11 Best Dua For Difficult Times and Hard Times in Arabic & English

Everything in our lives that the Almighty decides for us is perfect and balanced. Allah knows why we face tough times, even if we don’t always understand immediately.

As believers, learning about our deen helps us trust that whatever Allah chooses for us is for the best. Life has its ups and downs, but it’s all a test. So, no matter what challenges come our way, we should stay hopeful.

Here are prophetic dua for difficult times you may incorporate into your daily morning and evening adkhar that would be life-changing!

1. Dua For Difficult Times in Arabic

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْهَمِّ وَالْحَزَنِ، وَالْعَجْزِ وَالْكَسَلِ، وَالْبُخْلِ وَالْجُبْنِ، وَضَلَعِ الدَّيْنِ، وَغَلَبَةِ الرِّجَالِ

Transliteration

The dua is transliterated as allahumma innee a’udhu bika minal-hammi walhazani, wal’ajzi walkasali, walbukhli waljubni, wa dhala’id-dayni wa ghalabatir-rijaal.

Meaning in English

O Allah, I seek refuge in You from grief and sadness, from weakness and laziness, from miserliness and cowardice, from being overcome by debt and overpowered by men [people].

Reported by al-Bukhari 2893

You should make this dua every day unless you forget. It is a dua that safeguard you from despair, sadness, anxiety, sloth, and low iman.

The Prophet PBUH would consistently make this dua, and many of the Companions heard him repeat it over and over again.

This dua is a plea for protection during challenging times. You seek refuge in Allah from various hardships. You ask to be shielded from grief and sadness, weakness and laziness, miserliness and cowardice.

Additionally, you seek protection from overwhelming debt and being overpowered by people. It’s a comprehensive supplication asking for strength, resilience, and protection against various difficulties that one may face in life.

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2. Dua

اللَّهُمَّ اكْفِنِي بِحَلَالِكَ عَنْ حَرَامِكَ وَأَغْنِنِي بِفَضْلِكَ عَمَّنْ سِوَاكَ

Transliteration

Allahumm-akfini bihalalika ‘an haramika, wa aghnini bifadlika ‘amman siwaka.

Meaning

O Allah! Grant me enough of what You make lawful so that I may dispense with what You make unlawful, and enable me by Your Grace to dispense with all but You.

Narrated by al-Tirmidhi 5/650 No. 3563,

This supplication is the perfect for times of debt and job loss. In this dua, you are requesting Allah’s provision in a way that allows them to avoid what is forbidden.

You ask for enough of what is permissible to fulfill your needs, and, through Allah’s grace, to be independent of anything unlawful.

The ultimate aspiration is to rely solely on Allah and be free from dependence on anything or anyone else. It reflects a desire for lawful sustenance and a deep dependence on Allah’s grace and provision.

3. Dua

اللَّهُمَّ رَحْمَتَكَ أَرْجُو فَلَا تَكِلْنِي إِلَى نَفْسِي طَرْفَةَ عَيْنٍ وَأَصْلِحْ لِي شَأْنِي كُلَّهُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَا أَنْتَ

Transliteration

Allahumma rahmataka arju fala takilni ila nafsi tarfata ‘aynin wa aslih li sha’ni kullahu la ilaha ila anta.

Meaning

O Allah, I hope for Your mercy. Do not leave me to myself even for a blink of an eye. Correct all of my affairs for me. There is none worthy of worship except You.

This supplication, advised by Prophet Muhammad SAW to his daughter Fatima RA for mornings and evenings, is for those facing distress.

By saying it, you seek Allah’s guidance and ask not to be left to yourself. Putting trust in Him, you acknowledge potential mistakes and lack of wisdom, seeking His constant guidance in managing your affairs.

In times of distress, it brings relief knowing that Allah’s mercy is there, ensuring He takes care of your problems.

4. Dua

اللّهُمَّ لا سَهْلَ إلا ما جَعَلْتَهُ سَهْلا وَأنتَ تَجْعَلُ الحَزْنَ إذا شِئْتَ سَهْلا

Transliteration

Allahumma la sahla illa maa ja’altahu sahlan, wa Anta taj’alu l-hazna idha shi’ta sahla.

Meaning

O Allah! There is no ease except that which You make easy, and indeed You, when You want, make difficulties easy.

In this dua, you are seeking Allah’s assistance by acknowledging that true ease comes only from Him. You recognize that Allah has the power to simplify hardships when He wills, highlighting your dependence on His divine facilitation.

Essentially, it’s a humble plea for Allah to make challenges more manageable, emphasizing trust in His ability to ease difficulties according to His wisdom and mercy.

5. Dua

لا إلهَ إلا اللهُ العَليمُ الحَليم لا إلهَ إلا اللهُ ربُّ العَرْشِ العَظِيْم لا إلهَ إلا اللهُ ربُّ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَرَبُّ الأَرْضِ ربُّ العَرْشِ الكَرِيْم

Transliteration

La ilaha illa Allahu l-Alimu l-Halim. La ilaha illa Allahu Rabbu l-Arshi l-Azim. La ilaha illa Allahu Rabbu s-samawati wa Rabbu l-ardi wa Rabbu l-Arshi l-Karim.

Meaning

There is no deity but Allah, the Knowing, the Clement. There is no deity but Allah, Lord of the Magnificent Throne. There is no deity but Allah, Lord of the heavens and Lord of the earth and Lord of the Noble Throne.

The Prophet SAW would say this dua when in distress. The dua verifies your belief that Allah is the Only One in charge and that the actions of others are only permitted by His will. He Knows best why things occur and we do not.

6. Dua

حَسْبِيَ اللَّهُ لَآ إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ عَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ وَهُوَ رَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيمِ

Transliteration

Hasbiyallaahu laa ‘ilaaha ‘illaa Huwa ‘alayhi tawakkaltu wa Huwa Rabbul- ‘Arshil -‘Adheem.

Meaning

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

This dua is a powerful expression of reliance and trust in Allah during difficult times. By stating “Allah is sufficient for me,” you affirm your belief in Allah’s all-encompassing sufficiency.

You declare the oneness of Allah, acknowledging Him as the only worthy object of worship. Placing trust in Him, you recognizes Allah as the Lord of the Majestic Throne, emphasizing His ultimate authority and power.

7. Dua

يَا حَيُّ يَا قَيُّوْمُ بِرَحْمَتِكَ أَسْتَغِيْث

Transliteration: Ya Hayyu Ya Qayyum! Bi rahmatika astagheeth!

Meaning: O Living and Eternal Sustainer! By Your mercy I seek relief!

Saying this dua is to seek relief, assistance, and salvation from danger or distress. When the Prophet PBUH would be afflicted with a stressful trial, he would say the above dua.

8. Dua

لا إلهَ إلا أنتَ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي كُنْتُ مِنَ الظّالِمِيْنَ

Transliteration: La ilaha illa Anta, Subhanaka, inni kuntu mina z-zalimin.

Meaning: There is no deity but You. Glory be to You! Verily, I have been among the wrongdoers.

This is the supplication of Prophet Yunus A.S who called on Allah SWT while he was in the belly of the whale. The Prophet PBUH said:

“No Muslim person says it, for any situation whatsoever, except that Allah Most High answers his call.” – (Tirmidhi)

9. Dua

The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: to Asma’ bint `Umays (may Allah be pleased with her), “Shall I not teach you some words which you can say at times of distress and hardship?

اللَّهُ اللَّهُ رَبِّي لاَ أُشْرِكُ بِهِ شَيْئًا

Transliteration: Allahu Allahu rabbi la ushriku bihi shay’an.

Meaning: Allah is my Lord, I do not associate anything with Him.

Narrated by Abu Dawud 1525

10. Dua

The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to teach his Companions to say these words when they felt afraid:

أَعُوذُ بِكَلِمَاتِ اللَّهِ التَّامَّةِ مِنْ غَضَبِهِ وَشَرِّ عِبَادِهِ وَمِنْ هَمَزَاتِ الشَّيَاطِينِ وَأَنْ يَحْضُرُونِ

Transliteration

A’udhu bi kalimat-illah il-tammati min ghadabihi wa min sharri `ibadihi wa min hamazat Ash-shayatini wa an yahdurun.

Meaning

I seek refuge in the perfect words of Allah from His wrath and from the evil of His slaves and from the evil promptings of the devils and from their presence.

Narrated by Abu Dawud 3893

We need to accept that these trials are either:

• An expiation for our sins.
• A means of raising our status in the sight of our Lord.
• It can be a form of spiritual elevation.
• A means of attaining closeness to Allah SWT.
• It may be needed for us to grow as human beings.

The scholars have mentioned that our trials are:

• Filled with subtle blessings that we do not perceive, but are nevertheless there.
• That we should put our trust in Allah SWT and accept His decree while fully striving to alleviate our difficult situation.
• That we should focus on being content with Allah’s Qadr by seeking His reward and remaining steadfast in our faith.
• Reminding ourselves that our situation could always be so much worse.
• Remembering that the tribulations and sufferings in this world are pale compared to the eternity and what will befall us after death.
• Sometimes, the suffering in this world can be a guide of how little we will be able to bear the sufferings of the next world.

Allah SWT Says:

“Perhaps you may hate something, yet it proves better for you” (Quran 2:216).

The Prophet SAW confirmed this when he said:

“How amazing is the believer’s affair! Allah decrees nothing for the servant except that it is good for him.” – (Ahmad)

The Sahaba, Umar R.A. highlighted some the blessings of trials when he said,

“I was never afflicted with a trial except that with it Allah gave me four blessings: it was not in my religion; I was not barred from being content; it was not worse than it was; and I hoped for reward through it.”

Ibn Al-Qayyim defined dua as:

“Asking what is of benefit to the person, and asking the removal of what is harming him, or the repelling of it (before it inflicts him).