون فإنَّها لن تضرَّهُ
A’uzu Bikalimatillahi Taammati Min Ghodhobihi Wa Iqobihi Wa Sharri ‘Ibaadihi Wa Min Hamazatish Shayaatin Wa An Yahdhoruna Fa Innahaa Lan Tadhurrahu
Meaning: I seek refuge in the perfect words of God from His wrath and punishment, from the evil of His servants, and from the promptings of the devils, and from their presence, for they will not harm him.
(Abu Daud)
Dua 3: Duas in times of worry & grief
Say:
اللهُمَّ إِنِّي عَبْدُكَ ، وَ ابْنُ عَبْدِكَ ، وَابْنُ أََمَتِكَ ، نَاصِيَتِي بِيَدِكَ ، مَاضٍ فيَّ حُكمُكَ ، عَدلٌ فِيَّ قَضَاؤُكَ ، أَسأَلُكَ بِكُلِّ اسمٍ هُوَ لَكَ سَمَّيتَ بِهِ نَفْسَكَ ، أَوْ عَلَّمْتَهُ أَحَدًا مِن خَلقِكَ ، أَو أَنزَلْتَهُ فِي كِتَابِِكَ ، أَوِ اسْتَأْثَرتَ بِهِ فِي عِلْمِ الغَيْبِ عِنْدَكَ ، أَنْ تَجْعَلَ القرآنَ رَبِيعَ قَلْبِي ، وَ نُورَ صَدرِي ، وَ جَلاءَ حُزنِي ، وَ ذَهَابَ همِّي
Allaahumma ‘innee ‘abduka, ibnu ‘abdika, ibnu ‘amatika, naasiyatee biyadika, maadhin fiyya hukmuka, ‘adlun fiyya qadhaa’uka, ‘as’aluka bikulli ismin huwa laka, sammayta bihi nafsaka, ‘aw ‘allamtahu ‘ahadan min khalqika, ‘aw ‘anzaltahu fee kitaabika, ‘awista’tharta bihi fee ‘ilmil-ghaybi ‘indaka, ‘an taj’alal-Qur’aana rabee’a qalbee, wa noora sadree, wa jalaa’a huznee, wa thahaaba hammee.
Meaning: 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 have taught any one of Your creation, or which You revealed in Your Book, 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.” (Ahmad)
Dua 4: When you find something starting to become difficult
Say:
اللَّهُمَّ لا سَهْلَ إلَّا ما جَعَلْتَهُ سهْلًا
Allahumma la sahla illa ma ja’altahu sahla, wa ‘anta taj-alul hazna idha shi’ta sahla
Meaning: “O Allah! There is nothing easy except what You make easy, and You make the difficult easy if it be Your Will.”
(Ibn Hibban)
Dua 5: When you start to feel frightened & scared
Say:
لَا إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللهُ
Laa Ilaaha Illallah
Meaning: There is no God worthy of worship but Allah SWT. (Muslim)
The Motivation
In many verses, Allah SWT promises that the one who supplicates to Him at times of hardship and ease shall be heard. On the contrary, the one who foregoes supplications and remembrance shall live in a state distress. We are beings that are in dire need of Allah SWT. Allah SWT says:
وَمَنۡ أَعۡرَضَ عَن ذِكۡرِي فَإِنَّ لَهُۥ مَعِيشَةٗ ضَنكٗا
And whoever turns away from My remembrance – indeed, he will have a distressed life
(Surah Taha Verse 124)
As we strive in prayers, remember that Allah SWT says:
وَقَالَ رَبُّكُمُ ادْعُونِي أَسْتَجِبْ لَكُمْ
And your Lord says, “Call upon Me; I will respond to you.”
(Surah Ghafir Verse 60)
He, The Almighty also says:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُخْلِفُ الْمِيعَادَ
Indeed, Allah does not fail in His promise.
(Surah Ali Imran Verse 9)