دُعَاءُ الْهَمِّ وَالْحَزَن
Dua for Anxiety and Sorrow: Arabic Text, Meaning, and the Prophet’s Remedy
At a Glance
Sahih al-Bukhari 6369, narrated by Anas ibn Malik
In worry, grief, debt, or whenever the heart feels heavy
Seeking refuge from eight burdens of the heart
He used to recite this dua frequently
Worry about the future and grief over the past: these are the two weights the human heart was never meant to carry alone. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) understood this, and he used to make one particular dua frequently, seeking refuge from anxiety, sorrow, and six other burdens that crush a person’s spirit. Anas ibn Malik preserved it in Sahih al-Bukhari. Below is the dua with full Arabic text, transliteration, English and Urdu meanings, and an explanation of each word.
The Dua in Arabic
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-dayni wa ghalabatir-rijal.
O Allah, I seek refuge in You from anxiety and sorrow, from incapacity and laziness, from miserliness and cowardice, from the burden of debt and from being overpowered by men.
اے اللہ! میں فکر اور غم سے تیری پناہ چاہتا ہوں، بے بسی اور کاہلی سے، بخیلی اور بزدلی سے، اور قرض کے بوجھ اور لوگوں کے غلبے سے تیری پناہ چاہتا ہوں۔
Sahih al-Bukhari 6369 • the Prophet used to recite this dua frequently
Meaning Explained: The Eight Burdens
Scholars explain that this dua covers eight distinct afflictions, named in pairs. Al-hamm is anxiety about the future, what might happen; al-hazan is sorrow about the past, what has already happened. Together they are the complete vocabulary of human distress. Naming them aloud to Allah is itself the first step of relief, because what is spoken to the Lord of the worlds no longer sits alone in the chest.
Al-‘ajz is incapacity, the feeling of being unable to act, while al-kasal is laziness, the unwillingness to act. One paralyzes the limbs, the other paralyzes the will, and the dua treats both. Al-bukhl (miserliness) and al-jubn (cowardice) are the diseases of the heart that shrink a person’s life: the miser withholds good, the coward withholds courage.
Finally, dala’ ad-dayn is the crushing burden of debt, and ghalabat ar-rijal is being overpowered by people, whether through oppression, humiliation, or loss of dignity. The dua ends where many anxieties actually begin: in money and in people. Notice the pattern: the dua moves from the inner world (anxiety, sorrow) to character (laziness, cowardice) to the outer world (debt, people). It leaves no burden unnamed.
Virtues and Benefits
Anas ibn Malik said the Prophet (peace be upon him) used to make this dua frequently, which tells us it was not reserved for crises. It was a daily habit, a maintenance of the heart. The believer who says it regularly is asking Allah to guard the heart before the weights settle, not only after they have crushed it.
The dua also teaches a complete response to hardship. It does not ask Allah to remove the world’s difficulties; it asks for refuge from the inner states that make difficulties unbearable. Anxiety, sorrow, laziness, cowardice: these are the doors through which external troubles enter the heart. Closing those doors is often the real cure.
Pair this dua with action. The Sunnah never separates supplication from effort: pray, plan, seek counsel, and work, while asking Allah for refuge from what you cannot control. For a heart weighed down by sadness, the dua of Prophet Yunus from the belly of the whale is another powerful companion, and our morning adhkar keep the heart guarded daily.
When and How to Recite
Recite this dua whenever worry rises: before a difficult decision, in grief, under financial pressure, or in the quiet moments when the mind will not rest. There is no fixed count and no restricted time. Say it slowly, word by word, letting each of the eight burdens surface in your mind as you name it.
Many people make it part of their morning and evening remembrances, since the Prophet recited it so often. If you are going through a hard season, say it in sujood, in the last third of the night, and after the obligatory prayers. Speak your specific worry to Allah in your own words afterward; the dua opens the door, and your own honest words walk through it.
FAQ
What is the dua for anxiety in Islam?
The most famous is Allahumma inni a’udhu bika minal-hammi wal-hazan, “O Allah, I seek refuge in You from anxiety and sorrow” (Sahih al-Bukhari 6369). The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to recite it frequently, seeking refuge from eight burdens including anxiety, sorrow, laziness, cowardice, and debt.
What is the difference between hamm and hazan?
Hamm is anxiety about the future, the fear of what might come, while hazan is sorrow about the past, grief over what has already happened. The dua names both because the human heart suffers from both directions, and Allah’s refuge covers both.
How many times should I recite this dua?
There is no fixed number in the hadith. The Prophet recited it frequently, so you may say it once with presence of heart or repeat it many times. What matters is sincerity and understanding. Some people make it part of their morning and evening adhkar.
Can this dua help with depression?
This dua is a powerful spiritual remedy that has comforted believers for centuries, and Islam encourages turning to Allah in distress. At the same time, persistent depression is a real condition, and seeking help from a qualified professional or counselor is fully consistent with the Sunnah’s teaching to use the means Allah has provided. Use both: the dua for the heart, and expert help for what needs it.
Is there a dua specifically for debt?
Yes, this very dua includes dala’ ad-dayn, the burden of debt, in its final phrase. The Prophet taught that debt is one of the heaviest worldly burdens, and seeking refuge from it is part of protecting the heart. Combine the dua with practical steps: budgeting, seeking help, and honest effort.
Final Thoughts
The Prophet carried the weight of guiding a whole ummah, and still he turned to Allah and said: I seek refuge from anxiety and sorrow. If he needed these words, we need them more. Say them when the chest tightens and when it does not. The refuge you seek today becomes the peace you live in tomorrow.
Continue Reading
Find comfort in the dua of Prophet Yunus and the Istikhara dua, or browse the full collection on the Masnoon Duas hub.